This is Tech Knowledge

NOW: WATCH THE FIRST FOUR EPISODES!

Meet Lorena, a "newbie" at Abbott who is thrilled to be part of the Abbott crew that runs 107,000 deep. You would be too if you'd worked as hard to reach a goal as she has. Now that she's here, she's on a mission to showcase this groundbreaking company ... all while being awesome at her day job as a product expert in outpatient medical devices. As part of her introduction to All Things Abbott, she’ll hear details about our life-changing tech straight from the experts involved in bringing them to be. Join her as she explores our health breakthroughs that are helping people live their best lives, every day. This is Tech Knowledge, an online video series about Abbott’s innovations. Settle in. It's going to be a fun ride.

EPISODE 1: INCEPTION

If you know where you've been, you can help shape what's to come. Here Lorena takes a step back in time! For generations, Abbott has been at the forefront of health innovations. It all started when Dr. Wallace C. Abbott, an experienced physician, first produced accurately dosed and scientifically formulated medications in his drugstore, as Karmin (an Abbott seasoned pro) explains. The good doctor’s rigorous medical study, innovative methods and a "Do it now" work ethic are very recognizable today around his namesake company. Thanks for setting the example, doc.

We like to say Abbott has the staying power you can depend on with the hunger to make new ideas into realities. But it’s not just some hype. Really. Check out these exemplary examples:

• For people living with diabetes, our FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system eliminates routine fingersticks for glucose management. That's big.
  
  
• Our iOS-compatible neurostimulation device, a world first, helps ease the toughest cases of chronic pain.
  
  
• Our i-STAT portable blood analyzer, a point-of-care diagnostics tool, provides quick, accurate results for anyone who needs fast information, from hospital patients to marathon runners.

We will never stop innovating to create a smarter, healthier world. We’re honoring our past by delivering the future. That's the journey. Join Lorena for hers.

EPISODE 2: NEUROMODULATION

Deep brain stimulation! Science fiction or science fact? You can trust Lorena to find out. Imagine going from complete independence — where you like, when you like, how you like — to being unable to control your arms to brush your own teeth. It can be crushing, mentally and emotionally. For many people living with Parkinson's disease or essential tremor1, that disruption of their daily lives is a stark reality.

Enter neuromodulation and deep brain stimulation (it's OK if you’ve never heard those words before), where scientists use electrical stimulation to disrupt — or modulate — signals in the body to treat the symptoms of movement disorders.

Lorena meets Brittany, who introduces her to our Infinity DBS system equipped with directional lead technology. The leads allow more precise stimulation to maximize care while reducing unwanted side effects, all within reach via an iOS device.

All within reach. For people diagnosed with Parkinson's and ET, those are the words of sweet relief.

EPISODE 3: LIBERATION

It's hard to understand something you’ve never experienced. In this episode, Lorena comes to grips with diabetes, literally!

Stick your finger. Do it again, up to 10 times a day — and night, don’t forget. Log your results.

Now do that every day, for the rest of your life.

Or, with our FreeStyle Libre system, don't do that. As #techgenius (BTW, how do we get that on our business cards?) Laura shows Lorena in a very clear (and slightly painful) demonstration.

Along with eliminating routine fingersticks for diabetes management, the FreeStyle Libre system tracks glucose levels with data available at moment's notice simply by using a handheld reader to scan a sensor on the back of your upper your arm.

For people living with diabetes, monitoring their glucose levels has never been as hassle-free, discreet, convenient and informative as it is with the FreeStyle Libre system. It doesn't just take away routine fingersticks2, it takes away the dread that often discourages regular testing. Better testing, better diabetes management, better health. We like "better."

Sure, we're just getting started with this technology with much more to come.

But we're confident diabetes management will never be the same.3

EPISODE 4: REVELATION

How much can we learn from just a few drops of blood? Well, every day scientists at Abbott Diagnostics try to find out.

Don your lab coat with Lorena and follow John the #diagnosticsdetective to learn how just a few drops of blood and some sophisticated tech can deliver fast, accurate results with the Alinity clinical chemistry and immunoassay systems.

This blood-screening wonder combines specifically engineered chemicals, magnets and photon-detecting technology to run up to 200 tests on this one machine. It's also a workhorse, as it can run a test on your blood, and the blood of 999 of your friends, and deliver all of your results in just an hour.

Though it's pretty impressive, innovators are researching ways to detect smaller and smaller amounts of target material in a blood screening, which could lead to earlier diagnoses of heart disease, brain injury or viral infection and potentially paving the way for more effective treatments and even better results.

It's just another way we’re is using innovative technology to revolutionize healthcare.