Technology in Medical Science

Transcription

1 Available online at Procedia - Social and Behavioral Scien ce s 81 ( 2013 ) st World Congress of Administrative & Political Sciences (ADPOL-2012) Technology in Medical Science Marjan Laal a * a Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of madicine, Tehran, Iran Abstract Nowadays, medicine makes effective treatments for diseases and injuries, establishing on existing discoveries and knowledge. As applying the portable electronic devices are increased in everyday life, medical science needs to accept and welcome modernization so that we can begin building guidelines for the proper use of technology. Medicine and medical technology has become the antidote for illnesses and diseases that formerly resulted in the destruction of entire societies. Now, our society needs a generation of physicians that are technologically skilled and adapted toward innovation. This article reviews the greatest technological innovations that revolutionized the medical science in many aspects of: diagnosis, management and treatment Published by Elsevier Ltd The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. Selection and peer review under the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Andreea Iluzia Iacob. Selection and peer review under the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Andreea Iluzia Iacob Keywords: Medicine, Technology, Great, Improvement; 1. Introduction Medical science is the science of diagnosing and treating illnesses, or preventing from disease and damage to the body or mind. Nowadays, medical science creates effective treatments for diseases and injuries with improving technology and constructing on existing discoveries and knowledge (Varkey, P. & Athyal, V.P., 2005). A recent report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says that physical sciences have already been transformed by their adoption of information technology (IT), advanced materials, imaging, nanotechnology and sophisticated modelling and simulation (Economist, 2009 April 16). Innovation in medical technologies is geometric, not linear, with medical previous inventions creating new developments in another. In fact, technology has made significant contributions to all parts of medical care. Medical science benefit from advances in technology, from neonatology to gerontology to the latest in telemedicine as health information technology, all are working to benefit the entire health system, from physician, to patient, to medical administrators and insurers (FishMan, R.H.B., 2010). Over the years, many progresses in medicine and health care have been achieved. Discoveries have helped to extend the lives of people throughout the world. Advances in medicine and medical technology have become the antidote for illnesses and diseases that formerly resulted in the great mortalities. During the last century, we had a proliferation of medical innovations aimed at improving the life expectancy, quality of life, diagnosis, treatment * Corresponding author: Marjan Laal.Tel.: (1-3) address: laal.marjan@gmail.com The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. Selection and peer review under the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Andreea Iluzia Iacob. doi: /j.sbspro

2 Marjan Laal / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 81 ( 2013 ) options, as well as the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the healthcare system (Varkey, P., Horne, A. & Bennet, K. E., 2008). This article is an attempt to introduce great technological innovations in medical industry, which can be considered as revolutions in healthcare system. It is through introducing medical technologies that stakeholders interested in promoting or considering adoption, are able to identify what benefits to expect from working with these systems, how best to apply them to enhance advantages derived from their investment, or how to manage policy to increase the quality and efficiency delivered by the health care sector as a whole 2. Material and method This article reviews the great technological advancements in medical science. It begins with presenting a summary of medical great inventions, outlines the major technological progresses in medicine ensuring that main breakthroughs are included. This paper strives to weave its particular focus on great medical technologies. Key issues were identified through review of literature on medical innovations and through review of literature on medical technology. 3. Results Medical innovation, as Omachonu and Einspruch defined in their article (2010) published in the innovation journal: presenting a new concept, design, service, process, or product with the purpose of improving treatment, diagnosis, outreach, prevention, education and research, and with the plans aimed at enhancing quality, efficiency, safety, outcomes and costs. As Raiser (1987) claimed; in the 19 th century, using machines for diagnosis or therapeutics increased in medicine. In addition to them, chemistry began to play an important role. Equipment was more used to diagnose diseases as diabetes, anemia, diphtheria, and syphilis. Healthcare science was transformed in the 19th century and beyond by improvement in chemistry, laboratory techniques and devices, that made previous understandings of infectious disease epidemiology be replaced with bacteriology and virology. Over the years, medical science has been fundamentally transformed, from using the subjective evidence provided by the patient to the objective evidence acquired from mechanical and technology devices (Miranda, M. A. De, Doggett, A. M., Evans, J. T., 2005). Numerous discoveries in medical science led to save and to extend the lives of people throughout the world. Many technological breakthroughs have accelerated the pace of medical innovations, inspiring hope for superior clinical diagnosis, better results with less invasive and virtually safe procedures, and shorter recovery times. These changes will drive demand for new lower cost diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. The ancient Egyptians have performed surgery back in 2750 BC, and the Romans were pioneers to invent medical tools such as forceps and surgical needles. Today, medicine has been revolutionized by waves of discovery that have brought marvels like antibiotics, vaccines and heart stents. Now the industry is convinced that a third revolution is under way: the convergence of biology and engineering (Economist, 2009 April 16). Among the earliest discoveries in medical technology are the thermometer, stethoscope, microscope, ophthalmoscope, laryngoscope, and x-ray. These devices enabled doctors to hear and see parts of the body that had previously been observed only in cadavers. Stethoscope was considered the first diagnostic device used to obtain information about the lungs and heartbeats of patients (Raiser, S. J., 1978). According to Michael Anthony De Miranda (2010), the top 25 great innovations in medical industry are grouped in 3 categories, as follows: Devices; numerous innovations in medical devices contribute to treat different diseases and illnesses, as the artificial hearts, robotic catheter, handheld medical scanner, bone injector drill, dialysis machine, lens implants, and artificial joints. Technology; Advances in medical technology help us to enhance our ability to diagnose and treat conditions, as: electrocardiography, X-ray, Nano-healing, electric health records and heath information technology

3 386 Marjan Laal / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 81 ( 2013 ) (health IT), laser surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), organ transplant and skin antennas, which are further discussed in following in this article, and; Drugs; some of the best medical innovations have been in the field of pharmacology and drug treatments. Technology and healthcare science go together. Technological advances in medical care are more discussed in the following. 4. Discussion more than a century, and especially those from more than two centuries ago, would be amazed at the things that be done in medical care. Few important samples of medical technology are as following: X-ray: seeing inside the body result in better diagnosis while reducing the errors. X-ray was first discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen; a German scientist. Roentgen called it X to indicate its unknown nature, although still occasionally referred to as Roentgen-ray in German-speaking countries (NASA, 2007 March 17). Electrocardiography (EKG): is reading the electrical activity of the heart by means of electrodes stick to the skin and recorded by a device external to the body (Wikipedia, electrocardiography, 2012, Nov.10, last updated). Mammography: mammogram is an X-ray test of the breasts used to screen for breast problems, is done to detect breast small tumors before they can be palpable (WebMD, Mammogram, 2011 Aug. 20). US: creating pictures of the inside parts of the body through exposing the body to high-frequency sound waves. Harmful ionizing radiation was replaced by sound waves in US exams. As the pictures are captured in real-time, they can display form of the structure as well as the movement of an organ (General Ultrasound Imaging, 2011 June 24). Ultrasound-guided interventions such as biopsies and abscess drainage, pioneered in 1974, have also become routine. It can also be used to help assess fetal development. Many investigators have been intrigued by 3D fetal imaging. High-quality fetal ultrasound, has made intrauterine fetal surgery possible (Harrison, M.R., Adzick, N.S., Longaker, M.T., et al., 1990; Baba, K., Satoh, K., Sakamoto, S., 1989). MRI: uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to create images of organs and structures inside the body instead of x-rays. In many cases MRI gives different information about structures in the body from those captured by other imaging methods. MRI is a relatively new technique. Mansfield P. and Lauterbur P.C. gained the Nobel Prize in 2003 because of their pioneering research on MRI. Nowadays, this modality is used to detect neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders and to examine patients with cancer. MRI has the capability of providing images in high quality from the rapidly moving structures of heart and vessels. In addition, MR contrast agents have improved. Blood pool agents are being developed for MR angiography, which is emerging as a viable non-invasive means to examine vessels. The hunt for new and better MR sequences continues. Functional imaging studies that acquire both anatomic and physical information are also gaining ground. MRI also may show problems that cannot be seen by other imaging methods (WebMD, MRI, 2011, Aug. 20; Bydder, G.M. & Young, I.R., 1985). much damage. Laser surgery: Laser stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers work by producing an intense beam of bright light that travels in one direction. The use of lasers in surgery and other procedures has reduced invasiveness as well as reducing healing time. Eye surgery has especially benefited (ASDS, 2010). Nanotechnology offers a number of amazing opportunities. Nanomaterials can stop bleeding. The material was discovered in the early 1990s, but a few years ago its potential for stopping bleeding was discovered. Rutledge Ellis-Behnke was exploring its potential use to promote the healing of brain injuries. When he applied a liquid containing the synthetic peptides to a wound in animal, bleeding in the area stopped within a few seconds (Bullis, K., 2008 May 12).

4 Marjan Laal / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 81 ( 2013 ) Health information technology (health IT); it includes various set of technologies to transmit and manage health information for the groups in medical care. Generally the term includes the capture, use, storage and/or transmission of health information through electronic processes (Lardiere, M.R., 2008). The potential for IT to have an impact on the safety, cost, and quality of medical care, has never been greater. Health IT is an umbrella term to describe the fully management of health information across the computerized systems and its secure exchange between consumers, providers, government and quality entities, and insurers. Generally, it is viewed as the most promising tool to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency of the health delivery system (Chaudhry, B., Wang, J., Wu, S., et al., 2006). Organ transplant: one of the greatest innovations in medical technology is the ability to transplant organs. Sir Harold Ridley was the first one to successfully implant an intraocular lens (IOL) on 1949 at London, but until the 1970s, IOL did not used widespread in cataract surgery, when further developments in lens design and surgical techniques had produced (Wikipedia, Intraocular lens, 2012 Oct.13, last modified). Artificial joints such as for hips and knees represent huge medical advancement. Skin antennas make use of radio frequency communications to help medical devices work together (Miranda, M.A.de., 2010, July 12). Medical technology also created educational needs for medical technicians to become capable in apply appropriately technology. Patients also need education when confronted with the often confusing decisions regarding the tests and procedures performed for their health and well-being. Now, convergence of various scientific and technological progresses speeded up the pace of medical invention and led to better clinical outcomes and saving lives. 5. Conclusion New medications, new diagnostic techniques, and new surgical procedures have helped millions of patients not only to live longer, but also to possess better quality lives. Today, thanks to medical technology, our ability to see biochemical changes at the initial onset of disease led to better diagnose and treat patients. Also, enhancing medical devices provided the ability to intervene with minimal injury. Medical technology lead to increase quality of lives and will ultimately extending lives as a whole. Better information about medical technology, allows stakeholders interested in promoting or considering adoption, to recognize the potential benefits might follow using these systems in medical care, and to direct the policy to enhance the quality of medical care sector. In this article, great technological advancements were reviewed, including: X-ray, EKG, US, mammography, MRI, health IT, nanotechnology, organ transplants and skin antennas. References ASDS (2010). Laser surgery information. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). Meadowbrook; USA. Retrieveed 2012 Nov.20, from: Baba, K., Satoh, K., Sakamoto, S., Okai, T. & Ishi, S. (1989). Development of an ultrasonic system for three-dimensional reconstruction of the fetus. J Perinat Med, 17(1), pp Bullis, K. (2008, May 12). Nanohealing Material Heads to Market. Technology review, MIT publishing. Retrieved 2012 Nov. 20, from: Bydder,G.M. & Young, I.R (1985). MR imaging: clinical use of the inversion recovery sequence. J Comput Assist Tomogr, 9(4), Chaudhry, B., Wang, J., Wu, S., Maglione, M., Mojica, W., Roth, E., et al. (2006). Systematic review: Impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, Annals of Internal Medicine; 144 (10), Economist (2009 April 16). Medicine goes digital, special report on health care and technology, London, UK; Retrieved 2012 Nov.20, from: FishMan, R. H.B.(2010). Innovation in medical technology. Jewish virtual library, a division of American-Israeli cooperative enterprise, Retrieved 2012 Nov.20, from: Harrison, M.R., Adzick, N.S., Longaker, M.T., Goldberg, J.D., Rosen, M.A., Filly, R.A., et al.(1990). Successful repair in utero of a fetal diaphragmatic hernia after removal of herniated viscera from the left thorax. N Engl J Med., 322 (22), Lardiere, M. R. (2008 April 8). An Introduction to health information technology (HIT) and best practices for implementation. National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), Washington DC, USA; Retrieved 2012 Nov.20, from: An Introduction to Health Information Technology_8_4_08. Doc.

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