Telemedicine: In action April 16, 2008
Posted by Bertalan Meskó in Health, Health 2.0, Invention, Medicine.trackback
One of my readers shared this interesting article with me. Technology Review wrote about remote microscopy:
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a modular, high-magnification microscope attachment for cell phones. The device will enable health workers in remote, rural areas to take high-resolution images of a patient’s blood cells using a cell-phone camera, and then transmit the photos to experts at medical centers.
Let’s think bravely. The general practitioner finds a suspicious naevus on the patient’s skin during a regular visit; makes a microscopic image and sends it immediately to the dermatologist who can analyize the naevus in high-resolution. The GP gets an answer in minutes. Is it too futuristic?
The article added:
Leukemia patients in remote areas could use the microscope cell phone to transmit images for white blood cell counts.
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Fantastic Berci! That is very impressive.
-Steve
http://www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com
How about blood smears to diagnose malaria?
Absolutely possible.
Not sci-fi/fantasy at all. Quite practical. Was the idea there a long time ago but the technology had to be developed first?
Question is, would this device become standardized. If not, or if so, how would health insurance coverage and rates be affected?
the information captured and transmitted need to be kept in good database for future usage. Another improvement in hospital information system (HIS)
This is really interesting and has a lot of potential. Some areas really are too rural to have modern equipment and up-to-date technology, so this would really help them out.