Work on an oil rig can be dangerous, with cuts, sprains, fractures and other injuries not uncommon, and ailments such as respiratory infections, asthma, and heart attack can also pose a serious problem on a rig where access to medical professionals is limited, an article published in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health says.
The rationale behind growth of this market hinges on unhealthy lifestyles and an aging population prone to chronic conditions. In fact, most of today's home health device market helps patients manage chronic diseases, like diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Last year, almost 50,000 blood pressure monitors were used as telehealth devices. That number will grow 10-fold, to over 500,000 by 2013. In that period, diabetes monitors expect to top 300,000 shipped units.
Read more: Telehealth enabled home medical device shipments will exceed 2 million by 2013
“This is a very capable and yet cost-effective microscope, shrunk into a very small package and weighing only 46 grams,” said inventor Aydogan Ozcan from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Read more: World’s smallest telemedicine microscope developed
Technology now allows physicians to consult with patients or colleagues, view diagnostic images, even perform remote surgery using robots, but if a doctor licensed in New York—while attending a conference in Nevada—refills the prescription of a patient vacationing in Florida after a discussion on the telephone, they may be skating on some thin legal ice and could be putting their medical license at risk.
Read more: Long-distance relationships: Telehealth use expands in consultation, education
Ein Ingenieur an der University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) hat das laut Universität kleinste, leichteste Mikroskop der Welt für telemedizinische Anwendungen entwickelt. Das 46-Gramm-Gerät nutzt eine linsenlose Technologie, um Blutproben oder andere Flüssigkeiten abzubilden. Zur Stromversorgung wird der Diagnostik-Winzling einfach per USB-Kabel an Computer oder Smartphone angeschlossen. Damit erfolgt auch gleich die Datenübertragung an eine medizinische Einrichtung.
Read more: Telemedizin: Mini-Mikroskop für Ferndiagnose via Handy