Technology in Healthcare: 3D Printing, Mobile Stroke Units, and Biosensors

This paper explores the impact of 3D printing, mobile stroke units, and biosensors on the healthcare sector. It discusses how 3D printing is being used to create custom prosthetics and organs, how mobile stroke units are reducing treatment time, and how biosensors are improving health tracking and monitoring. The article concludes that these technologies are improving healthcare in Canada.

TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE
TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE
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TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE
Introduction
Technology has evolved recently with many organizations opting to adapt to the latest
technologies in order to survive in the competitive market. To improve customer service
delivery, the healthcare sector has been linked with 3D printing, biosensors, and the mobile
stroke units technologies. Healthcare technology facilitates usage of skills and knowledge in the
form of procedures, vaccines, medicine, devices, and systems created hence solving issues
related to life thus improving life quality (Mitchell et al, 2008). Therefore, this paper seeks to
study how the technologies have shaped the healthcare sector.
3D Printing Technology
3D printing in healthcare was introduced in 1983 by Chuck Hall, who manufactured the first ever
3D printer in the world and used it to print a small eye wash cup. 3D-printed prosthetics are
custom-made for each specific user. This has enhanced the service that they offer to the
individual user in Canada hence making it a great milestone in the way specific needs of patients
are being met head-on. Doctors are able to build a custom-fit suit, creating a nice light design
that fits the patient’s body down to every distinct millimeter.
According to (Branch, 2015) bioprinting and tissue engineering could eventually eradicate the
need for organ transplanting. Modern medical technology is using 3D printing technology to
build tiny organs using stem cells as the main material for production. These organoids are able
to grow inside the body of a sick patient and take over in case an organ fails.
The 3D-printed skin has also been made realistic for burn victims, who have had limited options
for healing their disfigured skin hence offering a solution to skin grafting which is very painful.
This technology, with its life-changing merits for burn victims, is never-ending (Hornick, 2017).

TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE
Mobile Stroke Units Technology
Mobile stroke units, on the other hand, reduce the time between when stroke-like symptoms set
in and when thrombolytic drugs are delivered, which are often administered in three hours’ time
of the onset of symptoms or the last time when the patient was known to be well (Stephanie et al,
2015). These units contain highly trained personnel, and specialized stroke diagnosing and
treating medication and equipment. A mobile lab tests blood samples and in case it’s found that
the patient is experiencing an ischemic stroke, onboard medical personnel initiates a tissue
plasminogen activator to break the clot.
tPA has been underutilized despite the fact that it is FDA approved for almost twenty years to
treat patients who suffer strokes (Patel et al, 2016). Approved in 1996 by FDA, tPA dissolves the
clots in blood especially when administered immediately but most patients arrive late hence
making them not eligible for this technological life-saving treatment as they should arrive within
three hours after the onset of stroke-like symptoms. Only 15% of patients arrive within this
required timeline (Tejedor & Fuentes, 2009).
Bio-sensors Technology
According to (Turner & Anthony , 2013) biosensors wearables are mobile technological tools
which are designed by the healthcare industry and vastly used across Canada. They are used to
ease up health tracking and monitoring when the body is still functional. Whether worn on the
wrist or any part of the body including the head, biosensors educate doctors and nurses on the
health condition of patients while at the same time alerting patients of their health condition.
Therefore, they assist both parties to be prepared for any kind of future health issues. This
technology is relatively available at a low cost, making them easily affordable and available.

TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE
These sensors help healthcare personnel easily diagnose diseases and enable to customize
treatment in accordance with the needs of the specific patient (Kumar et al, 2015). Biosensors are
an important medical tool especially in case of emergencies whereby the doctors are able to
identify any underlying health conditions of the patient faster. Treatment can, therefore, be
undertaken fast thus saving the patient’s life. Biosensors are also used to detect a chronic
condition early allowing time for successful treatment which could otherwise be fatal. Patients
who suffer any kind of condition which needs monitoring are therefore advised to make use of
biosensors.
Conclusion
Normally, the healthcare industry is change resistant, but for valid reasons which spread across
security and general care. It’s however evident that the discussed healthcare technologies are
improving healthcare in Canada due to the fact that these technologies are proven to be not only
useful but also safe and secure.
References

TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE
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Fuentes, B. &.‐T. (2009). Stroke units: many questions, some answers. International Journal of
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