The medical industry is going through some incredible changes. As technology continues to improve and develop, we’re seeing some truly fantastic new advancements that promise to revolutionize patient care and outcomes.
With so many new devices and technologies coming out all the time, sometimes it can be hard to keep up. We’ve put together a list of three cornerstone advancements in the healthcare industry that you need to watch out for in 2023. Check it out below.
New Medical Instruments
Medical instruments are essential tools that healthcare professionals use to carry out procedures and surgeries. Instruments have been used for as long as we have been practicing medicine, and they have come a long way since the rudimentary tools of the past.
Today’s medical instruments offer fantastic benefits for practitioners and patients alike. The new Galaxy II self-retaining retractor from June Medical is a perfect example. It can be used to hold open incisions without the need for additional staff in the operating theatre. This gives the surgeon more space to work and operate effectively.
Additionally, the Galaxy II comes with an adjustable light for improved visibility and is made of single-use, medical-grade plastic to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
3D Printing
3D printing is the process of creating three-dimensional physical objects using data from a digital file. It’s a technique known as additive manufacturing, and we’re seeing widespread integration of the technology with a range of different industries and sectors, including construction, mechanical engineering, and automobile design.
For the healthcare industry, 3D printing can serve a variety of different purposes. It can be used to create complicated machinery and tools with ease, reducing manufacturing and procurement costs. It can also be used to create high-quality prosthetics and patient-specific items like implants.
As 3D printing becomes more sophisticated, we can even see the technique used to create replica organic materials such as bones, blood vessels, and even organs.
Wearable Tech
Patient care is all about helping feel better while causing as little disruption and discomfort as possible. Wearable health tech solutions can offer patients a greater deal of independence and control over their own health.
We’re seeing wearable tech used primarily in patients with long-term, chronic conditions such as diabetes. Traditionally, diabetes patients would have to use finger-pricking methods to check their blood glucose levels. This is an invasive and inconvenient process that can cause a great deal of disruption to everyday life.
Continuous glucose monitoring systems are a modern solution designed to streamline and simplify patient management of diabetes. They work by placing a small sensor under the skin, which constantly reads the amount of sugar in the blood, feeding this data back to a small device that can alert the wearer about any sudden changes in blood glucose.
Conclusion
There has never been a more exciting time to be involved with the healthcare industry. Patient care is improving at an exponential rate, accelerated by modern advancements in technology and ingenious new inventions. New medical instruments, 3D printing, and wearable tech look set to change the face of healthcare in 2023 and beyond.
