I get excited about ordinary things sometimes. An unexpected cup of coffee from a listener on his way to work, an unexpected e-mail from a high school friend, a pleasant note left under my apartment door from a neighbour.
And I get excited when I hear about innovations and developments that occur in my city. This week, the Halifax Injector was finally revealed to the public. A surgical tool, the "device can be programmed by a touch screen to deliver precise quantities of stem cells to very specific areas deep inside the brain".
Over the years, the use of stem cells in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease has increased. Remember when Muhammad Ali had a fetal cell transplant to try and control his PD? We've come a long way since then and the Halifax Injector is another positive step.
You may be wondering about the mention of PD on what is basically an MS blog. First, there is PD on my dad's side of the family, two aunts having suffered and died from it, and a grandfather and an uncle with PD like symptoms (though to the best of my knowledge, they were never diagnosed with it). My mother and I have watched my father over the years for any tell tale symptoms (and I'm happy to say we haven't observed any).
Secondly, this instrument will have applications for drug delivery. Imagine being able to put a drug precisely where it is needed instead of injecting into a leg muscle and waiting for the body's systems to process the drug, losing some efficacy to metabolism.
Thirdly, the Injector was developed by a team of students, doctors, and researchers in fields of engineering, physics, medicine, and computer science. What a combination of minds! One of the students was just beginning his education in a local Community College when he joined the team and I can only imagine the impact his involvement will have on his future job prospects as an electrical engineering technologist.
I know one of the doctors on the team and hope to talk to him in the new year about the implications of this device on other neurological conditions.
Stay tuned!
S.
4 comments:
How cool is that!? So many varied disciplines coming together to design a fabulous device. I hope that this will be used to help very many people.
Thank goodness the CANADIANS have the sensibility to continue working on these issues without the overcast of the religious community banning it...ah...like here in the States.
O' Canada...keeps playing in my head right now! LOL
Linda D. in Seattle
Lisa,
It's very cool. The Brain Repair Centre in Halifax is simply amazing, as is Dr. Mendez.
Linda,
We are bound by the same constraints as the US when it comes to stem cell stuff, but we are working on it.
I hereby offer you honourary (as opposed to honorary) Canadian citizenship. Since Canadian citizenship was given to Santa Claus recently by the Canadian government (like they don't have more important issues to be looking after), I feel justified in offering this to you. You are hereby allowed to refer to people as "hosers", say the word "eh?" at the end of every sentence, and take up the sport of lacrosse (it actually IS our national sport).
PS: Glad you're "kind of" back
S.
Shauna,
As I lay here in bed this morning, continuing my fight to BREATHE, and wondering how in the heck I would even GET antibiotics if I needed them (for bronchitis)...I remain HOPEFUL!
I used to work in the building in Seattle that housed the Canadian Consulate...I kid you not...some days I would sit at my desk plotting my escape to their floor and claiming political asylum to defect!!
Tears are in my eyes (of course they ARE already watering from fever) at the thought of FINALLY being able to call myself an honourary CANUCK...I already HAVE the T-shirts!
Thank you, thank you,
Linda D. in Seattle (only 3 hours from Can A DA!)
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