Medtronic, Recor, Oculogica and more make Time’s best inventions list

Time Magazine’s annual list of the best inventions of the year includes more than three dozen medical technologies, featuring everything from small wearable sensors up to hospital surgery and imaging systems, as well as artificial intelligence-powered programs for rapid diagnoses.

It covers new advancements in common form factors — such as eyeglasses, watches and headbands — up to groundbreaking implants and tools for reprogramming biology itself.

Listed across different categories among 300 entrants, plus 100 additional special mentions, the technologies follow in alphabetical order below:

• ActiveProtective’s Tango Belt automatically deploys inflatable airbags around the waist to protect the hips from a potentially dangerous fall among elderly wearers at high risk for fractures.
• Aidoc’s CARE AI foundation model prioritizes urgent cases by analyzing medical scans and clinical text data.
• Algen Biotechnologies’ AlgenBrain platform combines CRISPR editing and AI to uncover the genetic underpinning of diseases, toward the development of new therapies in cancer and immunology.
• Amazon’s Pharmacy Kiosk vending machines offer commonly prescribed medications at convenient locations, while their own telehealth connectivity allows a user to video chat with a pharmacist.
• Artisight’s All-In-One Device employs sensors and cameras to monitor hospital patients’ vital signs and can provide two-way communication with providers, while updating medical records automatically.
• Biolinq’s Shine needle-free continuous glucose monitor claimed a de novo clearance from the FDA last year. Worn on the forearm, it features color-coded lights to illustrate changes in blood sugar trends.
• C the Signs’ software parses electronic medical records to flag the early signs of lung, breast, prostate, colorectal and pancreatic tumors, among other cancers, with potentially years of early warning.
• Cochlear’s Nucleus Nexa hearing implant is designed to receive firmware updates without the user having to undergo additional procedures.
• Columbia University’s experimental NovaKnee uses a 3D-printed replacement joint made of a biodegradable scaffold, infused with stem cells to help regenerate the body’s own cartilage and bone tissue.
• Corsano’s Multi-Parameter Wearable wrist sensor tracks vital signs like heart rate, breathing and skin temperature whether in the hospital or at home. The device is distributed by Medtronic.
• Essilor’s Stellest eyeglass lenses are studded with small divots that bend light in a way designed to slow the progress of nearsightedness among children. A clinical trial showed myopia progression slowed 71% over two years among wearers age 6 to 12.
• Flow Neuroscience’s FL-100 headset treats severe depression at home with transcranial direct-current stimulation.
• Fortell’s AI Hearing Aids are designed to amplify speakers’ voices in noisy environments such as restaurants, employing hundreds of times the computing power compared to typical hearing aids.
• Helpany’s Paul ceiling-mounted radar aims to detect when a resident in a senior living community is at a higher risk of a dangerous fall.
• Hilo’s Core provides continuous blood pressure monitoring without an inflatable cuff, with PPG sensors built into a wristband that also tracks sleep and activity.
• The Jackson Laboratory and MIT’s Microneedle Skin Patch aims to collect immune cells without requiring the patient to undergo a biopsy or submit a blood sample for skin conditions such as psoriasis and vitiligo.
• Kohler’s Health Dekoda clamps onto the side of a toilet bowl to analyze urine and track hydration, metabolic health or detect blood in waste.
• Maternal Newborn Health Innovations’ OdonAssist uses a soft sleeve and inflatable cuff to gently assist a newborn through a vaginal birth, without the bruising associated with forceps or vacuum extractors.
• Mayo Clinic’s Radiomics-Based Early Detection Model, or REDMOD, uses AI to detect the early signs of pancreatic cancer from a standard CT scan. The approach has detected early tumor growth about 16 months ahead of a typical diagnosis.
• Medtronic’s Stealth Axis Surgical System offers robot-assisted spine surgery as well as cranial, ear, nose and throat procedures, with AI-guided preoperative planning software and live visualization features during the surgery.
• Nanox’s Arc X tomosynthesis scanner uses less radiation than a CT scan and can run off a standard power outlet.
• Natera’s Signatera personalized blood test searches for DNA fragments matched to a patient’s own tumor to detect recurrence early.
• Oculogica’s SNAP test measures eye movements to determine within 90 seconds whether someone has a concussion. It’s designed for use at sporting events as well as ERs and clinics.
• Pathway Labs’ EchoNext AI tool uses routine electrocardiograms to spot the signs of structural heart disease, referring patients to ultrasound or other imaging.
• Peri’s wearable device pairs biomarkers with user diaries to help track symptoms of perimenopause.
• Pluslife’s MiniDock MTB test can detect tuberculosis in minutes from an oral sample with a compact, battery-operated device that does not require special training.
• Recor Medical’s Paradise ultrasound renal denervation system offers a one-time procedure to lower stubbornly high blood pressure by targeting the overactive nerves around the blood vessels feeding the kidneys.
• Samphire Neuroscience’s headband delivers transcranial direct current stimulation for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder to help resolve symptoms.
• Science Corporation’s PRIMA brain-computer interface helps to restore the vision of patients with age-related macular degeneration. Paired with camera-equipped eyeglasses that beam near-infrared light to the implant placed at the back of the eye, it converts the image into electrical signals.
• Sequel Med Tech’s twiist automated insulin delivery system has been cleared for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The device features sonic-powered onboard sensors that measure and confirm each insulin microdose and alert the wearer to potential tubing blockages.
• Tissium’s Coaptium Connect uses a light-activated polymer instead of sutures to help repair broken nerves. It received an FDA de novo nod last year.
• Ultrasound AI’s Delivery Date AI analyzes an entire ultrasound to determine a fetus’ due date, instead of the decades-old formula relying on a few measurements.
• Visby’s Rapid PCR At-Home Women’s STI Test, which was authorized by the FDA in 2025 to detect chlamydia, gonorrhea or trichomoniasis in 30 minutes.
• Withings BodyScan 2 smart bathroom scale carries electrodes in a stowaway handle to help spot blood pressure risks among other biomarkers and data points. The original Body Scan scale debuted in 2022.
• Ziwig’s Endotest aims to diagnose endometriosis through microRNA found in a saliva sample. A 2025 study demonstrated 96% accuracy.

Time’s special mentions included: EMS Innovations’ Riser ergonomic patient-lifting device for first responders; MiniMed’s Go smart insulin pen system; Perimeter Medical Imaging AI’s Claire, for 3D images of breast tissue during cancer surgery; Resmed’s Smart Comfort AI feature for personalized CPAP settings; and Wesper’s wearable sleep apnea monitoring patch.