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What Matters February: MedTech News You Need To Know

2 min read

Overheard at GMM HQ

"My New Year’s resolution is to be more patient, but apparently the medtech industry has resolved that 2020 is the year of the patient." - Ronda Fallon, on this year’s healthcare trends.

What the Industry Is Buzzing About

A New Twist to the Gender Gap

And women won’t like this either. A new study reveals that although young women typically have a lower blood pressure than young men, women’s blood pressure starts rising in their 30s and continues to rise—faster than men’s—until forever.

Why It Matters

Heart disease is often considered a man's problem, but new research suggests that blood pressure—and when it changes—may be really important for women. This is because high blood pressure is often at the root of a heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. The study author notes more research is needed, but hopes are higher than an 80-year-old’s blood pressure that this will lead to more informed prevention and treatment.

Safer Safaris

And more important… safer everyday living for people living in Africa thanks to the first FDA-approved vaccine against the highly contagious Ebola virus disease (EVD). EVD is transmitted through direct contact with blood, body fluids, and tissues of infected wild animals or people, as well as with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. Onset can occur two to 21 days after exposure and begins with flu-like symptoms which can then progress to include internal and external bleeding, so the vaccine is a huge win for people who aren’t into that sort of thing.

Why It Matters

The last EVD outbreak in three West African countries resulted in more than 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths. While people are freaked out about the coronavirus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing the world’s second-largest EVD outbreak right. now. Healthcare workers are at a huge risk of infection and we would 100% let them cut in line to get their vaccine ASAP.

My, What Diabetic Eyes You Have

Be on the lookout for a new “smart” contact lens (see what we just did there) which can diagnose diabetes. Using a micro-LED and photodetector, it can measure glucose concentration in the conjunctival blood vessels by analyzing the near-infrared light (NIR). So far, the research has primarily been conducted on rabbits, but commercialization is in the works.

Why It Matters

Diabetic patients typically measure their blood-sugar level by drawing blood before and after a meal, which can really dampen your Tinder date. The smart lens technology will not only allow diabetic patients to check their blood sugar level in real-time but also offers treatment for retinopathy from diabetic complications. Sweet, sweet victory.

GOOD TO KNOW

We’re living in a more inclusive Barbie world. #WeAreBarbie





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