There are developments we’ve never thought about when it comes to medicine and the technological possibilities. From surgery (or new methods replacing surgery) to improving medical diagnoses, there are many directions to take with these new developments.
Robot-Assisted Surgeries
It won’t be long before robots are a common component of everyday life. We’re already beginning to see it in the world of surgery, which is exactly as it sounds: these are robotic tools that the surgeon uses as part of the surgical procedure that equal, and in some cases surpass, current medical practices.
The biggest one is allowing for improved precision. Small parts manufacturing improves the precision in new technology for surgeons and health practitioners to be as minimally invasive as possible, while still being able to make the fine alterations to the body.
3D Bioprinting
3D bioprinting, while still in its infancy, is showing just how much more advanced we can become when it comes to all things medical. As inventions progress, the process of printing living structures to mimic the natural ones in our body will become more common. The hope is to make the organ waiting list obsolete; rather than wait for someone to donate an organ, a 3D printer can create the necessary organ with biocompatible plastic.
Genomic testing
Another invention in the world of medicine is genomic testing. It will provide a leap forward compared to the current system, which is genetic testing. The current process only looks at one specific gene, whereas genomic testing looks at all of the genes in order to identify anything unusual or potentially harmful to the body. Ultimately the goal is to eliminate harmful genes before they have time to develop.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
The use of AR and VR will influence surgery because it’ll allow surgeons to hone their skills in virtual ways, rather than on real patients. This will help to reduce the risks posed to the patients and improve the technical abilities of the surgeon, ultimately resulting in improved performance and speed.
Artificial Intelligence
As with robots, the use of artificial intelligence will become increasingly more commonplace. We currently use it in analytics, chatbots, cybersecurity, and sports, but we will be even more impressed as it progresses beyond what we thought practical. AI can help diagnose diseases better and quicker, help develop drugs and other treatments faster, personalize treatment, and change the gene-editing game.
The above are just a selection of the advancements that could be made in the technological field, but it’s far from an exhaustive list. The exciting thing about technology is that it’s always developing. Who knows what tools doctors will have at their disposal in ten, twenty, or one hundred years from now?