How a software engineer invented a breakthrough medical device
This article is inspiring but it fails to mention that no studies have shown that the device actually works.  The FDA approval process for medical devices is very different then from pharmaceuticals; to oversimplify, efficacy does not need to be demonstrated, only safety (i.e. the device is not toxic). Thus the fact that the device is FDA approved doesn't really mean much (although it sounds great).<p>As with renewable energy, cancer treatment draws massive attention because it is such a big problem, and potential miracle solutions constantly make headlines.<p>However, the general audience does not have the background to place these announcements in context, and neither does the typical journalist.  It is actually rather easy to come up with an entirely new approach that seems to work under certain conditions (algae make biofuels! solar panels in space! mice cancer cured!) but has no practical value.  Having said that, good luck to this guy and I hope the device works well.<p>(I work in medical devices for cancer diagnosis)