Medical Devices & Technology Archive

Women who used Tät, a smartphone app, did more pelvic floor exercises and had greater reductions in episodes of stress incontinence.

An app that detects an irregular heart rhythm could be reassuring for people worried about afib.

 Image: Prykhodov /Thinkstock

Just over two years ago, the FDA approved the AliveCor Heart Monitor, which consists of a smartphone app plus a phone case with special sensors on the back. Touching the sensors with your fingers allows you to see a simple version of your heart's electrical activity on the phone screen. In the latest version, called Kardia, the sensors just need to be near (not necessarily on) your phone. The readout reveals if your heart rhythm looks normal or if you appear to have atrial fibrillation (afib)—a rapid, irregular heart rhythm that raises the risk of stroke.

Currently, several new smartphone apps to alert you about possible afib using just the phone itself—no special case required—are under development. Recent research suggests they're about as accurate as the Kardia system, although they haven't yet been cleared by the FDA and aren't on the market. If and when they are, could these apps help improve afib screening?

After an artery-opening angioplasty plus a stent, a person may need bypass surgery in the future. Likewise, some people who have bypass surgery may later need a stent. Neither procedure stops atherosclerosis, the disease that clogs heart arteries. 

The FDA approved the first artery-opening stent made from a substance that biodegrades in about three years. The new stents appear to work as well as older metal stents, but blood clots may be more likely to form inside the absorbable stents. 

A group of scientists wants to develop technology to create a synthetic human genome, which could lead to improved organ transplantation, vaccines and medicines, and to new ways to fight cancer and infections.

Use it as a source of health information, a tracking tool, a direct line to your doctor, and a link to loved ones.

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People who connect socially tend to have better health. The Internet can help you connect, even long distance. 

A connection to the Internet is a powerful tool, linking you to just about all of the knowledge in the world. And you can use that tool to help improve your health. "Our research shows that many older adults aren't taking advantage of that. It's not for everyone, but it's a valuable resource, and I'm cautiously optimistic that it will make a difference for most people," says Dr. Kasisomayajula Viswanath, a professor of health communication at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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Ask the Doctor

Q: I recently turned 86 and my angina is getting worse, even though I'm taking several different medications for it. Am I too old to have an angioplasty and a stent?

A: Not necessarily. During an angioplasty, a doctor threads a thin tube into a heart blood vessel and inserts a tiny mesh scaffold (called a stent) to keep the vessel open and restore blood flow. This can often improve chest pain, or angina. However, many studies of angioplasty haven't included large numbers of people over 80. That's primarily because older people tend to have more health problems than their younger counterparts, so including more elderly people in a study could skew the results.

Implantable cardiac pacemakers help millions of people live longer and feel better.

Over the past several decades, permanent cardiac pacemakers have become a lifesaving staple of cardiovascular care. These tiny electronic devices consist of a miniature computer that is inserted under the skin of the chest. The unit sends impulses through wires (called leads) that stimulate the heart muscle to beat at regular intervals.

"There are many indications for getting a pacemaker, but nearly all involve correcting a slow heart rhythm or helping the heart to beat more efficiently," says Dr. Peter Zimetbaum, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "In some situations, a pacemaker is needed in order to prevent death. In other cases, the device is used to improve overall heart function, which in turn also improves quality of life."

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Devices to treat nighttime breathing problems may help lower blood pressure and reduce the harm to your heart.

Peaceful slumber is often a pipe dream for people with obstructive sleep apnea. More than 25 million Americans have this problem, in which the tongue or throat tissue temporarily blocks the airway during sleep. The resulting pauses in breathing (called apneas) lead to explosive snoring or gasping for breath—sometimes more than 30 times per hour.