Recently we had the opportunity to be beta testers for Navigenics, a personal DNA company. Upon receiving the results, we were saddened to learn we weren’t part of a genetically superior class of super humans. But then we dried our eyes and sat down with Navigenics CEO Dietrich Stephan to talk about this new technology.
Medgadget: Thanks for taking some time to speak with us today. Can you give our readers a little summary about the history and mission of Navigenics?
Posts by: Josh Umbehr
An Interview with Navigenics
Max.MD: Exclusive Provider for Medical Domains (.md)
Everyday we report on the often mind boggling technological revolution occurring in the medical and bio-tech fields. Unfortunately, the actual delivery of medicine has remained hopelessly stuck in the ’80′s with limited adoption of internet technologies. Front line physicians are stuck between a patient populace crying for electronic communication and an adversarial government’s vague regulations and strict financial punishments.
Thankfully, there are innovative companies that hope to drag help bring medical professionals into the 21st century with secure, affordable, seamless solutions. Recently, we had an opportunity to sit down with Scott Finlay, CEO of Max.MD, and chat about how this company hopes to do just this.
Femtosecond Lazers: Killing Cancer & Fusing Metal to Bone
University of Missouri scientists are working to bring functional femtosecond lasers [as in beams] out of the real of sci-fi and into the real world of medicine. Lead researcher, and professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Robert Tzou explains how this new technology could revolutionize everything from dentistry to oncology to joint replacement surgery.
What makes the femtosecond laser different from other lasers is its unique capacity to interact with its target without transferring heat to the area surrounding its mark. The intensity of the power gets the job done while the speed ensures heat does not spread. Results are clean cuts, strong welds and precision destruction of very small targets, such as cancer cells, with no injury to surrounding materials. Tzou hopes that the laser would essentially eliminate the need for harmful chemical therapy used in cancer treatments.
MagneTrace: Drug Compliance Necklace
Investigators from Georgia Tech developed an electronic necklace that can detect magnetized (tagged) pills as they pass through the esophagus. The idea is that the necklace will record the date and time of PO intake, and will send the data wirelessly to the computer.
“Forgetfulness is a huge problem, especially among the elderly, but so is taking the medication at the wrong time, stopping too early or taking the wrong dose,” said Maysam Ghovanloo, assistant professor in the Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Studies show that drug noncompliance costs the country billions of dollars each year as a result of re-hospitalization, complications, disease progression and even death.”
Impact Guardian: Smart Helment Calls 911
If a motorcyclist falls and bumps his head in the woods, does it make a sound? If you’re wearing your new smart helmet invented by engineering student Brycen Spence at UMass Amherst, it does. Plus, it will call emergency services and alert them to your location.
“The WIG will be activated when it is buckled on,” says Spencer. “If you fall and hit your head, the helmet will detect that and beep for a minute or so. If you don’t turn it off, WIG sends for help, either directly to 911 or to a third-party service that relays the emergency call to 911. Included with the message will be a GPS location giving your geographical coordinates so the emergency team knows precisely where you are.”
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Bye, Bye Pills! MIT Develops Internal ‘Micro Pharmacy’
Forget the drug releasing tooth, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed an implantable medication laced film that could easily and accurately deliver pharmaceuticals.
The film could eventually be used to deliver drugs for cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and other diseases. It is among the first drug-delivery coatings that can be remotely activated by applying a small electric field.
Radiologists Will Be Able To “Feel Organs”
New software developed by Erik Vidholm at the Uppsala University in Sweden will allow physicians to view radiographic images as stunning three-dimensional models, allowing for increased diagnostic utility.
With the aid of computerized image analysis, it may be possible in the future for radiologists to feel images with the help of a three-dimensional mouse. Erik Vidholm at Uppsala University has been involved in developing the new technology, which makes it easier to diagnose and plan the treatment of cancer, for instance.
GelSpray Liquid Bandage Developed for Military
Working with the Center for Military Biomaterials Research (CeMBR), part of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials at Rutgers University, lead researcher Dr. Dennis Goupil of BioCure Inc., out of Norcross GA, has developed a remarkable “spray on dressing” that has recently received FDA approval.
The GelSpray Liquid Bandage is a major advance in the management and care of combat casualty and civilian wounds. Much like epoxy is dispensed in household kits, the dressing is applied with a dual syringe that releases two polymer ingredients. These polymers react rapidly upon mixing to form a gel-based dressing that frontline combat soldiers can apply to their own wounds. The dressing conforms to the wound geometry, adheres to intact skin but not directly to the injured tissue, and resists abrasion.
Knee Brace Generates Electricity
Inspired by advanced technology found in hybrid cars, Dr Max Donelan led a team of Canadian and American researchers to develop an electricity generating knee brace that has countless practical, medical, and military applications.
“Walking is a lot like stop-and-go driving,” explained Dr Max Donelan of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, lead author of the paper.
