This week, HealthTechZone reported on many different happenings in the health technology space. Among all of the new telehealth, cloud-based and mobile solutions that debuted, many companies focused their technology efforts on improving quality of life for patients with specific disorders.
Orbis International and Creston partnered up to attack blindness on board the MD-10 Flying Eye hospital. Creston is equipping the winged ophthalmic surgery center with audio and visual equipment that will allow medical personnel to interact with surgeons while they perform eye surgeries.
The Flying Eye allows Orbis surgeons to access areas that have limited access to eye care. Countries from Bangladesh to China have benefited from the South Africa-based humanitarian organization’s efforts.
Patients suffering from stroke and head injuries will benefit from a couple of new health techzone developments. Stroke patients are learning to walk again with robotics technology from the Cognitive Control Framework for Robotics Systems project. Through EEG sensors attached to their heads, stroke patients can direct a robot to stop, change speeds and turn.
Another robot from Parker Hannafin uses smartphone orientation sensors and lithium battery technology to help paraplegics to regain the ability to walk. Patients attach the robotic exoskeleton to their legs and waist while balancing themselves on crutches.
GE and the NFL have created a $60 million partnership to address head injuries in sports. A $40 million investment in imaging equipment development paired with a $20 million investment in improved safety equipment will help to detect and prevent concussions, respectively, in sports players of all ages.
Two companies unveiled solutions for personal emergency response system (PERS) services. Myrtex has given its MXD3G device instant cellular connectivity with technology licensed from Telguard. AT&T’s mPERS device features a sensor that will alert medical personnel if a senior falls and can’t ask for assistance.
Finally, Florida has taken on asthma among its poorest residents thanks to a partnership between Asthmapolis and Amerigroup Florida. Using both snap-on sensors and Web and mobile apps, people with asthma can record data and observe trends that will help them to make better decisions about healthcare.
Join HealthTechZone’s healthcare techzone next week to find out just how technology is helping people to live life to the fullest. Until then, try to survive the Ides of March and have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day.
