Non-invasive Healthcare

Minimally invasive surgery has brought huge advances, but it is still invasive. Non-invasive healthcare is the logical next step and it is already available in many areas.

What does 'non-invasive' mean?

Broadly we mean by this the absence of any surgical incision, where the scalpel or needle is replaced by light or other radiation, ultrasound, electro-magnetic field or other course of action which does not break the skin.

Non-invasive healthcare is an exciting and rapidly growing field. It includes radiosurgery, diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, which includes HiFU (high frequency focussed ultrasound), light therapy (phototherapy), PDT (photodynamic therapy) and much more.

Many of these procedures are pain-free, so avoiding the need for anaesthesia and they can also replace or supplement drug-based therapies.

Scan for pressure ulcer

Phototherapy for venous ulcer

For example:

Open surgery brings pain requiring anaesthesia, hospital stays, risk of infection and potentially long recovery times which `non-invasive‘ surgery can avoid.

Virtual biopsy by ultrasound shows unprecedented detail to dermatologists and avoids disturbing suspected skin cancer lesions, which can be dangerous.

Pressure sores (decubitus) and wound undermining can be detected by ultrsound (top right) before they erupt.

PDT is an alternative to physical ablation for skin cancer and can avoid scarring.

Phototherapy promotes healing of chronic wounds like pressure ulcers, leg ulcers and diabetic gangrene and acute wounds such as tears or burns.

We are familiar with the idea of ultrasound imaging but newer technology is bringing sharper, clearer pictures in three dimensions and extending coverage to areas such as the skin, where earlier scanners were unable to provide detailed images. When wounds heal, the process can be followed even when the skin has closed, including detection of adhesions.

Ultrasound image of hair follicle

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