History of Medical Technology

Arthur Irinco Jr., RMT.

 Learning Objectives

Trace the History of Medical Technology

Identify the contribution of different

people in the field of Medical
Technology.
 Terms

• Malaria=Acute and chronic infection of blood stream,

caused by plasmodium
• TB=Pulmonary infection caused by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
• Anthrax=acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus
anthracis.
• Ascaris lumbrecoides=Intestinal round worm
• Taenia Spp.= Intestinal tape worm.
• RBC=Red blood cells
• Bacteria=single celled microbes
• Protozoan=any of a diverse group of eukaryotes, of the
kingdom Protista, that are primarily unicellular,

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 Terms
• Immunoelectrophoresis=biochemical methods for
separation and characterization of proteins based on
electrophoresis and reaction with antibodies
• Electrophoresis=technique used in laboratories in order to
separate macromolecules based on size.
• Chromatography=physical method of separation
• Radio Immuno Assay=very sensitive in vitro assay technique
used to measure concentrations of antigens (for example,
hormone levels in the blood) by use of antibodies
• Flame Photometry= branch of atomic spectroscopy is used
for inorganic chemical analysis for determining the
concentration of certain metal ions
• Ion Selective Electrodes=also known as a specific ion
electrode (SIE), is a transducer (or sensor) that converts the
activity of a specific ion dissolved in a solution into an electrical
potential
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 Terms
• Monoclonal Antibodies=monospecific antibodies that are
made by identical immune cells that are all clones of a
unique parent cell
• Tumor Markers= biomarker found in the blood, urine, or
body tissues that can be elevated in cancer, among other
tissue types
• Philadelphia Chromosomes= Philadelphia translocation is a
specific abnormality of chromosomal chromosome 22,
• HLA
• Hybridoma=produced by injecting a specific antigen into a
mouse, collecting an antibody-producing cell from the mouse's
spleen, and fusing it with a tumor cell called a myeloma cell
• Immunoglobulin=known as antibodies, are glycoprotein
molecules produced by plasma cells (white blood cells)

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• 460 BC Hippocrates Founded Scientific Medicine, he
formulated the hippocratic oath.
- He determined the correlation between
anatomical and chemical laboratory findings in
the case of the disease.
- He Formulated the train of regimen in treating
disease and Infection. (Drug, Surgery & Blood
letting)
- Indicate in his writings that he knew about TB,
Malaria, Mumps and Anthrax.

• 1550 BC Ascaris lumbrecoides and Taenia Spp. were

mentioned in early writings.
- Vivian Hereck determined that these is the
causative agent of intestinal parasitic infection.
- Published in the book of Ebers papyrus.
Ebers papyrus
• Anenzoa proved that the etiological agent of skin
disease such as scabies was a parasite

• 1098-1438 urine examination became a common

practice.
- Urine of certain patients attracted ants
- Mentioned in book of Ruth Williams
( Introduction to the Profession of Medical
Technology)

• 14th Century a prominent physician from University of

Bologna employed Allesandra Giliani to perform
laboratory work (clinical laboratory test).
- Ana Fagelson correlated the death of
Allesandra Giliani to a laboratory acquired
infection.
- Start of Medical Technology.
• 1628 - 1694 Marcello Malphigi known as
the father microscopical anatomy and
histology
- Malpighian corpuscle and
malpighian pyramids
• 1632 - 1694 Invention of first compound
Micrscope
- Anton van Leeuwenhoek.
- 1st to observed and describe the
appearance of RBC, see protozoa
and classified bacteria.
 Medical Technology in 18th
Century
• Medical Practitioner in North Africa &
Southern Europe determined
physiological and anatomical theory.
• Formulate the four basic humor
• Healthy condition=balance in the four
humors
• unbalance=can be diagnose by
means of urine examination

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Four Humour
• 1800 Establishment of cell theory and
d e v e l o p m e n t o f o r g a n i c c h e m i s t r y,
physiologic chemistry and bacteriology.
- A bacteria is possible to grow, stain
and study them under the
microscope.

• 1821-1902 Archived of Pathology was

founded in Berlin by Rudolph Virchow.
- Father of Microscopic Pathology.
- Study manifestation of disease and
infections which are visible at the
cellular level by means of microscope.
• Dr.Calvin Ellis first to utilise the
microscope in examining specimens at
Massachusetts General Hospital.

• Dr. William Occam used laboratory

findings as preliminary evidence in
diagnosing and evaluating patients
Diseases.

• Herman con Fehling (1812-1855)

performed the first quantitative test for
urine sugar.
• Apothecaris Act of 1815 paved the way for the
up-haul of medical treatment based on laboratory
findings.
- Initiated by Baron Karl and Von Hambeldt.
- Regulation of Medical Profession in U.K.

• Dr. William H. Welch(1870) and Michell Pruden

Apply Clinical Pathology to Medical Diagnosis.
- Dr. William H. Welch taught the first
laboratory course in pathology (1878)
- First professor of pathology at John
Hopkins University in 1885.
• Dr. William Osler Introduced and used
microscope and blood counting machine.

• Dr. Douglas (1844) opened the first

chemical laboratory at University of
Michigan.
- First to give laboratory instruction

• 1887 the first laboratory was built at the

University Hospital in Philadelphia and
University Hospital in Ann Harbour.
- With the help of Dr. Osler, Dr.
George Dock and Dr. Douglas
• 1896 the first clinical laboratory was
opened at John Hopkins Hospital, aided
by donations from the eaton estates.

•
• 1880 Discovery of Causative agent of
Diphtheria, TB and Cholera.

• 1890 Development of the test for the

detection of the said diseases.
- Highlighted the importance of
laboratory tests.

• 1900 Census
- 100 male technician were employed in
US.

• 1922 Census indicated that there were 3,500

technician by 1920.
• 1911 Laboratory Science formally
approved by the Insurance Act as the
basis of diagnosing diseases.

• 1915 a law was enacted that require all

hospital and health institutions to have
complete laboratory facility with full time
laboratory technician.

• 1940 two year curriculum on Collegiate

education with 1 year training in
laboratory was formally established (B.S
MT).
• 1908 James C. Todd Published Manual
of Clinical Diagnosis.
- Clinical Diagnosis and
Management by Laboratory
Methods. Retitled in its 6th Edition
by Dr. Todd and Dr. Arthur Sanford.
- Reference book for Medical
Technology
•
• George Papanicolaou (1862-1962) US
scientist who describe the PAP smear/PAP
test.

• 1920 Pathologist and clinical laboratories

played a major role in health care.
- Pathologist learned much in treating
the wounded in WW1 and apply this in
civilian hospitals.

• 1923 University of Minnesota, first school

who offer training in laboratory.
- “Courses in Medical Technology for
clinical and laboratory technician”-
Course bulletin.
• 1920 and 1930 state societies for clinical
pathologist were formed.

• 1936 American Board of Pathology was

established.
- defined requirements for those who will
have their specialisation in pathology.
- Recognized by AMA.

• 1937 Hospitals start to use Blood Banking

Services .
- Compatibility testing and blood storage
are performed .
•
 After WW2
- introduction of new laboratory practices.
- Diagnostic radioisotopes, exfoliative cytology,
molecular biology, practical virology and
fluorescent studies.
- Used of Antimicrobial agent.

• 1950 technician start to performed clinical chemistry

analysis by manual methods.
- Introduction of Quality Control(Levey-
Jennings).

• 1958 Introduction of first comprehensive daily quality

control program for laboratories by Freier and Rausch.
- Later on improved and broadened into quality
assurance.
 After WW2
• 1906 discovery of Chromatography by Tswett
- Martin and James developed Gas Liquid
Chromatography (1952).

• 1949 radial immunodiffusion in gel was described by

Ouchterlony.
- Same principles was used by Grabar and
Williams to developed Immunoelectrophoresis
1953.
- Laurell introduced “rocket”
immunoelectrophoresis 1966.

• 1957 the first continuous-flow automatic analyzer was

introduced by Technicon, it was designed by Leonard
Skeggs.
- Rapid and reliable analysis of blood
constituents.
 After WW2
• 1960 Berson-Yalow Studies lead to the development
of radioimmunoassy method.
- Martin and James developed Gas Liquid
Chromatography (1952).

• Other Discoveries:
- A b s o r p t i o n s p e c t r o p h o t o m e t r y, f l a m e
photometry and atomic absorption.

• 1960 Discovery of some chromosomal abnormalities

due to the development of cytogenetics.
- Philadelphia chromosomes Nowell and
Hungerford
- Major histocompatibility complex (HLA) was
uncovered by Dausset and coworkers (1965) .
 After WW2

• 1969 to 1980 integration of computers to clinical

laboratory.

• 1970 introduction of ion selective electrode.

• 1975 Hybridoma was introduced by Kohler and

Milstein.
- Pe rm it p r od uct io n of monocl o n a l
antibodies.
- Impact factors for immunochemistry and
immunology .
- lead to the discoveries of Tumor markers.