20 Devices and Machinery in the Medical Field
Parker Schwan
20.1 Introduction
Keywords
- X-ray – penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation in order to get images of someone’s bones or body
- Computed Tomography Scans – a series of x-ray imaging from different angles of the body and computer processing in order to get images of bones, tissues, and blood vessels inside the body
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging – the use of strong magnetic fields and radio waves in order to generate images of different organs and ligaments in the body
- Electrocardiogram – a test that is used to check someone’s heart rhythms and electrical activity by using sensors attached to the patient
Learning Objectives
- Differentiate between the different types of medical machinery and what they do
- How medical machinery has been upgraded in recent years
- What medical technology has done to change lives
- What medical technology has done to improve research
- What the future of medical technology looks like
Machinery in the medical field has upgraded tremendously in recent decades. Some hospitals have gone from surgery being conducted only by hand while other hospitals have switched to partially robotic surgery. The advancements of certain technology in the medical field have also affected medical research significantly. Machines such as X-Rays, CAT scans, MRI scans, and other different technology advancements have made it possible to figure out what exactly a certain injury in someone is as well. 3D printing has also helped hospitals supply certain organs for people who need organ transplants since they cannot afford real transplants. These advancements have also made lab work much easier than it has been in recent history. Vaccines have been able to be developed from different machines and also cures to some diseases have been acquired from different machinery. Technology in the medical industry has changed many lives in an unbelievable way and has also advanced medical research tremendously.
“X-ray machine at Daru Hospital is able to take digital images and send them via email” by DFAT photo library is licensed under CC BY 2.0
20.2 Different Machinery in the Medical Field
Key Takeaway
Many different machines have been invented and have influenced the medical field in recent years. One major invention was the X-Ray which is the machine that takes pictures of the bones in your body, which tells the doctors if there is a fracture or break of certain bones. This machine can be used in small injuries such as a hairline fracture in a finger to major injuries such as a broken femur bone. Before x-ray imaging was invented, doctors had to use physical examination and straight-up guess if the bone was broken with the naked eye. These machines have taken the stress off all the doctors and made it easier to examine bones.
“X10068 – panorex – Dentist Visit Teeth x-ray” by akeg is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
A computed tomography scan (CT scan) is a diagnostic tool that is