Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
rupture overshadow the risk of an intervention. And fi nally, observations
in neuromedical practice indicate that a continuously increasing number
of people who are not suffering from any symptoms, are demanding X-ray
investigations in order to exclude the possibility that a 'cold' aneurysm is
hidden inside their skull.
Acknowledgements
I want to thank Olof Flodmark, Professor in Neuroradiology, who fi rst drew
my attention to the problem of cold aneurysm in neuromedical practice and
who later invited me to co-operate over the disciplinary boundaries.
Notes
1 For example S. Williams and M. Calnan (1996) have described a similar shift
taking place in health research.
2 See for example NHS Direct (2005): 'NHS Direct - Revolutionising access to
health information'. Here we can read that: 'NHS Direct is revolutionising
the way people access health information and advice… Its strategy “Better
information, better choices, better health” is about developing local and national
resources to meet everyone's need for health information so as to enable them to
make better informed choices about managing their own health and treatment
options'. NHS Direct is a 24-hour health advice and information service for
England. The NHS Direct website - www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk - attracts more than
a million visits each month. In 2004/5 the website attracted nine million visits
compared with 1.5 million during its fi rst year in 2000/1.
3 Private homepages may also have problems being ranked among the fi rst in
a search. Seale reports that search engines lead people to large sites whose
designers have enough knowledge to get their sites ranked among the top 10-20
listed as results (Seale 2005).
4 GodfreyHounsfi eld introduced CT in 1971. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for
this invention in 1979. Conventional X-ray images are shadow images that cannot
reveal the real geometric distribution of organs. A three-dimensional volume
will be represented by a two-dimensional projection. 'Computed tomography is
a means of obtaining images that portray the real tissue distribution in a single
slice. With CT, therefore, a two-dimensional slice is obtained' (Hasman 1997).
5 Recently some neuroradiologists have developed techniques for arterial occlusion
with a coil or microballoon. This kind of intervention, which is done from the
inside of the vessel and needs no surgery, is only applicable to some cases of
aneurysm. Neither of these techniques are without risk.
6 Potential publishers of their narrative on the site are informed in advance that the
narratives are added to the list as they are received, without regard to grammar,
or literary style. If editing is deemed necessary to ensure accuracy of medical or
anatomical terms, it will be implemented with the permission of the author.
7 Computed tomography is about 100 times more sensitive than conventional
radiography (Bull 2002: 83). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is based on
electromagnetic radiation instead of X-rays. With MRI vessels may be selectively
imaged without need of contrast media (Hasman 1997).
8 Moscovici has described the role of metaphors in social representation: 'It appears
that metaphors play an important role in the creation of social representations,
