ICT in Health

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What are the advantages of using sensors in a medical situation?

Constantly measure patients' number of heart beat, blood pressure and oxygen level, which allows doctors to spot changes.

Saving money by reducing the number of nurses needed as one device can replace couple of nurses.

Give examples of sensors that could be used in patient monitoring?

Pulse rate sensor

Thermometer

Breathing rate sensor

Blood oxygen sensor

Blood pressure sensor

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of MRI over one other named method of medical scan.

While the machines look similar, what occurs inside these “donut holes” is quite different. A CT scanner sends X-ray beams through the body as it moves through an arc taking many pictures. A CT scan sees different levels of density and tissues inside a solid organ, and can provide detailed information about the body, including the head (brain and its vessels, eyes, inner ear, and sinuses), chest (heart and lungs), skeletal system (neck, shoulders and spine), pelvis and hips, reproductive systems, bladder and gastrointestinal tract.Advances in CT scanning include increased patient comfort, faster scanning times and higher resolution images. As scans become quicker, X-ray exposure has decreased, providing better images at lower doses. The average CT scan today exposes patients to less radiation than what airline passengers receive on long flights. That said, anyone having a CT scan should talk to their doctor about the risks from radiation exposure versus the benefits of early diagnosis.

Unlike CT scans, which use X-rays, MRI scans use powerful magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and other internal body structures. Differences between normal and abnormal tissue is often clearer on an MRI image than a CT. And while there is no radiation involved in an MRI scan, it can be a noisy exam and take longer than a CT.

MRI uses a very powerful magnet. Describe why some patients may not be suitable for MRI treatment.

Many people cannot be scanned because of metal complications (pacemakers / recent surgery involving metal staples / metal splinters in eyes (eyes never develop scar tissue to hold splinters in place)

Some people are too big to fit into the scanner

Most hospitals prefer not to image pregnant women, due to lack of research on effect of magnetic fields on the developing foetus

Some people feel claustrophobic inside the scanner

Why might a pregnant woman not be suitable as a candidate for a CAT scan?

High exposure to x-ray radiation emitted from the scanner affects the foetus as x-ray radiation change the DNA code in the cells and causes it to mutate forming a cancerous cell or birth abnormalities.

Describe the main differences between ultrasound and medical scanning techniques which use ionising radiation.

Ultrasound is used to scan soft tissues like organs or cartilages while x-ray scans are used for bones.

Ultrasound doesn't use electromagnetic waves making it safer than x-rays.