Page 5 - AUTOMATED - Issue 7 Tech transplants
P. 5
long-term conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, TECH TRANSPLANTS
asthma and thyroid disorders. Using machine
learning, a team of researchers at Aston University has can provide instructions to release a dose instantly, or
developed software that uses a smart phone's at a future time, or instructions to release any number
microphone and motion detector to assess signs of of doses at specific time points in the future. The
Parkinson's disease. The team's diagnostic algorithm external controller can be a smart phone, a tablet, or a
then helps them identify and track disease customised transceiver connected to a personal
progression. computer.
Asthma is also monitored using embedded motion Implantable drug delivery systems can administer
sensors and medical professionals can diagnose site-specific drugs, which is particularly advantageous
thyroid disorders using a drop of blood on a test card. for brain tumours and controlled cancer. This also
The card is inserted into a diagnostic reader, which is allows for significantly lower doses of drugs, which can
attached to the smart phone's camera unit, providing minimise potential side effects.
immediate results. An implantable drug delivery pump is commonly used
to deliver insulin treatment to diabetes sufferers and
“Improving quality of administer pain medications directly to the spine.
life is one of the main These can be described as active devices, which
benefits of integrating regularly require resupply of medication through an
new technologies into access port. Highly potent drugs, such as hormones,
are usually administered by passive release without
healthcare” the need for replenishment.
Unlike smart phone manufacturers, companies
It is interesting that smart phones and tablets, while producing implantable devices are governed by all of
used in healthcare, aren’t governed by the same the rules and regulations that every medical OEM has
regulations as a traditional medical devices. As a to master. However, because their devices are used
result, the manufacturing processes that underpin inside the body, I anticipate further regulation being
them do not have to be managed with the same level introduced in the future, making the guarantee of
of traceability and validation. This isn’t to say that they manufacturing consistency that obsolete components
aren’t, or that obsolete component supply can’t provide even more important.
support smart phone manufacturers in the same way, Digital therapy
merely that there is space for a new set of regulations Therapists have been offering services through
to be created, governing smart phone use in various media such as phone calls, video conferences,
medicine. chat and audio messaging for the last 20 years, with
Implantable drug-delivery mechanisms research suggesting it is as effective as traditional
Implantable drug-delivery systems usually consist of a face-to-face counselling.
microchip-based implant that is in direct contact with Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (cCBT) is a
the affected tissue. The microchip has discrete doses newer method of digital therapy, and refers to
of a particular drug and each dose is hermetically delivering cognitive behaviour therapy using an
sealed. The implant uses control electronics, such as interactive digital interface, which uses patient input
radio frequency communications and a real-time to make psychotherapy decisions. It permits increased
clock, to ensure accurate timing for release of each treatment flexibility, especially for individuals that
dose. suffer from conditions such as agoraphobia or social
The microchip also has a customised circuit phobias because it can be delivered at home.
connected to each dose to allow independent Before Doctor Long's breakthrough in general
administration at any time or in any sequence. An anaesthesia, surgery could rarely be used in medical
external device communicates with the implanted treatment, because the patient’s suffering would have
device through radio frequency. The external device been overwhelming. Today, anaesthetic is used for
everything from dentistry to organ transplants. It will
be interesting to see what digital technologies and
advanced medical devices will have the same impact
on medicine over the next 175 years.
www.euautomation.com 05
asthma and thyroid disorders. Using machine
learning, a team of researchers at Aston University has can provide instructions to release a dose instantly, or
developed software that uses a smart phone's at a future time, or instructions to release any number
microphone and motion detector to assess signs of of doses at specific time points in the future. The
Parkinson's disease. The team's diagnostic algorithm external controller can be a smart phone, a tablet, or a
then helps them identify and track disease customised transceiver connected to a personal
progression. computer.
Asthma is also monitored using embedded motion Implantable drug delivery systems can administer
sensors and medical professionals can diagnose site-specific drugs, which is particularly advantageous
thyroid disorders using a drop of blood on a test card. for brain tumours and controlled cancer. This also
The card is inserted into a diagnostic reader, which is allows for significantly lower doses of drugs, which can
attached to the smart phone's camera unit, providing minimise potential side effects.
immediate results. An implantable drug delivery pump is commonly used
to deliver insulin treatment to diabetes sufferers and
“Improving quality of administer pain medications directly to the spine.
life is one of the main These can be described as active devices, which
benefits of integrating regularly require resupply of medication through an
new technologies into access port. Highly potent drugs, such as hormones,
are usually administered by passive release without
healthcare” the need for replenishment.
Unlike smart phone manufacturers, companies
It is interesting that smart phones and tablets, while producing implantable devices are governed by all of
used in healthcare, aren’t governed by the same the rules and regulations that every medical OEM has
regulations as a traditional medical devices. As a to master. However, because their devices are used
result, the manufacturing processes that underpin inside the body, I anticipate further regulation being
them do not have to be managed with the same level introduced in the future, making the guarantee of
of traceability and validation. This isn’t to say that they manufacturing consistency that obsolete components
aren’t, or that obsolete component supply can’t provide even more important.
support smart phone manufacturers in the same way, Digital therapy
merely that there is space for a new set of regulations Therapists have been offering services through
to be created, governing smart phone use in various media such as phone calls, video conferences,
medicine. chat and audio messaging for the last 20 years, with
Implantable drug-delivery mechanisms research suggesting it is as effective as traditional
Implantable drug-delivery systems usually consist of a face-to-face counselling.
microchip-based implant that is in direct contact with Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy (cCBT) is a
the affected tissue. The microchip has discrete doses newer method of digital therapy, and refers to
of a particular drug and each dose is hermetically delivering cognitive behaviour therapy using an
sealed. The implant uses control electronics, such as interactive digital interface, which uses patient input
radio frequency communications and a real-time to make psychotherapy decisions. It permits increased
clock, to ensure accurate timing for release of each treatment flexibility, especially for individuals that
dose. suffer from conditions such as agoraphobia or social
The microchip also has a customised circuit phobias because it can be delivered at home.
connected to each dose to allow independent Before Doctor Long's breakthrough in general
administration at any time or in any sequence. An anaesthesia, surgery could rarely be used in medical
external device communicates with the implanted treatment, because the patient’s suffering would have
device through radio frequency. The external device been overwhelming. Today, anaesthetic is used for
everything from dentistry to organ transplants. It will
be interesting to see what digital technologies and
advanced medical devices will have the same impact
on medicine over the next 175 years.
www.euautomation.com 05
