Technology will Save our Minds and Bodies

By: Fabian Mueller

Introduction• Technological innovations have helped us live longer and helped save lives.

• The advances in technology have help children have a chance at live where 50 years ago they may have not survived their illnesses.

• Medical advances have made detecting injuries and disease much easier and more actuate.

• These advances have made treating these injuries and diseases more effective.

• These advances have also made the doctors job easier.

Old But Valuable Technologies

• Live change medical technological innovations that change the medical world:

– Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

– Computed Tomography (CT)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• The first whole body MRI scanner was created in 1977 by Dr. Raymond Damadain

• Used to find:– Brain aneurysms– Trauma the brain (i.e. bleeding or swelling)– Tumors in the brain– Tumors or inflammation of the spin

MRI Continued• How it works:– MRI’s use magnetism, radio waves and a computer to

create images of the body.– The magnet creates a strong magnetic field that aligns the

protons of hydrogen atoms, which are then exposed to a beam of radio waves. (MedicineNet, 2007).

Computed Tomography (CT)

• Developed by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr. Alan Cormack

• Used to:– Diagnose muscle and bone disorders (i.e. Bone

tumors and fractures)– Find internal injuries and internal bleeding– Locate and monitor blood clots, cancer, heart

disease, and lung nodules

CT Scans Continued• How it works:– Combines a series of X-ray views which are taken for

different angles (Mayo Clinic, 2012)– A computer collects the images and creates a cross-

sectional picture of the inside of your body.– CT scan images can be put together to create a 3-D

image.

New and Future Medical Technologies

• New Technologies:

– Minimally invasive robotic surgeries

– Artificial Heart

– Symplicity Catheter System

Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgeries

• Minimally invasive surgery is a surgery that is done with one incision or no incision

• Intuitive Surgery, Inc. has created the daVinci Surgical System.• In July 2000 it was FDA approved for general laparoscopic

surgery• And in November 2002 was approved for mitral valve repair

surgery

Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgeries

• Key advantages to conventional laparoscopy such as 3D vision, motion scaling, intuitive movements, visual immersion and tremor filtration. (Palep, n.d.)

• Three components to the daVinci System– The robotic cart– The surgeon console– Endoscopic stack or column

Artificial Heart• The artificial heart is designed to act like a natural heart.• The only difference between the two is that a natural heart is a living

muscle where as the artificial on is made of plastic and aluminum.• An external power source is need to made the artificial heart pump the

blood around the body.• The artificial heart is meant for temporary use, until a compatible heart

can be found for the patient.

Symplicity Catheter System• This technology will be used to treat patients with high blood

pressure• First the sympathetic nerves on the renal artery walls are

disabled• The device consists of a generator and a flexible catheter.• The catheter is introduced through the femoral artery in the

upper thigh and is threaded up into the renal artery near each kidney.

• Once in place, the tip of the catheter delivers low-power radio-frequency (RF) energy according to a proprietary algorithm, or pattern, to affect the surrounding sympathetic nerves.

Symplicity Catheter System

Conclusion

• These technologies have helped doctors save lives.

• These new technologies will help save lives and help people live healthier lives.

• It will also give them a fighting chance at a normal or almost normal life.

• These technologies will made a doctors life a lot easier and well as let them do their jobs better and faster.

ReferencesMayo Clinic. (2012). CT scan. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ct-scan/MY00309

MedicineNet.com. (n.d.). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI Scan). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/mri_scan/article.htm

Palep, J,H. (n.d.). Robotic assisted minimally invasive surgery. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699074/

The Franklin Institute. (n.d.). The Human Heart: Healthy Hearts. Retrieved from http://www.fi.edu/learn/heart/healthy/fake.html

News Medical. (2011, August 10). First renal denervation Medtronic Symplicity Cather System performed in Latin America. Retrieved from http://www.news-medical.net/news/20110810/First-renal-denervation-with-Medtronic-Symplicity-Catheter-System-performed-in-Latin-America.aspx