A Layperson's View of Future Technology and Society
Medical imaging refers to the techniques and processes used to create images of the human body (or parts thereof) for clinical purposes (medical procedures seeking to reveal, diagnose or examine disease) or medical science (including the study of normal anatomy and physiology).
Image courtesy of Super Dave Chen
Computed Tomography
Computed tomography (CT Scan) is a medical imaging method employing digital geometry processing to generate a three-dimensional image of the inside of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images.
MIT creates 3-D images of living cell
Aquilion ONE Computed Tomography (CT) System
Image from wikipedia
PET Scans
PET (Positron Emission Tomography), is an imaging procedure that is both a medical and a research tool. It is used in imaging of tumors and for clinical study of the brain. PET combined with CT (Computer Tomography), provide both anatomic and metabolic information (i.e., what the structure is and what it is doing).
Before I looked into PET scans, I thought that positrons were purely science fiction. Turns out that positrons are for real and were discovered way back in 1932. I really should get out more.
Animation by Jens Langner
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Image courtesy of
National Library of Medicine
As the name implies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnetic field to visualize the structure and function of the body. Functional MRI or fMRI is a type of specialized MRI scan that measures the neural activity in the brain or spinal cord.
The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory web site offers the best (for me, that means short and easy), introduction to MRI in their article - MRI: A Guided Tour
What Is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
What to Expect During Your MRI Exam
Email Your Comments, Links or Pictures
or use this contact form
Visitor Comments
Be the first to comment
Medical Imaging Articles, Blogs and Web Sites
All Links open in a new window. Bold = Recommended. Links do not imply endorsement.
I checked the links on this page on 10/17/11
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| AnatOnMe | Microsoft Research |
| Imaging the Future | NobelPrize.org |
| Magnetoencephalography (MEG) | Science Daily |
| Radiology | Radiologyinfo.org |
| The Cell | Cell image library |
| The Visible Human Project | National Institute of Health |
Warning:
Many of the articles found on this web site are from a blogger that couldn't tell you the difference between hydrochloric and high colonic. We try our very best to provide you with useful, accurate information, but we don't always get it right. Please read our full disclaimer before quoting us at work, school or world conferences.