Probing the human body: Imaging allows a safer look inside patients, while the microprocessor aids physicians in rendering diagnoses

To be able to look inside the human body has always been the goal of physicians. Ancient medicine men and medieval healers saw exterior lumps and colored veins that signaled deeper trouble. Later, exploratory surgery became the common technique toward a better view of internal damage, and better control over radiation led to X-rays. But an increasing threat to the patient´s health has accompanied each of these latest improvements.