Now bring yourself back to the 19th century, and put yourself in a scenario where you are sick and must visit the doctor, or more likely, the barber shop. Going to the barber you are most likely to go under a procedure more commonly known in that day and age as blood letting. Barber's who practised this method, would take large quantities of blood from the patient, in order to prevent further illness, leaving you feel weakened and probably not much better at all.
Technology is incorporated in every aspect of our lives, whether it include, busses, trains, cars, phones, etc. Technology has also had a huge impact on medical treatment and how we deal with issues underneath the skin.
Take for instance, the CT scanner which was first installed in 1974. This machine, is the upgrade from an x-ray. CT scanners offer a more detailed and precise look into the body than an x-ray ever could, combining the technology of a sophisticated computer as well as specialized x-ray material.
Medical workers are now able to see not only the bones of a patient, but arteries, veins, organs and can catch small tumours that may develop within the body. Representing technological advancements at its finest.
Other advancements in technology such as the stethoscope, defibrillators, heart monitors, etc. have impacted medical treatment so thoroughly that a terminally ill patient, can be left over night with out the need for a constant attendant with the help of a life support system.
Focusing on one medical advancement in particular, there has now been technology created in the form of a swallowable pill. This swallowable sensor can be ingested by an individual in the same manner one would swallow a pill.
This medical device disguised as a pill will be ingested by a patient, and will help make medical observations on the digestive system and allow for the patient to observe what exactly is going on in their digestive system.
It's main purpose is to help patients diagnose gastroparesis, a condition that causes emptying of the stomach to occur very slowly. The initial cost of this nifty device will be 500$, and including the receptors and docking station, all in all will come to a grand total of 20,000$.
With that being said, medical practices have definitely developed through out time. Not only have we quitted the medieval practise of bloodletting (blek!), but we have also come upon many a medical devices that can be rid us of diseases and illnesses quickly and less painfully. A definite advancement in medical technology would be our ability to investigate what lays beneath the skin with out literally cutting open an individual. Technologies have come a long way, and with a bright future which will definitely be majorly influenced by technology we are sure to see more advancements within hospitals and development of devices which will enable us to cure even more illnesses today.
References:
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ct_scan/article_em.htm
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