This document summarizes the social impacts of medical technology. It provides examples of various medical technologies such as using stem cells to grow organs, brain-controlled bionic limbs, 3D printing of anatomical structures, and flexible microelectronics. Both the pros and cons of these technologies are discussed. The document concludes that while medical technology has limitations, it has significantly improved healthcare by saving lives, enhancing efficiency, and increasing treatment options with opportunities for continued advancement.

1. GNED1002: Social Impact of Society
Submitted by: Sheryl Tejada
Submitted to: Emily Brett
12 APRIL 15

2.  Introduction
 Social Importance
 Medical Technology Examples
 Pros & Cons of Each Example
 Final Conclusions

3.  Medical technologies include a wide range of technology used to diagnose,
monitor or treat diseases and medical conditions affecting humans.
 It save lives, improve health and contribute to sustainable healthcare.
Technology has come a long way to benefit and help/aid the health care
industry.
Advantages of technology in the medical field are (but not limited to):
› Internet – main source of medical information
› Health care facilities reaching out to patients via social media
› Better treatment and less suffering
› Improved patient care and work efficiency
› Doctors are easier to reach (phone/cell) and better at their jobs

4.  Saves lives/improves health
 Highly work and time efficient
 Increases quality of care
 Complex medical solutions
 Promotes independence
 Faster recovery time
 Increases economy

5.  Around 2% of adults experience kidney disease, which results in thousands of deaths
every year. Not only is there a waiting list to receive a donor kidney, but
unfortunately, only 25% of those on the waiting list will receive the lifesaving call.
 Human cloning has been used to create stem cells which is then used to grow
human organs outside of the body, such as kidneys. It also can replace/repair
damaged tissue or cells.
 Due to the fact that the organ shall be grown using one’s own stem cells, the body
will not reject the organ which may happen to those who receive a donor organ.
 This technology can lead to new tissue-transplant operations which are able to
benefit those who suffer from debilitating disorders, such as Parkinson's disease,
multiple sclerosis, heart disease and spinal cord injuries.
 This works by removing the nucleus from an unfertilized egg and replacing it with the
nucleus of a skin cell. It is then given an electric shock which causes the cells to
begin dividing until they form a ‘blastocyst’ (a small ball of a few hundred cells).

7. Pros
 Body will not reject the organ
 Do not have to rely/wait for a donor
 Replace/repair damaged tissues or cells
 Live-saving
 Endless Possibilities
Cons
 Costly/Expensive
 Larger/complicated organs such as the heart is still a working progress
 Political/religious opinions – “ We should not mess with human life”
 People may use this new technology to clone humans which may be used for the
wrong reasons such as creating a “super baby/human” or for selfish purposes.

8.  Controlled by the user’s brain
 Users are able to climb stairs, walk on
sloped terrains and flex an ankle just
by thinking about the action – as if
they were not missing that limb
 The computer installed within the
bionic limb is able to identify and
learn the user's intended actions
and provide an intuitive and
responsive movement.
 Designed of light weight material
such as graphite and micro-
technologies
The image above shows the neural
impulses produced by the body which
is them transferred to the computer
within the bionic limb, thus providing
the responsive movement based off
the user’s intentions.

9. Pros
 Fulfill the sensation of feeling to those who are
missing a certain limb
 Provide those with the disability of missing a
limb with the ability to perform actions as if they
were not missing a limb – promotes freedom
 Beneficial to the military/veteran community
 Light weight technology (10.2 pounds)
Cons
 Costly/Expensive
 Can take some time to get used to
 May cause some skin irritation

10.  Been used to replace bones, bring
prosthetic devices to people in war-
torn regions, and help within the prep
stages for surgeries
 A woman in Holland was given 3D
printed skull following a devastating
accident
 A baby in Michigan was given a 3D
printed tracheal splint – which saved
the baby’s life
The image above shows a 3D
printed jaw bone.

11. Pros
 Advanced medical options
 Fast prototyping and manufacturing
 Customizable
 Help prep with surgeries
 Life saving
 Price is slowly decreasing
Cons
 Limited materials
 Can be used as creation for dangerous items
 Decrease manufacturing jobs

12.  Flexible Mirco-electronics
› Flexible electronics are able to wrap around irregular tissue forms and conform to their motion
where they are able to identify to different physiological parameters.
 Rapid Homeostasis System
› This device is able to stop deep bleeding wounds by injecting tablet-sized pellets into the wound
that quickly expand and fill the wound space to make the bleeding stop.
 Diabetes Monitoring/Glucose Control
› This device delivers a nearly pain-free pricks anywhere on the body. It provides a vacuum around
the sampling site, vibrates the spot, and pierces the skin within .018 of a second.
 Ambulance Drone
› The drone is to be controlled by emergency responders to get to the patient where anyone able
to help can quickly access the electrode pads, prep the patient, and begin defibrillating in
seconds.
 Medtronic Micra
› World’s smallest pacemaker

13.  Medical Technology has come a long way and is proven to
help diagnose, monitor and treat diseases and medical
conditions.
 It is proven to have saved the lives of many
 Highly efficient in regards to time and work.
 Medical technology is not perfect, but there is lots of room for
improvement and even more possibilities.

14. A. Kreuger. (2010, December 10). 6 Ways Technology Is Improving Healthcare.
Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/6-ways-technology-is-improving-healthcare
2010-12?op=1
R.Buckman. (2009,June 26). In Pictures: 10 Life-Saving Technologies
Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/26/life-saving-devices-technology-personal
monitors_slide_2.html
(2015, April 10). Health technology
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_technology
L. Tan, K. Ong. The impact of medical technology on healthcare today
Retrieved from http://www.hkcem.com/html/publications/Journal/2002-4/231-236.pdf
S. Knapton. (2014, April 17). Breakthrough in human cloning offers new transplant hope
Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/10774097/Breakthrough-in-human-cloning
offers-new-transplant-hope.html
L. Winter. (2013, December 16). Researchers grow human kidney using stem cells
Retrieved from http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/researchers-grow-human-kidney-using-stem-cell
L. Stinson. (2013, October 15). The Future of Prosthetics Could Be This Brain-Controlled Bionic Leg
Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/2013/10/is-this-brain-controlled-bionic-leg-the-future-of-prosthetics/

15. Stem Cell Research
Retrieved from https://explorable.com/stem-cell-pros-and-cons
EDITORS. (2014, December 31). The Best Medical Technologies of 2014
Retrieved from http://www.medgadget.com/2014/12/the-best-medical-technologies-of-2014.html
(2014, November 14). 3D Printing- The Pros and Cons
Retrieved from http://www.augmentedrealitytrends.com/3d-printing/pros-and-cons.html