Technology and medical advances will help improve human health and longevity. Three examples discussed are microchip medicine which can deliver precise doses of medications over time, a robotic "cancer crab" that can remove stomach cancer through small incisions, and a Microsoft contact lens that aims to non-invasively monitor blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. While not yet ready for widespread use, these technologies have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, improve quality of life, and prolong lifespans.

1. Technology will Save our Minds
& Bodies
BY ASHLEY TONELLI & AMY LAWRENCE

2. Medical Advances & Technology
 This presentation will aim to
discuss three examples of how
medical technologies will improve
human health and thus prolong
our lives.
 Topics to be discussed: Microchip
Medicine, Robotic Cancer Crab, &
the Microsoft Contact Lens

3. Microchip Medicine
This product was introduced by Microchips Inc. of Waltham Mass.

4. What is Microchip Medicine?
 Microsoft Medicine is a small semiconductor
implanted into the patients body. This chip can be
programmed by doctors to deliver doses of
medication at specific times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COofc
CLICK TO PLAY 
JhuiW4

5. Pros:
• Can be operated wirelessly and programmed to change doses.
• Easy for confused patients (i.e. dementia) to take the correct dosing on a
regular basis.
• Avoids compliance issue
• Avoids usage of needles
• Allows individuals to live a longer healthier lifespan
• Can maintain desired levels of medication in the body
• Patients who have tested this product have stated that it has not affected
their quality of life

6. Cons:
• At the moment the chip can only
deliver 20 different medications.
• The drug is not suitable for
diabetic patients because they
require too much insulin each day,
which would not fit into the chip
properly.
• Less patient physician interaction
• Medication errors can be easily
made by a click of a button on the
computer from a nurse or doctor.

7. The Cancer “Crab”
• The cancer “crab” is a
robot that can destroy
the cancer inside your
body.
• It is inserted through
an endoscopy and
guided to the cancer.
• The robot then pinches
the cancer and Researchers at the National
removes it. University of Singapore

8. Pros:
• No scars
• Less time in surgery – takes a fraction of the time it would to perform
surgery of removing cancer
• Reduces risk of infection
• Robots can create movements so fine that the human hand could not
• Able to grab cancerous tissue and pull it out of the body
• It has already been used on upwards of five patients in Asia.
• At this point. It will be commercially available in around three years.

9. Cons:
• Can only be used for
stomach cancer at the
moment
• Only works on early stages
of cancer
• Has not been introduced
in North America yet

10. Video: What it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0mi7wrNRVo
CLICK TO PLAY

11. Microsoft Contact Lens

12. Microsoft Contact Lens
 A non-invasive monitor for blood sugar levels of
diabetes sufferers
 Research conducted by the University of Washington
and Microsoft Research aims have lenses report
blood sugar levels wirelessly.
 This will be achieved with tiny, flexible electronics
embedded into the lens itself with use of control
circuits, communication circuits, glucose sensors,
and an antenna

13. Pros:
• The hope is to one day remove the need for this invasive
means of monitoring of blood glucose levels
• No longer will need to prick finger, reducing pain, loss of
sensation, and bruising associated.
• It is an enzyme-based electrochemical process sensitive to
glucose.
• First models will report information wirelessly to a local
device
• Creates a plateau for future similar developments

14. Cons:
• Current challenges to overcome involve the
efficiency of the wireless communications,
specifically, bio-compatibility.
• Safety in relation to direct contact with the eye, as
well as comfort measures
• Not yet ready for human trials

15. Video: What it is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK9F221JF48&feature=player_embedded
CLICK TO PLAY

16. Technology & Medicine
 These are merely three examples, compared to the
millions of advances in technology in the medical
field available today.
 As a society, we are seeing an increase in medical
technologies aimed to prolong and sustain quality of
life for individuals.

17. Benefits of Technology on Society
 Revolutionizes healthcare
 Universality amongst physicians and healthcare providers
 Improves health, quality of lives, and aims to save the lives of
many
 Contributes large amounts of money to the economy
 Improved surgical procedures with effective precision and less
risk of infection
 Creates a plateau for future technological developments

18. Conclusion
 Overall, by reviewing these three examples of
medical technologies that have potential to positively
benefit society in a tremendous way, we have learned
how healthcare advancements improve and prolong
quality of life.

19. References
 Holloway, J. (2012). Microsoft developing electronic contact lens to
monitor blood sugar. Gizmag. Retrieved from
http://www.gizmag.com/microsoft-electronic-diabetic-contact-
lens/20987/
 Lyn, T. (2012). Experts build crab-like robot to remove stomach cancer.
Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/01/us-cancer-
singapore-robot-idUSTRE81009020120201
 Robinson, M. (2012). Microchip medicine will save millions of lives. Money
Morning. Retrieved from
http://moneymorning.com/2012/03/01/microchip-medicine-will-save-
millions-of-lives/
 Winslow, R. (2012). Implanted microchip shows promise in delivering
drugs. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240529702040598045772273532
90678274.html