Biology Fun Fact of

the Day

• This is a little piece of

medical history.
• What do you think
these nuns are doing?
Housekeeping

• Please hand in packages from this week as soon as possible

• Tomorrow is my last day!
• Try to get as much as you can done before Christmas break so you don’t
have to worry about it.
• Today we will have a little research project to complete at the end
of class
• Tomorrow, we will have a pep rally from student council
• Virtual Dissection
• Review of material
• Final test
Medical Technologies
Miss Elliott
Learning Objectives

• Describe different types of medical technologies and their uses

• Compare and contrast different effects on human health, including
technology, environment, and substance effects
• Design a medical technology that could address a current medical
problem
• Name and describe several careers in medical technology
 The History of the X-Ray
X-rays were discovered in 1958 – but they didn’t know
much about them. The “x” in x-ray stands for unknown!
They were the first major piece of diagnostic imaging
equipment.

• A scientist found that the x-rays could pass through

human tissue and skin, but not hard matter, such as
bone.
• The first x-ray technicians were nuns in world war II
• They had mobile x-ray machines that would get
wheeled onto the battlefield to diagnose hurt soldiers
• Now, we know much more about x-rays, and can use
them for so many different things!
Medical Imaging
Technologies

• Before medical imaging,

doctors would have to
cut open patients if they
wanted to see what was
going on inside of them.
• Now, there are many
more medical imaging
technologies that we
can use to diagnose
different diseases
X-Ray

• Involves sending electromagnetic

radiation through the body to make an
image
• Uses:
• View hard tissues such as bone
• Diagnose bone injuries and
malformations
Other Uses of X-Rays

• Your dentist uses x-ray

imaging to check for
cavities in your teeth. 
• Mammographers use low-
energy x-rays to
do mammograms, which
help doctors check the
health of breast tissue.
• Airports and borders use x-
ray to examine the
contents of your luggage
CT Scan

• An X-ray source and sensor both rotate

around the body while slowly moving
along the length of the body
• A computer coverts the data from the
sensor into a 3D image that looks like
slices of the body
• Uses:
• To view hard tissue, such as bone
• To diagnose bone injuries and
malformations – especially when
you can’t see it on an x-ray
Ultrasound

• Involves directing sound waves at a

body part and measuring reflected
sound waves to make an image
• There is NO RADIATION in an
ultrasound.
• Uses:
• To monitor soft tissue
• To monitor fetal development,
observe organ function, and detect
cancer.
• Used in pregnant women because
it is safest.
MRI Scan

• Involves passing radio waves through a

magnetic field around the body which
creates multiple images
• Produces similar images to CT – but in
much greater detail for soft tissue
• No radiation used – great for KIDS
• Uses
• To contrast soft tissue such as organs,
and hard tissue, such as bones
• To diagnose disease in organs and
soft tissues
• Good for viewing the brain in case of
brain bleeds/injuries
PET Scan

• Involves scanning small amounts of

radioactive materials taken into the
body
• Reveals details of tissues and organs
• Can combine with other imaging
technology
• Uses:
• View soft tissues
• Diagnose cancer or track treatments
Endoscopy

• Is conducted with a scope made up of

a tiny camera and a light, attached to
a flexible tube inserted into the body
• Uses:
• To view internal body parts
without cutting open the body
• To diagnose diseases, take tissue
samples, and perform surgeries
Microscopy

• Conducted using various microscopes:

• Light microscopes
• Electron microscopes – greater
enlargement
• Uses:
• To view small objects, such as
cells
• To diagnose various diseases
• Ex. cancer biopsy – part a tumour
is taken and examined under a
microscope for cancer cells.
Assignment: You Be the Technician!

• Use your summary note with the uses of different technologies to

answer the questions – what would test would you order if you
were the imaging technician?

• You have 15 minutes! Take your time – look carefully at the

symptoms of each patient.
Impacts on Human Health

• Exposure to technologies, substances

and chemicals can affect your health –
some positive, and some negative
• Health risk often depends on degree or
length of exposure

Mentimeter:
What do you think about health risks?
Technology Risks

• Cellphone use COULD be linked to

brain damage and cancer from
radiowaves – especially in children
• X-rays and CT scans emit radiation –
but they also have benefits to your
health, like preventing cancer. The
radiation levels only occur for a short
period, so they are supposed to be
safe.
• Pregnant women are told to avoid
these technologies.
5G – What’s the deal?

• 5G networks are stronger data networks that are supposed to

transmit 10x as much information as our current 4G networks
• Because of this, they use a lot more radiation
• The effects have not been studied at length – and some people are
worried it could lead to major health concerns such as cancer
• Some also believe that 5G may have major environmental effects –
disrupting the navigation of bees, for example, causing them to
die at alarming rates
Mentimeter – What Do You Think?

https://www.menti.com/4iw5swzber
Environmental Risks

• Exposure to sunlight:
• We need SOME sunlight for vitamin D – for our health!
• Prolonged exposure without the use of sunscreen brings risk of too much
radiation
• This can damage the skin and eyes and increase chances of skin cancer
• Air Pollution:
• It is difficult to escape the effects; at this point, most air is polluted,
especially near cities
• Particles and other contaminants in the air irritate the eyes, throat and
lungs – and can trigger attacks in people with asthma
Windsor – The Remington Park Cancer Cluster

• Residents in the Windsor neighbourhood Remington Park

launched an investigation to a possible cancer cluster in 2015
• Their cancer rates are over 2x higher than the rest of the
province
• A rate of 110 people per 100 000 – the rest of Windsor is
60 and the rest of Ontario is at 52
• They blame several factories around them, as well as farmers
fields that use to spray pesticides about 10 years ago, and
train tracks that used to have large freight trains
• Some experts have now said the cluster is a result of a high
rate of smoking in this area
Other Health Risks

• Smoking and second-hand smoke:

• Increase the risk of lung, heart, throat and mouth disease
• Also increases the chances of blocked blood vessels – leading to a
heart attack
• Pesticides
• Chemicals that are used to control and kill weeds and insects
• Unless you organic – your foods contain pesticides
• These have been linked to skin, eye and lung irritation
• May have long term consequences – but most scientists say a low
level exposure is fine!

• TIP: Wash your produce with water mixed with vinegar to get the
pesticides off!
The Future of Human Health

• The iPill: Will let doctors control the delivery of medication

electronically – helpful for people with chronic conditions that have to
take lots of mediciation.
• The pill delivers the medication to where it is needed, the releases a pre-
measured amount at that location.
• Regenerative Medicine: involves producing new cells, tissues and organs
to replace damaged body parts
• Of course, stem cells are needed for this – which have barriers
• Artificial Blood: Right now, medicine is limited by how much blood
people donate.
• To solve this, scientists are creating artificial substitutes for real blood. It only
transports oxygen – but this is good enough to support a patient after surgery or if
they urgently need more.
• One possibility is fluorocarbon based blood, which carries oxygen
Project: Medical Technology Design

• Choose a disease, disorder, or injury that you are familiar with. You may also choose
one of the conditions listed below:
• amputated limb
• collapsed vein
• broken toe
• cut that will not heal
• paralysis
• severe burn
• Identify the problem that you want to solve. For example: A blood clot in an artery can
block blood flow and cause a heart attack. A clot buster is needed to remove the clot.
• 2. Design a technology that solves the problem you identified.
• 3. Describe your medical technology in detail using words, pictures, or a graphic
organizer.

You have 25 minutes!

Mentimeter

• Please post a brief description of the

medical technology you thought of!
• You can’t share a picture, so just
describe what it is and what it will
help with.
• Remember – these posts are
anonymous – but it would be great to
share with your classmates!!
Career Connections

• Radiographer
• Sonographer
• X-Ray Technician
• …. And more!

To work in medical imaging, workers need a college diploma that is

usually 2-3 years. There is also a final exam.
Mentimeter – What Do You Think?

• My final question….
• Would you be interested in becoming a
medical imaging technician?