#7. Medical Innovation of 2013: Modular Stents for Aortic Aneurysms

Aortic aneurysms of the heart is a fatal condition if they result in rupturing. Using tiny balloons is not always the safest choice especially in the heart’s single largest artery. Doctors preferred method of treatment for larger aneurysms that measure 5 to 6 cm+ in diameter is using minimally invasive stent grafts that are inserted into the affected areas. The problem with the stents are that they may not be suitable for nearly half of patients suffering heart disease primarily due to their anatomy. Heart researches have developed an exciting new solution using a modular stent to help treat heart disease and complex aneurysms that prevent the use of traditional stent grafts thereby helping to save countless lives of those who are deemed high-risk patients.

#6. Medical Innovation of 2013: Ex Vivo “Lung Washing” Lung Perfusion

Organs especially lungs are in high demand. People needed lung transplants often cannot find a solution in time due to a severe global shortage of qualified organ donors. Due to complications of lung transplants, only 15-20% of organs donated from deceased donors are suitable for transplants. A new breakthrough in transplant technology called “lung washing” or ex vivo lung perfusion hopes to change that by reversing the injuries to donated organs by essentially treating them with specially produced bio-fluids and medications to help clear any infections and making the organs viable for transplants. Doctors have estimated that nearly 45% of all donated lungs that end up being rejected for transplanting could be saved for use with this new technology. The new technology is available in Europe and Canada but Currently “lung washing” is not been offered in Hospitals of Thailand but doctors are hoping to have access to the new technology in 2013.

#5. Medical Invention of 2013 Handheld Melanoma Scanner

It is estimated that nearly than 350,000 people a year develop the deadliest form of skin cancer called melanoma each and every year. Melanoma is also estimated to be fatal in nearly 10% of those diagnosed with the deadly disease. A new handheld scanning device developed by the military researchers hopes to reduce the fatalities though a non-invasive imaging technology to analyze benign moles or suspicious areas on the skin. The scanner works though using light spectrums of 10 different wavelengths that can penetrates the skin. A specially designed software then compares the results to an archive of 15,000 images of skin cancers and melanoma to determine is there is cause for concern or not. Clinical trials of nearly 1,500 patients has shown the device to accurately identify an amazing 99% of melanomas before they become fatal.