There could be many objects/communication methods, but I speak of experience when I say such "simple" things today such as MRI's, CT Scan's and Endoscopic procedure.
Think about endoscopy (putting a small camera in your body) with the option of taking a small biopsy. Before that, you had to "open up" and that could lead to infections and death.
Personally, I had to get a sinus operation done back in 2009 and back up to 25-30 years ago, they would of had to butcher me open and the end result would be that i'd have massive scars on my face. Sometimes, they would have to drill a hole above your upper gum to get to your maxiliary sinuses.. *shivers*..to this day, this procedure can still be performed, but under more SERIOUS cases.
The medical field is an amazing and evolutionary field that has quick spurs of progress and knowledge, though there are still some limitations. Human genome and DNA are being tested every single day to see how we can extend ones life and there is progress that is being made so that people still don't die from the common cold.
My 2 cents.