Medical Marvels for the 21st Century
ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Blood tests without needles, cameras that you swallow, growing new teeth. It sounds like science fiction, but it's not. These are just some of the medical advancements that are being developed by researchers. According to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, many of them are poised for clinical use in the near future.
* Insulin without a needle. This technology -- the dream of millions of diabetics -- isn't a reality yet, but it should be soon. The experimental treatment is an inhaler that delivers insulin to the membrane of your cheeks, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Early reports show that it is as effective as injected insulin.
* Blood tests without a needle. It may soon be possible to get a CBC (complete blood count) without drawing blood. A noninvasive, hand held device may allow doctors to monitor small blood vessels under the tongue and obtain accurate results in one minute. The device will also be used to measure hemoglobin.
* Cameras that you swallow. This pill-sized camera travels through the digestive tract, taking pictures along the way and transmitting data to a receiver worn on the patient's belt. Preliminary research is promising, and Mayo Clinic will soon conduct clinical trials with the new technology.
* Growing human teeth. Researchers have genetically engineered mouse and human cells to produce other cells needed for teeth. Within the next decade, they hope to regenerate teeth in the lab and even regrow teeth directly in the mouth.
Shelly Plutowski 507-284-5005 (days) 507-284-2511 (evenings) e-mail: [email protected]
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