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The 16 Most Exciting Health And Wellness Innovations Of 2021

Every year, TIME chooses inventions that make the world better, smarter and more fun. This year, on the list of 100 technological innovations, there are 25 attributed to the “health and fitness” domain – from simple mobile applications to solutions that revolutionize healthcare, the quality of treatment, and patient care. We’ve chosen the 16 most interesting inventions.

Revolve Air
A lightweight and mobile wheelchair. When folded, it has the size of carry-on luggage (that fits the standards of universal cabin luggage size restrictions) and looks like a small suitcase. The manufacturer plans to build automatic rental stations at airports, train stations, and city centers.

Image: Revolve Air

Nike GO FlyEase
The first hands-free shoe. It was invented to make life easier for people with limited mobility and disabilities, who often find it problematic to tie their shoelaces.

Image: Nike

OrCam Read
Readers which convert text into words for people with dyslexia and visual impairment. The device captures the whole page at once and reads it out to the user. It is estimated that at least 5-10% of the population has some form of dyslexia, which is a reading disorder.

Image: OrCam Read

Caption AI
The world’s first and only FDA-cleared AI-guided ultrasound system empowers healthcare providers with new capabilities to acquire and interpret ultrasound exams. With this software, healthcare workers – regardless of their previous experience in ultrasound imaging – can perform USG everywhere.

Image: Caption AI

Tonal
An entire gym in your home thanks to one small device installed on the wall. Extendable arms make it possible to do strength exercises. A personal trainer and advice based on data analyses carried out by the AI system helps to optimize training.

Image: Tonal

NeuroSphere clinic
A virtual clinic developed by Abbott to take care of patients undergoing neuromodulation treatment (electric pain treatment), approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The system allows a patient to both communicate with a physician and remotely receive stimulation settings in real-time regardless of location.

Image: Abbott

Robin the Robot
Children love robots. Robin is a research-based child-friendly emotional support robot that reduces stress among pediatric patients and fosters cooperation between them and the medical staff. The robot comforts little patients and entertains them during the hospitalization. This friendly companion is also easy to sterilize.

Image: Expper Technologies

Purrble
A cuddly interactive toy which can help any child calm down and bounce back from big emotions. When Purrble’s heart is beating fast, it needs to be hugged and petted until its heart rhythm stabilizes, which can be felt under its fur.

Image: Sproutel

Rendever Live
A virtual reality platform designed especially for communities made up of elders and health care organizations. Rendever is overcoming social isolation through the power of virtual reality and shared experiences.

Image: Rendever

Linus Health DCTclock
This test consists in drawing a clock from memory, which takes less than three minutes. It is a simple and accurate method of detecting cognitive disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis is based on an analysis of the picture carried out by AI algorithms.

Image: Linus Health

GIBLIB
A VR application and an accredited study program for doctors based on virtual images from an operating room that are transmitted live or recorded as video tutorials.

Image Giblib

Stentrode – Synchron
An implantable device that connects the brain to a computer, translates brain activity and stimulates the nervous system from the inside of a blood vessel, without the need for open brain surgery.

Image: Synchron

Home COVID-19 tests
Home tests, such as the one developed by Abbott, revolutionized the early coronavirus diagnosis. All you need is a nasal swab and the result is available in a few minutes. The high availability of such tests is a powerful weapon in our fight against the spread of the virus.

Image: Abbott

COVID-19 vaccines
What definitely needs to be featured among the leaders of innovation in 2021 are COVID-19 vaccines based on the revolutionary mRNA technology that also gives us hope for more effective cancer treatment.

FILE PHOTO: Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine labels are seen in this illustration picture taken March 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

TimeChi
A simple tool which not only increases productivity but also improves mental balance at the workplace. A timer on the desk measures the duration of intense work, plans breaks and allows you to analyze your behavior.

Image: TineChi

Emme Smart
The Emme birth control program combines traditional contraception with a mobile application and a fashionable case that fits into any women’s handbag. Are such combinations of digital tools and classic drugs the future of pharmacy?

Image: Emme
Whixx

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