The science of medicine is constantly being researched and expanding rapidly. One of the most progressive fields in the scientific world, advances in medicine have cured stubborn ailments and made previously tedious and dangerous tasks into effortless procedures. Below are some of the impactful innovations that changed the way we practice medicine.
Biomedical Implants and Prosthetics
Before the creation of implants and prosthetics, life with a handicap was even more physically and emotionally tumultuous than it is today. Almost everyone can think of someone they know that has had some sort of joint replacement or prosthesis in response to crippling arthritis or a traumatic accident. Thanks to medical grade stainless steel, carbon fiber, and myoelectric sensors, physically handicapped patients are no longer limited to wheelchairs, crutches, or living a life impaired.
CT Scanner
Nowadays, most internal ailment complaints and illnesses are diagnosed with a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan. Invented in the 1970s by Dr. Godfrey Hounsfield, the CT scan changed the game when it came to diagnosing internal disorders. While X-ray could only show substances of a certain density like bone and metal, CT scans gave doctors the ability to view multiple layers of softer tissues and organs without having to open up the body.
Antibiotics
Taking an antibiotic is now as commonplace as taking pain-relieving medication. However, there was a time when fighting infection was not as simple as taking a pill and could even mean death or permanent deformity. The discovery of antibiotics began in 1907 with the invention of Salvarsan by Alfred Bertheim and Paul Ehrlich. Shortly after this medication was introduced, the well-known Penicillin was created and together they were used in fighting Syphilis and other bacterial infections.
Technology and scientific research have expanded our knowledge of the human body and how to treat it. Our world has changed with the implication of these medical advances. It is exciting to imagine where medicine will be in another hundred years.
