Medical Devices & Technology Archive

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Cardiologists expect wider use of the less-invasive technique—known as TAVR—in the near future.

The one-way valve inside your aorta opens to allow blood to surge from the heart to the rest of your body. But as you age, the valve's leaflets may stiffen and become clogged with calcium deposits, restricting blood flow. About 12% of people ages 75 or older have this condition, known as aortic stenosis. Symptoms include feeling dizzy, faint, tired, and breathless. Unless the valve is replaced, half of people with symptoms from aortic stenosis die within two years.

These innovative devices and procedures for diagnosing and treating heart conditions are on the horizon.

For the most part, the Harvard Heart Letter focuses on treatments that are already available for people with heart disease. In this article, we're making an exception. Editor in Chief Dr. Deepak L. Bhatt selected five innovative technologies in the world of cardiovascular health that he predicts we'll be hearing more about in the coming years.

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The raised, tortuous vessels may be controlled with support hose, and they can be eradicated in a quick, outpatient procedure.

Varicose veins are one cardiovascular condition that usually isn't considered serious or life-threatening. Around half of all women have them, and most regard them as a cosmetic annoyance. However, they can be responsible for swollen legs, skin changes, and the development of leg ulcers.

When you are caring for someone who is ill, elderly, or disabled, it's important to consider how you'll handle those times when you can't be with your loved one in person. Thankfully, today's technology offers options that can help you keep track of your loved one's safety and well-being.

Most people are familiar with the emergency response system known as Lifeline. Experts call devices and systems like Lifeline "telecare." But there's much more to telecare than emergency assistance. Today, there are a multitude of telecare devices that can help you stay informed of your loved one's activities and needs in real time.

Ask the Doctor

Q. I've heard that my smartphone might interfere with my pacemaker. What exactly can happen?

Ask the Doctor

Q. I've had a pacemaker for several years. Does it make sense to replace it with a newer model that is safe during an MRI scan?

A. Your concern is valid, given some estimates that many people who currently have an implanted cardiac electronic device will need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during their lifetime. Sometimes, computed tomography (CT) scans can be used instead. But MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing certain diseases of the brain and spinal cord.

Harvard scientists are getting international attention for their work with breakthrough technology that can edit genes in living cells. Five Harvard experts—Dr. George Church of Harvard Medical School, and Drs. Keith Joung, David Liu, Kiran Musunuru, and Derrick Rossi, all of Harvard University—were featured speakers in the first-ever CRISPR Congress, held in Boston in February 2015. CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. These are segments of genes that contain repeating sequences of DNA.

The Harvard experts spoke to other scientists about CRISPR, which holds the potential to repair gene mutations, fight disease, and improve food supplies. Harvard researchers have demonstrated that CRISPR may be able to lower cholesterol levels, correct gene mutations, and block HIV infection. "Suddenly anyone can edit any piece of any DNA a thousand times more easily and precisely than before, which is game-changing for gene therapies, organ transplantation, aging reversal, and malaria," says Dr. Church.

Downloadable software can educate and motivate, helping you to move in a healthier direction.

These devices can help you safely reach your fitness goals.

Whether you're just getting started with an exercise routine or are a committed fitness enthusiast, tracking your heart rate can be helpful. Heart rate monitors—which instantly tell you how fast your heart is beating—can help you exercise at the right intensity.

Highlights include promising new medications, devices, and procedures to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke.