Week 4: MedTech + Art

As part of my bioengineering curriculum this year, I had to take an introductory class to different medical imaging. The images of the body were captured by utilizing various imagining techniques from using magnets (in MRI imaging) to harsh radiation (X-ray) to even using the time and distance of sound to travel through material (ultrasound). The various ways physicians can understand and visualize the body without having to aggressively cut a patient open still boggles my mind. Unlike art of the human body was was created from the perspective of the artist/physician in medieval times, the images MRI and other tomography imagining consists of taking cross sections of different parts of a patient's body and combining all these sections mathematically to form a 3-D image. Once this is digitally done by utilizing various math functions like Fourier Analysis, it's amazing to see how complex the body is and how far we've come from the images of the body that were made in centuries past. Below is an image of the way human bodies were seen in the medieval times and how we understand the body today due to advancing medical technology. It can be obvious to see how far medical science has come by simply comparing the resolution and clarity of the two images.



Figure 1: Medieval depiction of the human body




Figure 2: Modern image of the human body using MRI technology

In addition to this, advances in artistic portrayals of the human body has improved the spectrum in which we can improve the human condition. Instead of using a scalpel and blade to cut away at a patient, novel therapeutics have been possible with advances in technology in medicine. This was best described by the TedTalk posted this week featuring Diane Gromala. Her talk as well as current research have shown that being immersed in virtual reality can potentially help those who suffer from chronic pain. The essence of how it works is allowing a patient to easily experience mindful cognitive therapy, a common psychological therapy, simply through putting on a Virtual Reality headset as seen in the image below. Therefore, it is the combination of art, technology, and medicine that can all come together to better understand the human body and bring us closer to healing ailments in the human condition.




Figure 3: Patient using VR for pain management


Text sources:

1. Detre, John A., et al. “IMAGING TECHNIQUES AT-A-GLANCE.” IMAGING TECHNIQUES AT-A-GLANCE, Nov. 2011, www.dana.org/uploadedFiles/Pdfs/imagingtechniquesataglance.pdf.

2. “Advanced Imaging Techniques.” UMGC, www.umcg.nl/EN/Research/Researchers/Facilities/Imaging/Paginas/default.aspx.

3. “Virtual Reality for Pain Management: A Weapon Against the Opioid Epidemic?” Clinical Pain Advisor, 31 Aug. 2017, www.clinicalpainadvisor.com/painweek-2017/chronic-pain-management-with-virtual-reality/article/684461/.

4. TEDxTalks. “TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Dec. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=628&v=cRdarMz--Pw.

5. Molteni, Megan. “Opioids Haven't Solved Chronic Pain. Maybe Virtual Reality Can.” Wired, Conde Nast, 2 Nov. 2017, www.wired.com/story/opioids-havent-solved-chronic-pain-maybe-virtual-reality-can/.


Image sources:

1. “Medieval Images of the Human Body.” Medievalists.net, 3 Nov. 2015, www.medievalists.net/2014/06/medieval-images-human-body/.

2. “MRI.” MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Anand - Gujarat, X-RAY House, www.xrayhouseanand.com/mri.php.

3. Baum, Stephanie. “How Samsung Is Leveraging VR to Manage Pain.” MedCity News, 1 Feb. 2017, medcitynews.com/2017/01/samsung-leveraging-vr-manage-pain/.