The Top Ten Medical Innovations of 2011
Posted March 22nd, 2012
In the four years of its existence, The Scientist’s annual Top 10 Innovations contest has showcased some of the coolest life science tools to emerge in the previous year. This year’s list is no exception.
1. Pocket Microscope
Diagnosing malaria or other blood-borne illnesses used to require analyzing cell slides under a light microscope—which can be difficult to find in impoverished, remote locations. Enter LUCAS (Lensless, Ultra-wide-field Cell monitoring Array platform based on Shadow imaging), an easy-to-use, pocket-size holographic microscope that weighs less than 50g, uses inexpensive, off-the-shelf parts, and can be attached to a cell phone’s camera, making it ideal for diagnosing disease in isolated, developing countries.
2. All Around the Mouse
This past September, Bioscan introduced BioFLECT, the first 360-degree optical imager, which uses a rotating ring of 48 detectors to generate a full 3-D scan of fluorescent markers.
3. PCR in a Pouch
The FilmArray system was designed to make pathogen detection simple, accurate, and fast. Because there are multiple nested PCR reactions within each FilmArray pouch, one run can detect all of these pathogens, and others, at a cost of less than $150. Plus, the FilmArray reaction does not require a trained technician and only takes an hour rather than the 5–6 hours needed for a traditional, real-time PCR reaction.
4. Single-Cell Mass Cytometry
Designed by Scott Tanner, chief technology officer of DVS Sciences, CyTOF is a mass spectrometer that can feed researchers data about molecules within and on the surface of individual cells, revealing not only the cell’s identity but also some of its functions.
5. Illuminating Microscopy
Nikon incorporated SIM technology into its flagship inverted microscope to produce the N-SIM Super Resolution Microscope—one of the fastest and most powerful high-resolution optical microscopes on the market. The N-SIM microscope can achieve a spatial resolution between 85 and 110 nm and a temporal resolution of 600 milliseconds per frame.
6. DNA Deluge
RainDance Technologies’ ThunderStorm System for DNA sequencing is the newest iteration of the company’s popular next-generation RDT1000 model. While other PCR enrichment systems allow researchers to process fewer than 100 gene regions, the ThunderStorm allows researchers to sequence up to 20,000 regions per sample.
7. Mini MRI
Thanks to Aspect Imaging’s M2 Compact MRI System, all you need is about one square meter of space and $500,000. Having its own lead-lined housing means the M2 can be used in a standard laboratory and avoids the credit card–erasing, watch-destroying, and medical instrument–damaging effects of large-scale MRI machines.
8. The Circadian Watch
The Dimesimeter may offer researchers insights into how disrupting circadian rhythms affects human physiology, behavior and disease. Developed by scientists at the Lighting Research Center at RPI, the battery-powered, dime-sized Dimesimeter contains optical sensors and accelerometers that measure both the light exposure and activity of the person wearing it.
9. One-Step Sample Prep
To prepare material for analysis by mass spectrometry, chemist Akos Vertes of GWU developed Protea Biosciences, Inc.’s LAESI (Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization) DP-1000 System, which can handle any type of biological sample that contains water—either naturally, as in animal or plant tissues, or water added by the experimenter.
10. Super-Resolution Solution
The new Leica SR GSD microscopy system illuminates only a few random molecules in the field of view at a time, taking a picture, and then repeating the process thousands of times until all the molecules have been illuminated and imaged.
