Medical Imaging
Medical Imaging is the process of imaging the interior of the body that is hidden by skin and bones by the use of ‘invisible light,’ which is considered radiology. The purpose of using this technology is for clinical analysis, medical intervention, medical information sharing, general research on the functions of organs, and forming databases on normal anatomy and physiology to identify any abnormalities which require medical care. It is a part of biological imagery, primarily non-invasive, meaning no instrument is introduced into the patient’s body to acquire the imagery using technologies such as x-rays, ultrasound, tactile imaging, endoscopy, etc. however, there are some forms of invasive medical imagery as well such as rectal ultrasounds.
Ultrasounds
Ultrasounds are a form of medical imaging which uses sounds at frequencies from 20 kHz to several gigahertz, which are inaudible to the human ear. These waves are generated by electric current pulses to the ultrasound machine probe or transducer, which contains piezoelectric crystals which convert them into vibrations that echo back to the transducer probe and are programmed by special software to convert the signals into imagery.
The practical application of ultrasound machines ranges from tracking fetus growth to detecting cysts, tumors, and abnormalities in the body. As technology has progressed, 3D ultrasounds are much more viable; however, 2D ultrasounds with lower radiation exposure, high-quality imagery, and lower cost are still the more preferred option for medicine.
The Future of Medical Imaging
Medical Imaging has given radiology professionals a window into the human body, and, with research dollars pouring into innovation, the future surely looks bright. Global annual patent applications related to medical devices have tripled in the past ten years, and technology cycle times have halved. The quest with digital radiology is to acquire as much information as possible so that radiologists can make efficient and accurate diagnoses non-invasively.
This is done in two ways; one, radiologists were to look deep into the cell and get a real-time look at the cell division or any possible tumor growth. Secondly, with the existing technology, it needs to be improved to get even better insight into the body; therefore, high-tech imaging is on the rise. Here are a few of the ways that radiology is intended to be made more efficient and advanced;
Artificial Intelligence
An application for AI in radiology is the analysis of reports, with an increase in the aging population, changes in lifestyle leading to a generally higher number of chronic illnesses, and a lack of healthcare workers, to tackle this everyday challenge, it is important to combine human and artificial intelligence to come up with a solution that cuts down on time to treatment. Using Artificial Intelligence to analyze reports will cut down the workload of a radiologist massively, providing accurate and timely diagnoses, which can sometimes be missed while performing the repetitive task by human error. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are already being applied to detect strokes in a CT scan as strokes have a very narrow treatment time.
Improved Visualization Technologies
Specifically discussing the visualization of the human body into 3D, virtual reality, and nuclear and hybrid models, combining this with intra-operative technologies to help surgeons see the patient with a completely new perspective, allowing for more precision and better clinical outcomes. An example of this is the use of MRI scans and mapping them with real-time surgical instrument guidance by neurosurgeons. To take this a step further, researchers are also trying to combine 3D imagery with virtual reality; this technology won’t be limited to just gaming in the future; technicians will wear special eyewear and interact with the cinematically rendered image of the organ that even has the small details like texture, accounted for. All of this provides for less guesswork and ease of better and timely treatment.
Wearable Technology
You might have seen the use of a glove with MRI technology to access the joints and tendons of a hand. Building upon this portable use of radiology is using scanners that can connect to your phone so that monitoring can be done round the clock and medical practitioners can analyze the effect of everyday activities and what might be hindering recovery. An example of this is putting a portable scanner on an epilepsy patient to monitor the brain closely and alert the relevant individuals during a seizure or any abnormal activity of the brain.
The future is bright for medical imagery, and professionals are optimistic about the ease it will bring to the medical sector while also improving our day-to-day lives. We have come a long way from fuzzy x-rays and simple microscopes, but there is still a long way to go; we might not be in star trek, but the future doesn’t seem very far off from it either.
