Technology is helping improve health and quality of life in several ways. Medical technology encompasses a wide range of products used to diagnose and treat diseases, and includes items like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and organizational systems. It is a major industry in Europe, employing many people and contributing significantly to economies. New technologies allow for better testing, treatment, and independence for older/disabled people. However, issues around privacy, prolonging life, and other ethical impacts require consideration. Continued development of health technologies is expected to further transform medicine and benefit societies.

1. Technology will Save
our Minds and Bodies
(Medical)
Thien Nguyen – Niagara College

3. 1. Definition
• Health technology is defined as the
"application of organized knowledge and
skills in the form of devices, medicines,
vaccines, procedures and systems developed
to solve a health problem and improve
quality of lives". This includes the
pharmaceuticals, devices, procedures and
organizational systems used in health care.
(World Health Organization, 2015)

4. • Medical technology, or
medtech, encompasses a
wide range of healthcare
products and is used to
diagnose, monitor or treat
diseases or medical
conditions affecting humans.
(World Health Organization,
2015)

5. • This Directive states that a medical device
is: "Any instrument, apparatus, appliance,
software, material or other article,
whether used alone or in combination,
including the software intended by its
manufacturer to be used specifically for
diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes
and necessary for its proper application,
intended by the manufacturer to be used
for human beings.” (World Health
Organization, 2015)

6. 2. Medical Technology – key facts and figures
• According to OECD Health at a Glance: Europe 2012 report growth in
health spending per capita slowed or fell in real terms in 2010 in almost all
European countries, reversing a trend of steady increases. Spending had
already started to fall in 2009 in countries hardest hit by the economic crisis,
but this was followed by deeper cuts in 2010 in response to growing
budgetary pressures and rising debt-to-GDP ratios. On average across the
EU, health spending per capita increased by 4.6% per year in real terms
between 2000 and 2009, followed by a fall of 0.6% in 2010. (Global Medical
Devices Nomenclature (GMDN) Agency, 2010)

7. • Medical technology is a key driver for Europe’s economic well-being, providing quality
employment, and a substantial contribution to Europe’s balance of trade.
• The industry employs more than 575,000 people
• The market size is estimated at roughly € 100 billion
• Around 8% of sales revenue is ploughed back into research and development
• There are almost 25,000 medical technology companies in Europe
• It is estimated that almost 95% of MedTech companies are SMEs, the majority of which are
small and micro-sized companies
• Europe has a positive medical device trade balance of €14 billion (2011), more than a twofold
increase since 2006 (Global Medical Devices Nomenclature (GMDN) Agency, 2010)

8. 3. How Technology helped the medical field
Technology has helped the medical field in many ways:
• Medical Robots
• Testing
• Better Treatment
• Helping older generations and people with disabilities be more independent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L8NM6r0XuY

9. The X-Ray
Is a negative image of internal structures. Dense structures in the body
absorb the rays the most and appear as light areas (Hoehn & Marieb,
2010).
Hollow air containing organs and fat show up on an X-ray as a dark area
(Hoehn & Marieb, 2010).
Pros: Visualizes hard, bony structures and locates abnormally dense
structures (ex. tumours and tuberculosis nodules) in the lungs, is simple ,
has excellent bone contrast and is inexpensive (Queens University,
2008).
Cons: Radiation from X-ray can be harmful to patient, loss of shape and
depth of objects, poor soft tissue contrast and delay between shots and
seeing films (Queens University, 2008).

11. Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Radioactive materials (radiopharmaceuticals) which are tagged with
radioactive material to treat or diagnose disease are injected into
patients. The radioactive materials emit gamma rays which can be
detected on a special camera, creating a nuclear image (St. Michael’s
Hospital, 2013).
Pros: 100 different nuclear medicines and tests available, can measure
the degree of organ function and is often able to detect disease for early
diagnosis (St. Michael’s Hospital, 2013).
Cons: Radiation can potentially be harmful for the patient (St. Michael’s
Hospital, 2013).

13. Ultrasound Imaging
Uses high frequency sound waves that pass through the body. Sound
waves are reflected or bounced off internal organs and tissues. The
waves are then recorded and displayed via computer. Can be used to
view the abdomen, heart, blood flow, pregnancy, muscles, tendons, and
soft tissue (ACRIN, 2013).
Pros: Non-invasive, uses no radiation, guides minimally invasive
procedures using real time imaging (ex. Needle biopsies), is easy to use
and widely available (ACRIN, 2013).
Cons: No known risks (ACRIN, 2013).

14. Computed Tomography (CT)
A more refined version of X-ray technology. Patient is moved slowly
through a CT machine. It’s X-ray tube rotates around the body and sends
beams from all directions. The computer then translates this information
into a detailed cross sectional picture of each body region scanned
(Hoehn & Marieb, 2010).
Pros: Able to help diagnose most problems that affect the brain and
abdomen, has almost eliminated exploratory surgery , non-invasive,
quick, shows bone changes better than any other scanning equipment,
provides images of soft tissue and blood vessels (Radiology Info, 2013) .
Cons: Radiation can be harmful (Radiology Info, 2013).

16. Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI )
Produces high contrast images of our soft tissues. MRI maps the
body's content of hydrogen. The patient lies in a chamber within a
huge magnet, energy released by the hydrogen molecules and is
translated into a visual image (Hoehn & Marieb, 2010).
Pros: Easily captures views of the skull and vertebral column, great
at detecting tumours and degenerative disease (Hoehn & Marieb,
2010).
Cons: Radiation may cause harm to patients (Hoehn & Marieb,
2010).

17. 4. Ethical Issue
• Hacking medical devices
• Defending our privacy
• Scanning ourselves at home
• Healthy people switching to technology
• Biological differences
• How society changes if we can prolong life, etc

18. 5. Conclusion
• Technology will help the medical filed in many ways.
• There are always new developments being made to make our lives easier
• A big issue is the ethical implications of certain treatments.
• There is always a new and exciting idea coming

19. References
 “Technology Health. World Health Organization. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
 Global Medical Devices Nomenclature (GMDN) Agency, 2010
 American College of Radiology Imaging Network.(2013). About Ultrasound Scans. Retrieved from
http://www.acrin.org/PATIENTS/ABOUTIMAGINGEXAMSANDAGENTS/ABOUTULTRASOUNDSCANS.asp
x
 Hoehn, K. & Marieb, E. Human Anatomy & Physiology (8th Ed.). (2010). San Francisco: Pearson
 Queen’s University.(2008). X-ray Imaging. Retrieved from
http://research.cs.queensu.ca/home/comp230/Lectures/X-ray/X-ray.pdf
 Radiology Info.(2013). Pros, Cons and Side Effects of a CT Scan What are the Benefits of a CT Scan?
Retrieved from http://www.radiology-info.org/computed-tomography/pros-cons-side-effects-ct-scan-what-
are-benefits-ct--scan.html
 St. Michaels.(2013). Medical Imagining. Retrieved from
http://www.stmichaelshospital.com/programs/imaging/nuclear/