Diagnostics, Theragnostics, and the Personal Health Server: Fundamental Milestones in Technology With Revolutionary Changes in Diabetic Foot and Wound Care to Come

• Published in: Foot and ankle specialist 2011-02, Vol.4 (1), p.54-60
• Main Authors: Armstrong, David G., Giovinco, Nicholas A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Biomedical Technology - trends; Diabetic Foot - diagnosis; Diabetic Foot - microbiology; Diabetic Foot - prevention & control; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Genome, Bacterial; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Internet; Patient Education as Topic; Point-of-Care Systems; Software; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 1938-6400; 1938-7636
• DOI: 10.1177/1938640010395750

Over the past generation, significant advances in care have led to reductions in amputation worldwide. However, it may be argued that the most potent advances in healing have been in organization of care. Technologies are now emerging that may allow further enhancements of organization and integration of care while also bringing in much needed bedside, chairside, and in-home diagnostics to identify key points in healing and potential early warning signs for recurrence. This article reviews what are believed to be 6 key areas of change over the next generation. These include portability, durability, automation, intelligence, ubiquity, and afford-ability, all yielding specific advances in wound diagnostics. The authors believe that devices will be organized into personal health servers in cloud-synchronized devices already existing in the home (eg, a scale), the clinic, and on (or in) the patient.