Magnetic heating may replace surgery to cure some infections
Scientists are testing the approach on hard-to-treat infections on artificial joints
Ilima Loomis
Dec 15, 2017 — 6:45 am EST
An electromagnetic coil around a limb would selectively heat metal in an artificial joint (shown inside coil) without hurting any surrounding muscle and bone. Researchers are testing this approach to treat infections on medical implants.
UT Southwestern Medical Center
This is one in a series presenting news on technology and innovation, made possible with generous support from the Lemelson Foundation.
Implanted metal parts — such as artificial joints or pins and plates that hold bones together — can help people with injured or aging bodies. Once repaired, patients often can run, jump and play again. But sometimes bacteria in the body find and hide out in these implants. When this happens, it may take surgery to rout those germs. But what if doctors could kill those germs from outside the body, without drugs or cutting someone open? Two scientists are developing a way to do just that. The trick to make it happen: a special magnet.
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/magnetic-heating-may-replace-surgery-cure-some-infections
