10 best medical inventions of 2020

By Naveed Saleh, MD, MS 

| Published December 24, 2020

From bedsore detectors and portable hand-washing stations, to virtual reality and beyond, 2020 was a boom year for medical inventions. That’s according to Time magazine, which tasked its editors and worldwide contributors with nominating the top inventions of the year. Of the 100 that made the final cut, 23 were medical inventions, with picks based on effectiveness, originality, creativity, impact, ambition, and more. 

Here are 10 that caught our eye.

1. xvision

Many have dreamed of x-ray vision, but this sci-fi concept has finally become a reality of sorts with the introduction of xvision, by Augmedics. This product is a headset that turns CT images into 3D renderings, giving spinal surgeons millimeter accuracy while performing surgery. It projects a 3D image of the patient’s spine over the body, and is already in use at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center.

2. Virti

Launched by a trauma surgeon, Virti is an augmented/virtual-reality training platform that places professionals in high-stress situations as a means of preparation and practice. The platform has recently been used to teach frontline workers about the proper use of personal protective equipment, ventilation, and treatment in the context of COVID-19. Another medical use involves the management of arterial nicks during surgery. According to its maker, Virti boosts knowledge by 230% compared with typical training.

3. Nella NuSpec Reusable Vaginal Speculum

Metal speculums are notoriously uncomfortable. The Nella NuSpec, by Ceek Women’s Health, is crafted from high-grade polymer and is about the caliber of a tampon. Once inserted, it quietly and gently expands to leverage the walls of the vagina while providing visibility comparable to its clanky metal counterparts.

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4. mRNA vaccine

Demonstrating human ingenuity in the face of a terrible health crisis, Pfizer and Moderna’s celebrated efforts against COVID-19 employed the genetic sequence of this virus to develop separate mRNA vaccines. These nimble alternatives do not require protracted manipulation of the actual virus, while still provi