Principles of Medical Laboratory Science 1

Introduction

• Topic: History of Medical Technology Profession
• Reference Book: Available for purchase from CNE Publishings
• Lecture Goal:
  • Discuss the history of medical technology in a global context
  • Identify key personalities and their contributions to the field
  • Cite important inventions and innovations in medical technology

Definition of Medical Technology

• A branch of allied health professions
• Includes disciplines such as:
  • Chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Blood Banking
  • Hematology
  • Clinical Microscopy
  • Histology and Histopathology
• Medical technologists perform and analyze complex scientific tests on blood and bodily fluids

Early History of Medical Technology

• Ancient beliefs: Disease as a result of environmental interaction
• Hippocrates (300 BC - 180 AD):
  • Father of Medicine
  • Used urine tests and observed symptoms for diagnosis
  • Concluded that certain urine characteristics indicate chronic illness
• Claudius Galen:
  • Founder of experimental physiology
  • Combined humoral theories with elemental qualities
  • Identified four humors: Blood, yellow bile, phlegm, black bile

Cultural Contributions to Medical Technology

• Ancient practices:
  • Chinese: Immunization techniques
  • Romans: Development of surgical tools
  • Indians: Toxicology
  • Rufeus of Ephesus: Described hematuria

Medieval Medicine

• Diseases viewed as punishments or witchcraft
• Use of urine for diagnosis became widespread
• Isaiah Judeas: Guidelines for urine examination
• Urine flasks became common diagnostic tools

Advances in Medical Technology

• 18th century: Introduction of cadaver dissection
• 19th century: Use of machines for diagnosis, e.g.,
  • Spirometer (John Hutchinson)
  • Sphygmomanometer (Jules Harrison)
• Shift towards specialization in medical practice
• Increased reliance on technology for diagnosis

Key Breakthroughs in Medical Technology

• Rene Laennec: Stethoscope for lung and heart examination
• Anton van Leeuwenhoek: Microscope and father of microbiology
• Hermann von Helmholtz: Ophthalmoscope for eye examination
• Wilhelm Roentgen: X-ray for internal body visualization
• William Einthoven: Electrocardiograph for heart activity measurement

20th Century Innovations

• Development of key medical devices and technologies:
  • Heart-lung machine
  • Cardiac catheterization and angiography
  • Electron microscope for cellular visualization
  • Tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
  • Robotics and telemedicine

Important Figures and Their Contributions

• Edward Jenner: Vaccination for smallpox
• Louis Pasteur: Immunity and bacteriology
• Robert Koch: Tuberculosis bacilli discovery
• Alexander Fleming: Discovered penicillin
• James Westgard: Westgard rules for quality control in laboratories

Conclusion

• Modern medical technology has improved quality of life and life expectancy
• Ongoing innovations continue to shape the field
• Importance of understanding historical contributions to appreciate current practices

Questions and Clarifications

• Students encouraged to ask questions via Facebook thread after lecture.