medical technology

What is medical technology? What types of devices are considered medical technologies?
Give examples.

• any type of technology that helps us maintain or improve our health

• includes simple technologies like a thermometer, complex technologies like an MRI machine, and new technologies like robotic limbs

• includes all technology that can be used to diagnose, treat or cure medical conditions.

• What is the purpose of medical technology?

is to improve people’s health and quality of life by using tools, machines, and systems to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor diseases or medical conditions

• What is a prosthetic device or prosthesis and what are some uses of prosthetic devices?

• any device that helps replace, correct, or support a body part.

• diseased or missing teeth, eyes, limbs or joints are commonly replaced by prosthetic devices

Provide some examples of prosthetic devices.

• limb prosthesis

• joint replacement are prosthesis

• cochlear implants is a small electronic device

Briefly explain how advances in limb prosthesis have improved these prosthetic devices.

the earlier prothesis were made of heavy material such as wood or metals and allowed limited movement, but advances in robotics technology permit prosthetics that can move in response to nerve impulses much like a natural limb

What is a cochlear implant and how is it different from a hearing aid?

A cochlear implant is a small electronic device that restores some degree of hearing. Unlike hearing aids, which simply amplify sound cochlear implants are surgically inserted into the patient and stimulate the nerves involved in hearing.

What do your kidneys do?

• our kindest filter our blood, by removing waste and excess fluid from our body

• This waste is sent to the bladder to be eliminated when we urinate

• What are the possible effects/symptoms of loss of kidney function?

• accumulation of waste

• excess fluid

• increased blood pressure

• other health problems

• What is dialysis treatment? Why is dialysis treatment administered (reasons for procedure)?

• dialysis treatment is a medical procedure that removes waste, extra water, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys can’t do it properly on their own.

• reasons: acute kidney failure, remove drugs or poison from the blood

Briefly describe hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. How it is administered and how often.

Hemodialysis: a machine called a dialyzer is used as an artificial kidney to filter and clean the blood outside the patients body. In a treatment facility 3x per week (4hrs each). Requires a vascular access: AV fistula or AV Graft, for long term use or a central line Catheter (higher risk) for short term use.

Peritoneal Dialysis: the peritoneum (membranes lining the abdomen) are used to clean the body without removing it from the body. Done at home 3-5 times a day (40 mins each)

X-rays

• X-rays pass through soft tissues, such as muscle, but are absorbed by dense tissues, such as bones and teeth. Any area in which the X-ray passes through the body are detected by changes in the piece of film. The lightest parts of the x-ray films are the densest.

used for: diagnose bone fractures, soft tissues, infections, lung issues, abdominal obstruction, and dental problems

risks: X-rays can damage DNA, so parts of the body that are not diagnosed must be covered with lead, the risk of radiation is greater for unborn babies

CAT/CT scans

• a diagnostic technology that uses computers to combine many x-rays together into a cross-sectional view. CAT scans allow doctors to “see” inside the body using 3D imaging of the internal organs

USES OF CAT scans: headscans- bleeding in the brain, cancer, skull fracture. Chest scans- lung problems like cancer, emphysema pulmonary embolism. Abdominal and pelvic scans- renal stones, appendicitis cancers

RISK OF CAT SCANS: expose to x-ray radiation is higher than regular X-ray but still relatively low. Contrast agents (dyes) are sometimes added to the patient to

improve image quality. These can have side effects such as nausea, discomfort, and sometimes allergic reactions.

MRI scans

A diagnostic medical technology that uses magnetism and computers to produce detailed imager. MRIs work by aligning the hydrogen protons in the water of our body with the direction of the magnetic field and then allowing them to return to their original orientation.

USES OF MRI SCANS: can detect disease anywhere in the body without the doctor opening up the patient. It is mostly used to diagnose strokes, cancers, and soft tissue pathologies.

RISK OF MRI SCANS: the greatest risk is due to the magnetic field generated by the machine causing flying metal objects around the machine.

metals cannot be worn due to the MRIs due to the magnetic field

the loud noise of the machine may require ear protection

contrast agents used may have a few side effects

• Ultrasound (sonogram and echocardiograms)

a diagnostic medical technology that uses sound waves called ultrasounds to create images. Ultrasound waves are very high frequency waves that cannot be heard by the human ear. The sound waves are reflected back at different speeds depending on the type of tissue

USES OF ULTRASOUND: sonograms: used mostly to monitor the health of developing babies in the womb and to diagnose medical conditions like ovarian cysts and kidney stones.

Echocardiogram: an ultrasound scan of the heart used to diagnose irregular heart rhythms and other forms of heart disease.

RISK OF ULTRASOUND: no risk to the patient has been detected however occupational hazards can be increased risk of hearing loss (very rare)

PET scans and Nuclear Diagnostic Medicine

nuclear medicine uses radioactive atoms called RADIOISOTOPES. Pet scans are a type of nuclear medicine used for diagnosis a patient is given a radioisotope that tracer (often glucose) that emits particles called positrons.

USES OF PET SCANS AND NUCLEAR DIAGNOSTIC MEDICINE:

most often used to detect cancer or to examine of cancer treatment (PET)

used to detect heart disease and brain disorders (PET)

investigate blood circulation and evaluate disorders in the organs (NUCLEAR MEDICINE)

RISKS:

the radiation used is very low with a short half-life

rarely patients have an allergic reaction to the tracer of irritations at the injection site

What are vital signs and what are the four main vital signs monitored by health care providers?!

measurements of the body’s most basic functions

1. body temperature

2. pulse rate

3. respiration rate

4. blood pressure

How are each of the vital signs measured? Describe each process or devices used.

vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home or at the site of a medical emergency.

know the normal range for someone your age.

breathing rate: 16-20 breaths/min

heart rate: 60-100 beats/min

What conditions cause body temperature to vary?

slightly depending on age, gender, recent activity food and fluid consumption, time of day and menstrual cycle

What is pyrexia, hyperthermia, and hypothermia and how is each diagnosed?

hyperthermia- Fever (pyrexia) or Heatstoke

a fever is indicated when body temperature rises above 38C rectally. Heatstroke is above 40C. Risk of brain damage and death starts at 42C

Hypothermia

a drop in body temperature below 35C this is the temperature below which functions are affected. Loss of consciousness at 28C and death at 21C

What happens to our heart rate, breathing (respiration) rate, and blood pressure as we age?

As we age, our maximum heart rate decreases because the heart becomes less efficient, though the resting heart rate usually stays the same. Our breathing rate also remains fairly constant, but lung capacity and elasticity decline, making it easier to become short of breath. Blood pressure tends to increase over time as arteries stiffen and the heart works harder to pump blood through them.