Molly Fausone is a third-year medical student at the University of Michigan—she's also paralyzed from the chest down. Despite her physical limits, a new device allows her to perform full-body patient exams with limited physical contact, according to a University of Michigan press release.
The device is a long, flexible wire with a camera that can display live images of a patient's skin, eyes, ear, nose, throat and mouth onto any mobile device. It can also enhance images and has its own WiFi network to ensure the recordings are safety trasmitted.
"Doctors with disabilities are likely to be more empathetic, as they have more recognition of the concerns of their patients," said Michelle Meade, PhD, director of the University of Michigan's TIKTOC RERC Small Grant program which funded the development of the device, in a prepared statement. "They also increase their colleagues' awareness about disability issues."
The device concept was developed by David Burke, PhD, professor and interim chair of the department of human genetics, and David Lorch, program director for the Global Challenges for the Third Century Initiative on Deep Monitoring at the University of Michigan.
"The goal is for these devices to be used by all physicians, regardless of whether they have a physical limitation or disability," according to the press release. "The option to use such medical devices may open up the opportunities of a medical career for many individuals who otherwise would not be able to meet its demands."
Future additions to the device include video recording and using 3D-tracking technologies to measure a patient's strength and mobility during a neurological exam without having to make direct contact with the patient, according to the press release.
A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.