Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
who are employed in medical equipment factories. In
summary, relatively little is known about the forthcoming
development in this century; however, even this modest
foresight hints at enormous technical progress.
function of the sensory organs - the anatomy that was so
well matched to extensive movement are all gradually
diminishing. In place of these, new abilities required for
intellectual work are being augmented. In the longer-
term, negative effects of these will be significant in health
care. For instance, the incidence of the diseases of the
locomotor, cardiovascular, psychic, and neural systems
will increase. The results of a recent research project
demonstrated the likelihood of manipulation of the
human genome. As a consequence, deliberate or acci-
dental modification of the human genes will be possible.
The ''homo genomanipulatus'' may come into being.
Impact of this on humans is unimaginable today. The
consequences of gene manipulation for our descendants
are difficult to foresee. We do not know the future of the
biosphere. However, genetic manipulation of humans
will soon become reality. But we do not know to what
extent the new features created in this way will be ad-
vantageous or rather disadvantageous in the biosphere
that is also changing beyond our control and in an un-
known way. Because of the different and long time con-
stants of the processes, one cannot survey the whole
system (man
þ
biosphere).
It is clear that health care must be vigilant and ready to
respond to new challenges. While some of the impact of
advances in technology may be deleterious, it is some
comfort to know that predicting and reacting positively
to this impact is within mankind's reach. It is imperative
that those engaged in health related technical activities
must continuously progress by advancing to appropriate
knowledge levels and developing technological means so
as to enable the generation of solutions to complex and
rapidly mutating emerging problems. Taking all of this
into consideration, the knowledge and efforts of clinical
engineers will be appreciated in the future, as they are in
the present.
Social effects
What is the impact on the society of the rapid technical
progress taking place in this century? Colossal resources of
energy are at the disposal of mankind. The bulk of physical
work has been taken over bymachines. Comfort of life has
increased. Initially, humans saw only the pleasant side of
this progress, that living conditions improved. Only in the
last few decades has mankind started to feel and get to
know in more detail the harmful effects of the environ-
mental hazards that accompanied the technical revolution
and which affect the entire biosphere.
In addition to environmental damages, the technical
revolution has affected the practice of medicine, which
now must face new maladies. As illnesses shift in their
nature and significance, adaptation of health care services
requires continuous change and development.
The extended life span of humans brings into focus
health problems of the aged. Attending to the health
problems of the aged will impact medical device de-
velopment in two ways: (1) requirements for innovative
medical devices for home use and (2) increased number
and variety of devices for hospital use. Those in the aged
population are not necessarily ill, in the general sense, but
they require special support structures and medical de-
vices which may significantly differ from those found in
a general hospital.
In the long run, man-made technical means influence
the trend of human biological evolution. The so called
''homo technomanipulatus'' is coming into being. Abilities,
once so important,
like physical fitness, the subtle
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