Table 1 List of medical device technologies examined during the Foresight exercise
From: Functional technology foresight. A novel methodology to identify emerging technologies
HIFU | High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound - a medical procedure that uses focused sonic energy to heat and destroy tumoral tissues. |
NOTES | Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery - a minimally invasive technique that uses human body’s natural orifices to introduce surgical instruments and reach internal organs, with no external incisions or scars. |
Harmonic™ Scalpel | A surgical scalpel that uses high-frequency vibration to cut through tissues; at the same time it achieves haemostasis, sealing blood vessel by coagulation. |
TissueLink™ | A surgical scalpel that uses radiofrequencies to cut and achieve haemostasis. |
Coblation® | A device that induces ionization to dissolve target tissues at low temperatures. |
Cyberknife® | A robotic system for radiosurgery (treatment of tumors using X-ray radiation). |
Echomyograph | A device integrating an ultrasound scanner and an electromyograph to achieve the simultaneous evaluation of results. |
Advanced urodynamics | Combination of ultrasound scans with traditional urodynamic testing. |
RFID applications | Radio Frequency Identity Devices allow automatic objects’ identification; many uses are possible, from tracking drugs to monitoring patients conditions. |
Neuro-rehabilitation | Use of mechatronic systems for post-trauma motor rehabilitation; it allows new protocols, telecare solutions, and treatment of larger numbers of patients. |
Laser regeneration | Laser radiation is used to induce tissue regeneration (e.g. in skin treatments). |
Dedicated MRI | Smaller, transportable MRI devices able to can scan single body parts; they can be used for a variety of exams, e.g. to study bone pathologies. |
Micro CAT | Smaller, transportable CT devices to scan single body parts or small animals. |
PACS | Picture Archiving and Communication System - medical imaging databases for improved management, sharing and statistical elaboration of data. |
Wearable sensors | Clothes-embedded sensors monitoring medical parameters for early diagnosis. |
Colonoscopy pills | Pills containing video cameras can substitute standard, invasive colonoscopy. |
Induced ultrasounds | Laser-induced ultrasounds can be used to achieve non-invasive virtual biopsies |
CMUT systems | Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer - innovative transducers allowing smaller dimensions, larger bandwidth and higher resolution. |
Electric pain therapy | Electrical stimulation of tactile nerves may help reducing pain sensations. |