A Virtual Autopsy or Virtopsy is a new and non-intrusive form of performing an human autopsy. This system utilizes a Computer Tomography or CT unit and an (MRI) Magnetic Resonance Imaging unit to obtain a detailed view of a body. Here the MRI images and the detailed X-rays are combined to create a full three-dimensional view of the body which medical examiners, coroners and pathologists can use to examine the state of the blood vessels, organs, bones and tissues of a body and thus determine the cause of death and Read More

Radiation sickness, or radiation poisoning, is damage caused to organ tissue due to heavy exposure to ionizing radiation. In most cases radiation sickness is caused when you are exposed to a large dosage of radiation in a short period of time. Exposure It is unlikely that you will be exposed to large doses of radiation unless you are intentionally poisoned, which is uncommon, or if you work in a factory setting that either produces or utilizes a large quantity of radioactive material. There is a possibility of getting radiation sickness Read More

Robotics technology is now being utilized in the field of medicine because it offers the high precision and control that minimally invasive procedures require. Robotics are now being used in gallbladder surgery, heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux correction and endoscope positioning. In the future, the applications of this technology will encompass closed-chest beating-heart surgery. Advantages of Robotic Surgery Less Personnel Required Because the surgical robots could take over the job of some of the people inside the operating room, future surgeries will require fewer personnel yet still be able to perform Read More

In the last several decades, medical technology has advanced in leaps and bounds. One of the most advanced technological instruments used in medicine today is the nuclear bone scan. A nuclear bone scan uses a radioactive tracer and high-resolution camera to identify areas of new bone growth or areas in which bone has broken down. For What Purpose is a Nuclear Bone Scan Used? There are several ways that a nuclear bone scan can be used. In general, bone scans are an excellent tool for identifying and evaluating damage to Read More

DNA fingerprinting is the process of taking a cell sample from a person and analyzing it. This technique involves analyses of less than 0.1% of human DNA (which is different for each person). Though small, this 0.1% of DNA is enough to distinguish one individual from another and can be used to determine maternity/ paternity or the identity of a person, whether dead or alive. DNA fingerprinting should not be confused with the traditional idea of fingerprinting (making an imprint of a person’s fingerprints in ink). What is DNA? Every Read More

Organ growing is one of the new advances in medicine that would enable organ replacement. Human organs will be replaced internally or externally, using a replacement organ that was “grown” using a tissue or a cell from the patient himself. This new technology will make possible a virtually inexhaustible supply of organ replacements, thereby doing away with the need to wait for organ donors and removing the risk of rejection of an implanted organ. In 1997 alone, less than 10% of the 40,000 patients in the US needing a heart Read More

Stem cells have been widely publicized over the last decade as being the key to huge health breakthroughs. While only time will tell just how stem cells will be used in the future, millions of people around the world are either involved in stem cell research or closely monitor it for news of advances. What are Stem Cells? Stem cells are found in practically all multi-cellular organisms. Their defining characteristic is that they are able to renew themselves, usually through a process of mitotic cell division. Besides having the ability Read More

Laser eye surgery has been a major part of our society for more than a decade now. In that time, many people have decided to lose their glasses or just improve their vision by have a laser eye surgery performed. Many people, however, are curious about this procedure but are either skeptical of the benefits or are hesitant to participate in this trend due to lack of knowledge about the operation. In this article, we will learn about laser eye surgery, how it works, how much it costs, the benefits Read More

A stent is a synthetic mesh tube used as a medical apparatus to support an open artery during surgery such as angioplasty. Stents are used in cases where arteries are weak, blocked or have become constricted. Insertion of stents into an artery enhances blood flow and averts the future constriction or blockage of the artery. Patients who have undergone a stent procedure must consume blood thinning medication such as Aspirin and Persantine, in order to decrease the threat of a blood clot forming in the stent. Such medication may have Read More

Laser hair removal, as its name suggests, is using a laser to remove any hair that is unwanted. The majority of the process is done with a thin light beam of laser passing through the area of the skin that is being treated. Within the skin, specifically the dark pigment, also known as the melanin and often found in hairs, is targeted. This process literally hits the hair follicle (the root of where the hair grows). The contact results in the hair follicle being destroyed. Usually, this process results merely Read More