Chapter 1

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY:
SCOPE AND NATURE,
AND HISTORICAL
PERSPECTIVE

Chapter 1: Introduction
Learning Objectives
At the end of this Chapter, the student should be able to;
describe medical technology as a science and philosophy;
describe the essence of medical technology as an

application of science and technology;

trace the historical development of medical technology;
Intro to Med Tech

Chapter 1: Introduction
Learning Objectives
identify the affiliating branches of medical

technology;
discuss the scope of medical technology;
explain the nature of medical technology;

Intro to Med Tech

Chapter 1: Introduction
Learning Objectives
define medical technology as a clinical science and as

an application of science and technology;

describe the trends and future priorities of medical

technology; and
identify the three (3) functions of medical technology
Intro to Med Tech

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

Medical technology is a combination of Medicine

and the use of technology

Requires scientific procedure

Medical Technology is an applied science for it

employs scientific investigation to come up with the

findings.

Scientific inquiry can be defined as investigative solicitation of

relevant information that may establish the so-called the
cause and effects of health concerns and issues

Intro to Med Tech

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

The Impact of Using the Scientific Method in the

Field of Medical Technology

Modern science owes its popularity in the field of medicine

and medical technology to the scientific method fashioned
by Galileo Galilei .

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

The following steps were considered as
important elements in the scientific method:
Characterization
Hypotheses
Experimentation
Conclusion and Recommendation

Intro to Med Tech

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

DELIMITATION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD
First Delimitation
Second Delimitations
Third Delimitations

Intro to Med Tech

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

COMBINING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE WITH THE
USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Manual Technique
Automation Technique

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY AND MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
Limitations of Scientific Inquiry
Controlled Environment
Time
Handling, Preparation and Processing of
Specimens

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

Limitations of Scientific Inquiry

Reagents/Chemicals, and Laboratory Supplies

Condition of Instruments
Objective Approach

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

Models of scientific inquiry applicable in the
field of Medical Technology
Classical Model
Deductive (Analytical) reasoning
Inductive (Synthetic) Reasoning
Abductive Reasoning
Pragmatic Model

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

PHILOSPHICAL DISCOURSE AND MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
Classroom
setting

Laboratory
Conference

Clinical
Laboratory
Setting

The interrelationship between classroom setting, laboratory conferences, and clinical

laboratory setting especially when Philosophical Discourse is embedded.

Chapter 1.1: Medical Technology as a Science

EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY

EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL

TECHNOLOGY

Chapter 1.2: Medical Technology as an

application of science and technology
Laboratory Information Systems
Professional Practice
Genetic Engineering, Gene Therapy, and Gene

Diagnosis
Laboratory Waste Management
Laboratory Diagnosis of Diseases of the 21st century
Scientific Researches

Chapter 1.3: Historical Perspective

Medical Technology in its Earliest Onset

Medical Technology in the 18th Century
Medical Technology in its Modern Onset in the

United States
Medical Technology in the Philippines post-World
War II

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Clinical Chemistry
Clinical

blood chemistry analysis covers the

analysis of blood chemical components including
glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, blood
enzymes, urea, creatinine, blood electrolytes, blood
hormones, blood gases and other blood analytes.

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Hematology

Blood hematological study includes the routine and

special examinations of blood samples for
complete blood count through the use of the
microscope for microscopic counting and
morphological examination, spectrophotometric
analysis of hemoglobin level, Hematocrit reader for
Hematocrit level and other materials for special
testing/determination of hematological disorder
such as clotting time, clot retraction time, blood
index, prothrombin time, bleeding time.

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Clinical Microscopy
The

Clinical Microscopy discipline concentrates on

the routine examination of urine and other body
fluid samples employing the use of the microscope
and adopting the procedure in urine analysis such
as acidity, protein, sugar and crystals in urine tests
and other special procedures like pregnancy test
and semen analysis.

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Parasitology
covers

the analysis of stool or feces including the

presence or absence of parasites, identifying the
particular parasites and doing special techniques
for the presence of fat or blood in stool.

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Microbiology
Clinical

Microbiological analysis focuses on the

isolation,
identification,
cultivation,
and
characterizing the bacteria found in human
specimens through the use of microscopes for gram
or acid fast staining reaction, chemicals for
biochemical properties, culture media for
cultivation and identification of morphological
appearance of colonies recovered and test of
susceptibility.

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Blood Banking and Serology

The

blood banking analysis includes the blood type

determination, cross matching procedures and
other special procedures like blood donor
screening and blood letting.

Chapter 1.4: Medical Technology Sections

Histopathology
Histopathological

analysis
includes
tissue
handling, processing (automated and manual
methods), and staining through the use of the
microscope, microtome, and other special
apparatuses.

Chapter 1.5: The Nature of Medical

Technology
A procedure of scientific activities( Substantial

Procedural)
A paramount field of scientific

investigation(Investigative Complicity)
An intervention in the medicinal procedures(Inter-

medicinal Procedural Interference)

Chapter 1.5: Nature of Medical Technology

An explicit application of science and technology

(Assiduous Partner)
Evidentiary information in medicine (Circumstantial

Medicinal Evidences)

Chapter 1.5: Nature of Medical Technology

PRELUDE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Instrument Selection, Operation, Maintenance and

Troubleshooting
Utilization of a computerized information system for

data input, retrieval and analysis

Chapter 1.5: Nature of Medical Technology

PRELUDE OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Quality control, quality assurance and performance

improvement
Inventory control
Clinical trials

Chapter 1.6: Scope of Medical Technology

Investigating Nosocomial Infections
New Discoveries Through Research
Including Medical Technology in Public Health

Education Through Seminar/Workshops

Extending services to molecular engineering

Chapter 1.6: Scope of Medical Technology

Pioneer in Laboratory Medical Diagnostic Services

Evaluating the efficacy of drug treatment through

microbiological analysis
Engaging in blood donation and bloodletting

services for the public

Chapter 1.6: Scope of Medical Technology

LIMITATION OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Laboratory diagnosis
Biological and Medical Research
Prevention and Control of Diseases and infection
Innovative Techniques, and Technology

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
Sensitivity to the Demands of Time (Sensuous and

Flexible)
High priority for rendering health services

(Preferential Health Servant)

Active subject of innovative technologies.

(Adventurous and Self-fulfilling)

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
Invites individuals to learn the new technologies

(Informative)
Greater focus on research to come up with new

discovery (Research-oriented)

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
Deeply committed to promote the wellness and

welfare of mankind (Health Promoter)

Concerns with students who are interested to acquire

profound knowledge and skills of biological and

medical sciences (Educative)

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
Idealistic field of Laboratory Medicine (Medicinal

-Mediator Paradigmatic)
Focuses on providing reliable and accurate

laboratory findings (Self-conscious and

Perfectibility)

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
TRENDS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
Operational Drive
Chemical

suppliers or manufacturers are

focusing on one minute laboratory results using
automation, in order to compete against the full
spectrum of procedure as alternatives instead of
long tedious chemical procedures.

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
TRENDS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
Outcome Drive
Medical

Technology solutions are being

developed, from different scientific disciplines, at
such a pace as to quickly establish themselves, in
a broad enough consensuses, as new gold
standards.

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
FOREFRONT OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Efficiency in Works and Services
Globally Competitive Medical Technologists

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
FUTURE PRIORITIES OF MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGY
Guarantee the quality of laboratory tests irrespective

of where they are performed

Improvement in the quality of services
Improvement in clinical outcomes
Perform joint/clinical laboratory research projects

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
FUNCTIONS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Scientific Function
Production of test data
Monitoring the accuracy, precision and utility of

laboratory testing

Chapter 1.7: Characteristics of Medical

Technology
FUNCTIONS OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Evaluation and implementation of new laboratory

methods
Management Function

Technical
Fiscal
Human Resources
Educational Function