| Summary: | In an attempt to summarize the field of medical technology, a natural tendency is to begin to list the areas of medicine in which technology is being applied. If, on the other hand, one tries to name an area of medicine in which it is not being applied, it becomes clear that technology is a dominant factor in modern healthcare delivery. The domain of biomedical technology has evolved through the interaction of physicians, scientists, and engineers who have combined their skills to develop better methods for diagnosing and treating disease. Recent advances in the fields of molecular biology, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and imaging have given clinicians exciting new tools. The ever-increasing significance of computational sciences, bioinformatics, visualization, telecommunications, and robotics gives promise of new clinical devices and procedures that will revolutionize medical practice. The majority of clinicians are fascinated by, and very receptive to, new technological advances. However, the degree to which novel technologies are included in everyday practice depends on many factors. In the free-market environment of the United States, financial considerations such as potential market share, intellectual property protection, regulatory approval, and insurance reimbursement often determine the fate of an emerging technology. On the other hand, if the market demands that a new technology become available, it will find its way into clinical practice. The rapidly evolving nature of biomedical technology development makes it difficult to define exactly the field itself, much less attempt to describe its entirety in a single volume. Thanks to the expertise and special effort of the contributing authors, this handbook represents our attempt at preparing a current and, as much as possible, comprehensive professional reference source, as well as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students in biomedical engineering programs. |
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