As the U.S. advances toward healthcare reform, developments in Health TechZone forge ahead at a frantic pace. Here's a snapshot of what happened in healthcare technology this week.
Is your cell phone giving you brain tumors? The World Health Organization (WHO) lists mobile phones as a potential carcinogen, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) argues that studies showing that radiofrequency energy from mobile phones causes changes to human tissue have not been replicated.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing cell phone standards implemented in 1996 to see if they need revising, and it has commissioned the inquiry into mobile phones and human health to put the issue to rest once and for all.
In other healthcare technology news, chips developed at the Imperial College in London may help obese patients to lower their calorie intake. These chips aren't salty, crunchy and delicious; rather, they're intelligent electronic implants designed to read the chemical signature of appetite in the vagus nerve, which connects the brain and the digestive tract.
Theoretically, the chips can communicate with the brain to lessen appetite and may provide a minimally invasive alternative to bariatric surgery.
How would you like to be rewarded for taking your medications and vitamins like a good boy or girl? San Francisco startup Mango Health has created an app that essentially "gamifies" the job of following your medication regimen. You report your successes within the app, and you can receive a series of rewards for your efforts.
For instance, Mango Health has acquired $3.1 million in seed capital to set up a partnership with retail giant Target to award Target gift cards to patients who are medication-compliant. Patients can also donate to charity in lieu of receiving a gift card.
Finally, you may have a smartphone app for your workout, but you've probably never pumped iron using your smartphone case. Now that Marware has combined concrete, carbonite and asphalt, covered it with rubberized paint and created the world's first kettlebell iPhone 5 case, you won't have to worry about leaving your iPhone in your gym locker.
Do your kettlebell workout with the Marware case, pop out your iPhone and record your workout on your favorite health tracking app. Kettlebells can potentially burn up to 300 calories in just 20 minutes, and you can get the Marware case for a mere $400.
With that, we wrap up our coverage of this week's Health TechZone developments. Check back daily with HealthTechZone's Health TechZone for the latest news from the world of healthcare technology.
