What is medical technology? History of Medical Technology. Advanced Medical Technology. Pro's/Con's of Medical Technology Different Types of Modern Medical Technology

1. TECHNOLOGY WILL
SAVE OUR MINDS AND
BODIES
Medical Technology
By: Ashley Dibley
Social Impact of Technology
Professor Kelly Woods

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• What is Medical Technology
• History of Medical Technology
• Advancements /Modern Medical Technology
• Pros/Cons of Medical Technology
• Different Types of Medical Technology
• Conclusion
• References

3. WHAT IS MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY?
• Medical Technology is defined as “the application of principles of natural, physical and
biological sciences to the performance of laboratory procedures which aid in the diagnosis
and treatment of diseases.” (Heinemann, 2014).
• There are two main areas of medical technology: diagnosis and treatment.

4. (A., Doggett, A. M., & Evans, J. T. (2005). Medical technology: contexts and content in science and technology. Retrieved from
http://www.mycahs.colostate.edu/Michael.DeMiranda/MedTechPrimer6.0.pdfEucomed)

5. HISTORY OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
• Up until 50 years ago, X-ray was the only non surgical means to extract information
within a living body. (Hoehn & Marie b, 2010).
• In the 1950’s , nuclear medicine (radioisotopes to scan the body) and ultra sound
technology (which in corporates sound waves) was created (Hoehn & Marie b,
2010).
• The 1970’s brought CT , PET and MRI scans. This more modern technology reveals
structure and molecules with the body (Hoehn & Marie b , 2010

6. HISTORY CONT’D
Timeline of Medical technologies
from 1962-2008
https://haysvillelibrary.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/history-of-medical-technology-selected-milestones-1816-2008/

7. WATCH THIS TED TALK VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrW3-yzWt5Q

8. ADVANCED MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
• Medical research discoveries
• Electronic Imaging
• Bionic limbs
• Medical Treatment
• Health apps/sensors
• Wireless communication
• Electronic health records
• Vaccines
• Laparoscopic Surgery

9. PRO’S OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY• Cheaper than people, and therefore make healthcare cheaper also.
• More accurate and faster than humans
• Jump start for smaller practices who lack capital
• Promotes implementation of technology
• It has cured disabilities that couldn’t be cured before
• Electronic imaging: MRI’s, CT scans etc.
• Medical discoveries
• Vaccines have been developed to provide immunity to disease and infections.
• Bionic limbs: Engineers have designed and developed prosthetic robotic human parts that mimic limbs such as legs, arms,
hands, feet and fingers. By integrating computer technology into the prosthetic design, these parts can self adjust and grip.

10. CONS OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
• Technology is not reliable and can lead injury or death
• Technology leads to job loss
• Healthcare costs continue to rise reflecting the adoption of each new technology causing a growing arrest to the access of certain
healthcare treatments
• We are paying tax dollars for this medical technology
• Security and privacy: When hospitals transfer information about a patient to a computer the technology can be vulnerable to outside
sources when using the internet
• Potential to have a catastrophic program error or failure which can result in a waste of money and time for all involved

11. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
• Cutting Back on Melanoma Biopsies: The MelaFind optical scanner is not for definitive diagnosis but rather to
provide additional information a doctor can use in determining whether or not to order a biopsy. The goal is to
reduce the number of patients left with unnecessary biopsy scars, with the added benefit of eliminating the cost of
unnecessary procedures.
• Electronic Aspirin: A technology under clinical investigation at Autonomic Technologies INC., (Redwood City, CA) is a
patient-powered tool for blocking SPG signals at the first sign of a headache. The system involves the permanent
implant of a small nerve stimulating device in the upper gum on the side of the head normally affected by
headache.
• Needle-Free Diabetes Care: It brings the constant need to draw blood for glucose testing, the need for daily insulin
shots and the heightened risk of infection from all that poking.
• Robotic Check-Ups: Telemedicine is well established as a tool for triage and assessment in emergencies, but new
medical robots go one step further—they can now patrol hospital hallways on more routine rounds, checking on
patients in different rooms and managing their individual charts and vital signs without direct human intervention.

12. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY CONT’D
• A Valve Job with Heart: The Sapien transcatheter aortic valve is a life-saving alternative to open-heart
surgery for patients who need new a new valve but can't endure the rigors of the operation.
Manufactured by Edwards Life Sciences.
• 3D MRI Scan : MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an advanced imaging technique. The body part to
be examined is placed inside a powerful magnet, and harmless radio waves are released towards it. A
computer then builds an image by analyzing the pattern of radio waves returned from the part.
• Heart Pacemaker: This chest X-ray shows an artificial pacemaker that has been inserted beneath the
skin of the chest. Pacemakers are given to people whose hearts have a defective electrical system. The
pacemaker delivers electrical signals to the heart via wire leads – these signals trigger contractions of
the heart muscle and maintain a regular heart beat.
• Laser Eye Surgery: Laser beams are used as cutting and burning tools in various types of surgery,
including eye surgery. A laser can be used to treat disease of the retina at the back of the eye and to
reshape the cornea for treating short-sightedness.

13. CONCLUSION
• I believe that medical technology plays a very important role in the health of
everyone. Since new medical discoveries and advancements, technology is helping
with the treatment of very many illnesses/diseases.

14. REFERENCES
History of Medical Technology, Selected Milestones, 1816-2008. (2010). Retrieved August 02, 2016, from
https://haysvillelibrary.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/history-of-medical-technology-selected-milestones-1816-2008/
Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2012). Human anatomy & physiology (9th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Pearson Benjamin Cummings
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY. (n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2016, from http://www.factmonster.com/dk/science/encyclopedia/medical-
technology.html
Top 5 Medical Technology Innovations. (n.d.). Retrieved August 02, 2016, from https://www.asme.org/engineering-
topics/articles/bioengineering/top-5-medical-technology-innovations