Advances in Medical Technology in the 20th Century – Lesson

How far and in what ways have science and technology contributed
to medical advances in the 20th Century?

Learning Outcomes:

* To identify the advances in research, diagnosis and treatment of disease
due to scientific technology: CT, MRI, ultrasound scans, radiotherapy.
* To identify possible risks and negative consequences of the use of science
and technology in medicine.

Video starter: Surgery of the Future

Title: Surgery of the future

Duration: 04:26

Description: Surgery has changed due to different techniques of
seeing inside the body and has moved from simple x-rays to magnetic
resonance machines and minature cameras. This has enabled surgery
to be less intrusive with quicker recovery times. It turns to look
at the future and believes that there will be a ‘step back’ to home-based
treatment, but asks the question, what of the cost?

From BBC
Class Clips

Launch
in external player

Read through this
detailed site on new technology and medicine.

Note your thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of new technologies
on
this collaborative page.

Look at the images below. For each one make a note of the way in which
the technology has helped or hindered peoples healthcare.

	N0010213 Credit Wellcome Photo Library, Wellcome Images Magnetic resonance imaging equipmentPhotograph of female radiographer positioning patient at entrance to magnetic chamber, circa 1985 Common name: MRI scanning Magnetic resonance imaging Collection: Wellcome Images Library reference no.: NMSB Frame No 11499
	N0029235 Credit Ilianski, Wellcome Images LightSpeed CT scanner. Photograph 2005
	N0012222 Credit Wellcome Photo Library, Wellcome Images Ultrasound scanning, ophthalmology Ultrasound and scanner Ultrasound scanning, ophthalmology Photograph Collection: Wellcome Images Library reference no.: NMSB Frame No NOVIDEO
	B0002353 Credit: Wellcome Library, London Instument used in keyhole surgery Instrument used in kehole surgery. Collection: Wellcome Images Library reference no.: Contributor Reference C834
	B0003692 Credit Darren Hopes, Wellcome Images Creating humans for spare parts Composite artwork to illustrate the fear that human beings may be created as source of organs for transplantation. Collection: Wellcome Images Library reference no.: Contributor Reference BODY1
	B0004644 Credit: Wellcome Library, London Test tube baby Test tube baby on conveyor belt. Photograph 2002 Collection: Wellcome Images




All images are from the Welcome Library. These are available under a Creative Commons Licence, the full terms of which can be found here. A summary of he terms is: Under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence, anyone is free to copy, distribute, and display the image, providing that the image is fully attributed to Wellcome Images and used solely for non-commercial purposes. The terms specifically state that ‘This includes making printed copies of such materials for students and promoting and making such teaching materials available in electronic form.’