TED: How your body could become its own diagnostic lab | Aaron Morris

The video discusses a new vision for healthcare diagnostics, focusing on creating a diagnostic lab inside the body for continuous health analysis. Current methods like biopsies and MRIs have limitations, especially for diseases like multiple sclerosis. The proposed inside-out approach involves implantable sites that provide real-time molecular and cellular information, enabling proactive disease prediction and treatment. The process includes engineering tissues under the skin and using sensors for noninvasive monitoring. This innovative method aims to improve diagnosis and treatment speed and accuracy.

What are the two major problems with traditional biopsy methods?

• They are too expensive and time-consuming.

• They cannot be used on all tissues and often don't identify the problematic tissue.

• They require advanced technology and specialized training.

• They are only effective for certain types of diseases.

What is the main challenge with current external medical tests like MRIs?

• They are too expensive for most patients.

• They cannot detect molecular and cellular changes within tissues.

• They are not widely available in all regions.

• They require a long time to produce results.

What is the primary goal of the 'inside out' diagnostic approach?

• To provide real-time access to molecular and cellular information.

• To make healthcare more accessible to remote areas.

• To reduce the cost of medical tests.

• To eliminate the need for any medical tests.

How are the engineered tissues created under the skin?

• By applying a topical cream that encourages cell migration.

• By using laser technology to stimulate tissue growth.

• By implanting a porous plastic disc made of FDA-approved biomaterials.

• By injecting a special serum that grows tissues.

What is the potential future development mentioned for reading signals from engineered tissues?

• Creating a specialized blood test.

• Developing a new type of MRI machine.

• Implementing a new type of X-ray technology.

• Using a smartphone app similar to Candy Crush.

Which diseases have been diagnosed using the new diagnostic approach?

• Metastatic cancer, type one diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and organ transplant rejection.

• Heart disease and stroke.

• Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

• Common cold and flu.

What is the ultimate vision for the diagnostic lab inside the body?

• To replace all traditional medical tests.

• To provide a continuous analysis of health and improve disease diagnosis and treatment.

• To eliminate the need for doctors.

• To make healthcare more entertaining.