10 medical tech innovations to ring in the New Year

Diabetics need to monitor their glucose levels daily, sometimes multiple times each day. This means frequently sticking their fingers with a lancet to pull blood for measurement, which can cause minor pain and irritation. The Abbott FreeStyle Libre system eliminates the fingerstick approach by measuring glucose levels via a sensor applied to the upper arm. It can even do so through clothing, without direct skin contact. The sensor produces not only current real-time glucose readings but also an 8-hour historical trend of previous readings, as well as a prediction of where the glucose levels are headed, based on the current and historical data.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major concern in the fields of sports medicine and emergency medicine, as well as in the assessment of soldiers in the military. According to the CDC, sports-related TBIs result in 500 deaths per year. However, the typical electroencephalogram (EEG) machine isn't well suited to the sidelines or the battlefield. To address this growing concern, BrainScope One—a point-of-care, non-invasive, handheld device with EEG applications—was developed to assess patients' brain and neurocognitive functions following head injury.

While not a device, Omnigraft is a dermal regeneration matrix developed for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. It is currently the only FDA-approved product known to regenerate native dermal tissue. This bioengineered patch is designed to mimic skin and can treat partial- as well as full-thickness neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.

Medication adherence is a common issue in medical practice, particularly among patients with mental health disorders. Otsuka and Proteus Digital Health tackled this problem by combining the FDA-approved medication aripiprazole with an ingestible sensor that detects whether the medication has been taken and is trackable by a skin patch that relays to a smartphone or online web portal. The current use of Abilify MyCite targets patients with schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and major depression disorder.

This visor is intended for the non-invasive and rapid diagnosis of stroke. Diagnosing a stroke as early as possible provides the best chances for positive patient outcomes. The Cerebrotech Visor is able to assess neurological function by measuring fluid volume differences, defined by the company as asymmetry in cerebral hemispheres, which is characteristic of a stroke.

Patients with severe burns and wounds are typically treated with skin tissue grafts. Oftentimes, large amounts of tissue from healthy skin elsewhere on the patient's body are surgically stitched to the wound/burn site. However, the CellMist System requires only a postage-stamp-sized portion of donor skin to complete the graft. Stem cells are removed from the skin and suspended in the CellMist Solution, which is then sprayed onto wound sites via the SkinGun deposition device. This device represents a breakthrough beyond conventional skin grafting.

Breast cancer imaging aids in the rapid and early detection of breast cancer. The Koning Breast CT (KBCT) scanner offers quick, painless, claustrophobic-free breast imaging via a 10-second exposure to radiation levels equivalent to those given off during a normal mammogram. However, there is no painful compression during the procedure, and the device produces 3D images that can be manipulated by clinicians for multiple angle evaluation.

The AccuVein illumination device maps the peripheral veins on a patient's skin surface in order to facilitate many commonly performed procedures, including blood draws, IV insertions, infusions, cosmetic procedures, and so much more. In doing so, repeated needle sticks, which can cause patient pain and discomfort, can be eliminated.