Innovations in Medical Equipment: Nanotechnology
Over the past decade, several new scientific advances have changed the way medical treatments are discovered and administered. From new screening tools for discovering key medical compounds in pharmaceuticals to more effective delivery methods of these drugs to patients, various technologies have come together to help medical equipment suppliers address the changing needs of the medical community. One of the key innovations in this area has come from the field of Nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology uses microscopic devices that work on the molecular and atomic level to diagnose and treat illnesses. Microscopic “nano-shells” can hone in on a tumor like a smart bomb, enter into cancer cells, and wait there until an intense dose of heat energy is delivered via radio wave to strategically destroy the cells. This type of discovery has the potential to radically change the way cancer treatment is administered by preventing healthy cells from being killed in the process of chemotherapy and radiation. This is because the nano-particles target only the cancer cells for delivery of drugs, and leaves normal cells untouched.
Another use for nanotechnology is the removal of tumors or nodes during surgery. By using color-coded “quantum dots” which emit fluorescent signals, doctors and scientists can create an instant classification system, or barcode, to identify the type of tumor within and remove it entirely. Other tiny medical devices are being built on microchips that use nanotechnology to interpret the individual strands of DNA.
Nanotechnology, which has typically been used in passive structures, is now being tested for use within active structures. In addition to targeted “smart drug” therapies, these developments will help in the future formation of molecular structures that could be used to regenerate body parts that were lost to disease, infection or accident. Outside of the medical equipment and research industries, nanotechnology has far-reaching implications in the world of electronics as well.