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Bio-inspired devices could spark imminent new technology and jobs
08/11/2011
The medical and scientific sectors could well see an imminent surge in demand for development and sales of implantable medical devices.
Dr Timothy Constandinou, from Imperial College London's Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, said that current advances in the technology look set to continue improving, and that patients will be able to receive ever-more portable, precise and personal devices for managing their illnesses.
"We've come a long way since the days of the humble pacemaker," Dr Constandinou told the New Electronics online magazine. "Advances in biomedicine and information and communications technologies have enabled the healthcare industry to move towards a smarter, more decentralised approach centred not on the physician, but the patient."
He added that the ways in which they carried out their research were also changing. Whereas previously, he said, scientists looked at available technology and considered adapting it for use in the human body, today's researchers are looking at how the body works first, and then modelling electronics around that.
He added that revolutionary projects currently being worked on included the development of an artificial pancreas, which could be used in the treatment of Type-1 diabetes. The non-invasive system comprises a sensor to detect blood sugar levels, a chip that can mimic the behaviour of the different cells contained in the pancreas, and two small pumps that can be worn on the body.
Dr Timothy Constandinou, from Imperial College London's Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology, said that current advances in the technology look set to continue improving, and that patients will be able to receive ever-more portable, precise and personal devices for managing their illnesses.
"We've come a long way since the days of the humble pacemaker," Dr Constandinou told the New Electronics online magazine. "Advances in biomedicine and information and communications technologies have enabled the healthcare industry to move towards a smarter, more decentralised approach centred not on the physician, but the patient."
He added that the ways in which they carried out their research were also changing. Whereas previously, he said, scientists looked at available technology and considered adapting it for use in the human body, today's researchers are looking at how the body works first, and then modelling electronics around that.
He added that revolutionary projects currently being worked on included the development of an artificial pancreas, which could be used in the treatment of Type-1 diabetes. The non-invasive system comprises a sensor to detect blood sugar levels, a chip that can mimic the behaviour of the different cells contained in the pancreas, and two small pumps that can be worn on the body.
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