Medical Devices & Technology Archive

Doing cataract surgery with high-speed lasers may make the operation more precise — but will it be worth the extra cost?

Each of our eyes comes equipped with a lens tucked behind the pupil that focuses light on the retina in the back of the eye. When we're young, those lenses are quite clear. But with age and exposure to light and other harmful factors, they have a tendency to cloud up, as the proteins in the watery mixture inside the lens clump up. Clouding of the lens is called a cataract.

Stem cell type and timing of treatment seem to matter most.

Results from the first-ever trial using stem cells that normally reside in the heart had the scientific community using adjectives like "astounding" and "compelling." But as encouraging as the findings were, keep in mind that stem cell research is still in its infancy and has a long way to go before yielding effective treatments for heart disease.

Ultrasound machines can take images (echocardiograms) of the heart's chambers, valves, and blood flow that rival CT and MRI scans for detail and clarity. But sometimes a more rapidly acquired echocardiogram serves a particular purpose better than one with all the "bells and whistles."

Ultrasound devices that physicians can carry in a pocket now "compare favorably with the stethoscope as a tool to differentiate what's normal from what's not," says Dr. Judy Mangion, associate director of the noninvasive cardiac laboratory at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital. They let doctors see on a flip screen what they previously could only hear and feel during a physical exam. And at about $8,000 each, a hospital conceivably could give 25 doctors their own pocket-sized ultrasound device for the same cost as a single high-end machine.

For some people, controlling blood pressure is a matter of eating a healthier diet, exercising more, and reducing stress. Others must add one or more medications. When these standard approaches don't do the trick, a novel technique that uses a pacemaker-like device may someday help.

The Rheos system (see illustration) works on baroreceptors (patches of nerve endings that are sensitive to changes in blood pressure) located inside the carotid arteries that run up either side of the neck. The device stimulates these baroreceptors using a pacemaker-like pulse generator connected to wire leads that run to each baroreceptor.

If one occurs, early detection and immediate action are crucial.

Pacemakers and implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are helping the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people pump at the right pace or nipping potentially lethal rhythms in the bud. But more people are developing infections after receiving such devices. Those infections keep people in the hospital longer and increase their risk of dying.

Atrial fibrillation can be dangerous from a fast heart rate and a higher stroke risk

Is atrial fibrillation serious? People who are old enough to remember the sound of wind-up clocks often refer to their hearts as their "tickers." It's an affectionate term that pays tribute to the regular, rhythmic beat of the healthy heart. In fact, though, the healthy heart is much more sophisticated than the most precise Swiss timepiece.

Instead of maintaining a single, monotonous beat, the heart can speed up in response to exercise, strong emotions, and fever. Common chemicals can also jack up the heart rate; examples include caffeine, nicotine, and decongestants. And the healthy heart can also slow down when you rest, relax, or sleep.

"Apps" and devices are turning cell phones into tools for health.

The powerful computer you may carry in your pocket or purse — more commonly known as a cell phone or smartphone — can do so much more than make calls, send text messages, and play games. A host of applications ("apps") and devices that plug into or connect with smartphones and tablets can help you monitor your health, manage a medical condition, and communicate with your doctor.

The common heart rhythm problem known as atrial fibrillation is characterized by rapid, erratic beating of the heart's upper chambers. It has traditionally been treated with drugs. A procedure called atrial ablation aims to restore a normal rhythm by destroying patches of heart tissue that generate errant "beat now" signals.

A doctor does this with small bursts of electricity delivered from inside the heart. There's no need for surgery — the tissue-zapping device is introduced into the heart from an artery in the groin, much like artery-opening angioplasty.

Q. I had a pacemaker implanted a few months ago. I am planning to join a gym to get back some strength in my arms and upper body, but I am afraid of damaging the wires with some of the presses and pull-down movements I would have to do to work out on the gym's machines. Are there any exercises or movements I should avoid?

A. It's great that you want to exercise and improve your upper-body strength. You just need to be a bit more careful going about it than someone without a pacemaker.

Turning off these devices can spare patients pain and suffering.

The front-page article of the March 2011 Health Letter was about implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), devices that jolt the heart back into a normal rhythm if it starts to beat too fast or in an irregular fashion. ICDs, which are about the size of a small cell phone, are surgically implanted under the skin, just below the collarbone. The article touched on several issues, including some research suggesting that too many people are getting ICDs, partly because doctors aren't waiting long enough after heart failure is diagnosed to see if other kinds of treatments might be effective.