Dental Development Could Lead to New Drug Delivery Systems

Posted on September 16, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

What’s next in health reported on a new system to prevent tooth disease. Not much could be duller than dental disease right? Wrong! This has huge implications for drug delivery system development. I can see using systems like this to embed drugs in the abdominal or pelvic cavities. There are sprayable polymers already– create one to release slowly drugs and the possibilities are endless. These include andiadhesion agents, chemotherapy, fertility enhancers or contraceptives etc. Easily introduced through laparoscopic surgery. The idea of a drug resevoir inside body cavities has never been fully developed. This is a step forward. See spraygel post for another related drug delivery idea.

Update From SLS-2: Natural Orifice Surgery-The Somach Burstor from Alien is Hottest New Procedure- video of concept

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

video link of the new surgery concept

Natural orifice surgery (also called Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery NOTES) was minimally discussed in the formal meeting but massively discussed in the halls and by the movers and shakers. It is radically different and enabling of new procedures. Combine this with the potential for disasterous outcomes and complications, a turf war between traditional surgeons and gasterenterologists (the latter who would not be able to manage the complications they might cause), VC money, dcotors looking to make a name creating new procedures, and device companies smelling new procedures and markets and you have the setting for an exciting next few years! I will be providing regular updates & back room doctor’s debates.

Sisters Are Doing it For Themselves- Bionic arms

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

Several reports of Claudia Mitchell first woman with bionic arm from the same people who brought you the other bio arms– Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and DARPA.

More on Brain Implants. Monkey Controls Robot Arm with Thought

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

While at my meeting with the army MD I also watched videos of the two monkeys with computers plugged into their brains. They just think of eating and command a robot arm to feed them. Talk about couch potato.

Army Also Has Thought Controlled Computer With Matrix-Brain-Plug

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

(these are the real ones- see below)

We wrote on the biolimbs earlier. Even more amazing is the development of the Matrix-like computer neural plug into the brain. Cyberkinetics is commercializing the Braingate system. I saw videos of a quadraplegic controlling a computer with thoughts alone– via a port that plugs directly into his brain. Hey, Neo had one, so did everyone in Cronberg’s eXistenZ.

Matrix version eXistenZ version

MSNBC Reports Bionic Arm- But They Don’t Know About the Two Soldiers in Iraq…

Posted on September 15, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

MSNBC today reports bionic limb in Jesse Sullivan. Sorry folks its not the only! We spoke last week with US Army MD who described two Soldiers in Iraq with replacement biolimb legs and we viewed video of previous bionic arms they have been developing. US Army Human-Assisted Neural Devices (HAND) Program has been developing direct thought controlled computers and robotics.

Autonomous Mars Rover

Posted on September 13, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

Also at the CMRI is the concept of the autonomous Mars Rover. This takes the medical robot to the next level. I’ll be lecturing at the international AAGL meeting in November on this concept in a special session on new technology in medicine (“FutureVision”)— take the autonomous miniaturized robot lander and launch it inside the abdominal cavity. It can run with wireless telemetry monitoring internal conditions, detecting cellular signals of cancer, measuring metabolites for disease states, or via cool-light LED’s and CMOS sensors provide remote imaging. Its coming.

Robotic Institute Developing Self-Propelled Cardiac Lunar Lander Type Robot

Posted on September 13, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

Carnegie Mellon Robotic Institute has been developing the Heartlander robot. Similar to a lunar lander this device would slef navigate on the surface of the heart to remotely perform procedures. There are huge neglected opportunities for transmigration of NASA technology from remote planitary probes to self-propelled surgical innerspace devices. Think Mars Rover meets Fantastic Voyage.

Update From Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS)

Posted on September 12, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

Just back from the annual meeting of the SLS. The SLS is the only multidisciplinary society dedicated to minimally invasive surgery (MIS). They are really trying to position themselves as the high-tech surgical society and it shows. I will follow up with in depth reviews of what was new and noteworthy there. Major highligts to follow in upcoming posts will include:

1) natural orifice surgery — poised to become the next wave in surgery with no external incisions — travel through the bodies natural openings (mouth, anus etc) then cross outside the GI track. Potential to revolutionize surgery if its does not prove to be worthless or deadly first. The jury is still out as its just being developed.

2) Device development session with Tom Fogarty, MD – the king of MD inventors and a panel of VC’s.

3) new tools for further miniaturized procedures

4) New autofluorescence based laparoscope- presented for the first time. Incredibly exciting- allows the surgeon to see lesions invisible to the naked eye. Presentation focused on endometriosis but huge potential cancer applications. I think its incredible but am very biased as the author of the study!

5) Robotics everywhere but the best don’t need them. Lots of debate– today the robots main use is as surgeon extender. It is primarily being used to enable those surgeones lacking laparoscopic skills to perform laparoscopic procedures. However what happens when it breaks and its 1.4M$ price are roadblocks. Lots of debate to review.

6) Simulators. Huge push coming for simulators to become the foremost tool for training and skills assessment. I have beeen involved since my days at Yale and real progress has been made. Lots to review here.

Welcome to docinthemachine

Posted on September 11, 2006 by Steven F. Palter, MD

September 11, 2006… The launch of docinthemachine. What a dark and somber day today was on the 5th anniversary of 9-11. I am reminded of how fast the flood of information comes at us today and how the pace of change has sped up. Information is everywhere and is more readily accessible than ever before. The attacks of 9-11 were surely enabled by access to information electronic networks linking operatives across the globe yet used by those who see change and progress and inherently evil. Information is enabling and liberating and has the power to enable uprisings against those who seek to enslave with fear and ignorance.

I live in the world of medicine and see the effects of information dissemination daily. It may be patients who walk into the office with a grasp of subtleties of a rare illness that 5 years ago they could never have even found the name of without a doctor. It may be the launch of a new device or diagnostic test unimagined 5 years ago that will transform my practice. New technology in medicine is enabling and disruptive. I have always been drawn to what’s new and looked at things asking “why don’t we try it in this new way?” or “why can’t we do that with it?” Therein lies my passion. Nothing is more exciting than having a developer come to me with a concept or idea for a new device or technology and working to make it real to transform the care of my patients. However, the most exciting developments will fundamentally change or make obsolete current practice!
These concepts are the basis for this discussion:
1)    To discuss new developments and breakthroughs in medical technology
2)    To uncover technology from outside medicine that will transform future medicine
3)    To examine those disruptive technologies that will revolutionize medical practice