IEE Computing & Control Division: Chairman´s address. Some aspects of computers in medicine

The field of medicine is one which offers considerable scope for the application of computers ranging from simple microprocessors to sophisticated array processors. To illustrate these applications a number of examples have been chosen in diagnosis, therapy, patient monitoring and patient mangagement. The first two examples relate to diagnostic equipment, the operation of which would not be possible without an integral computer, namely the now well established X-ray c.t. scanner and the recently developed nuclear magnetic resonance scanner which promises to be an equally important diagnostic tool. From the increasing range of microprocessor applications three examples have been chosen, the kidney machine, Doppler ultrasound for blood flow measurement, and real-time ultrasound. Images play an important role in medical diagnosis, and it is shown how computer based techniques developed for other applications can be used to improve the quality of these images and so aid diagnosis. Computers are also being used more extensively to maintain patient records, particularly of treatments and their effects, information which is particularly valuable in medical research. Much monitoring equipment in the intensive care situation is now beginning to. incorporate microprocessors allowing more automatic operation and recording. Finally it is indicated how work in the field of expert systems could, by close collaboration between computer scientist and clinician, lead to improved clinical diagnosis.