How the Medical World is Changing

Medicine is a prestigious field that remains to be one of the most sought-after career paths. Technology, being a new field is aching for more to remain within its grasp. As well as medicine, technology has been advancing at a revolutionary rate. This COVID-19 pandemic has been a kickstart for computer engineering, and a new technology-centered world. The field of medicine has recently become closely intertwined with technology, resulting in an overwhelming amount of new discoveries. The linkage between the two is fascinating with new found technologies such as 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, etc. These types of engineering are on track to revamp medical studies, and cases into something

The most common field for these technologies to be inputted into is Radiology, which will be heavily discussed throughout the article. Radiologists are the sector of physicians that specialize in diagnosing and treating patients by interpreting digital scans (such as MRI’s, CT’s or X-RAYs). Radiologists are on the front lines with the newer technologies, and are adapting them, using more practical and accurate methods.

3D Printing

3D printing is a commonly referred to article that is now found almost everywhere. Libraries, universities, laboratories, and select schools are exposed to this type of technology. Let’s start with the basics on what exactly is 3D Printing. 3D printing is a way to design an object and print it out as a three-dimensional figure. In order to do so, a 3D software must be used in order to develop the object to be manufactured. The material used to print the figures vary from plastic to metal.

In the medical field, the use of 3D Printers has become normalized. In a sector of medicine such as radiology, select parts of the skeletal system can be printed. In medicine, the software is used to fabricate patient-specific organs, bones, blood vessels, prosthetic limbs, etc. Physicians, typically radiologists typically determine when to 3D Print something, such as a part may be printed for a complex surgery. After that they will begin designing to figure in order to be patient-specific. And finally the three-dimensional organ/bone is now ready to be put out to use. In the instance of a prosthetic limb being required, 3D printing comes into great use as it

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the world continuously. It's an everlasting source of information along with the developers looking to create the best technology, it seems almost unbelievable. AI is a program that simulates the human mind. Similar to most technologies, AI uses the binary code system. AI gathers, and processes large amounts of data in order to complete a task desired by the developper. The computer takes the input and searches for any patterns and combinations within the data. This invention facilitates the daily lives of many individuals, because it is present in cases like autocorrect. It was created as a way for machines to think on their own, and have said ‘intelligence.’ It doubles up as a way to simplify actions in the daily lives of human beings.

AI has now entered the field of medicine. At the moment, the AI software, helps Physicians to diagnose patients, by detecting discrepancies within the scans and pointing it out. It is able to store more information than the human brain and be able to facilitate the work of Radiologists specifically. Furthermore, physicians will remain to go over patients scans, with the key details already known, because the health and safety of the patient comes first. In this given moment AI is only able to facilitate the job of the physician, not do everything on its own.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) is most commonly associated with video games. In order to take part in the virtual reality experience, a headset must be put on, covering your eyes. A screen will be directly broadcasted to you, and you will be engulfed into what looks like a new world.

VR in medicine actually is able to help both patients and students studying medicine in their career or recovery. As I have gone over Artificial Intelligence and 3D-Printing, they work closer in aiding practicing physicians to diagnose and treat patients. VR is commonly used in Physical Therapy, which is where patients often visit in order to recover abilities that might have been lost through surgery or an accident, such as walking. Virtual Reality helps in simulating these situations.

Medical School students wear VR headsets to see the perspective of surgeons during surgery. This is extremely beneficial to the student, as they will have prior knowledge on how discipline in the operating room is, in advance of going in there. Performing a surgery is an extremely complicated and stressful task for many, and being able to understand what will occur really does help students to be proficient as soon as they step in.

These are just a couple of the various technologies that have entered the medical field. There are numerous more, such as nanotechnology, robotics, or even genome editing softwares to alter the traits of future generations. It is quite fascinating to see first hand how the earth has been progressing.

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