Week 4: MedTech and Art

In this week’s lectures Professor Vesna discussed the intertwining of medicine and art. One of the topics that struck me was the topic of medical imaging techniques. I have taken numerous classes on how the Xray, MRI and CT work and the mathematics behind them, however I never stopped to appreciate that these techniques create a beautiful image of a living thing. In particular, a Doppler ultrasound measures the blood flow through the heart and the velocity gradient is portrayed in a gradient of color (Vascular Ultrasound). These colors can evoke responses to a very specific audience, the medical professionals, but to others it can also be seen as an interestingly colored moving artwork.

In addition, what we know pictorially about the body, ranging from the heart to the bones, could not have been achieved without the work of artists.The famous Gray’s Anatomy by Henry Gray was published in 1858, long before printers and copy machines (Rosenhek). In the book renditions of the body had to be draw by hand and the work is a prime example of the symbiotic relationship of artists and scientists. The influence of this work transcends generations and is an inspiration and a tool to both artists and doctors.

Medicine was been used to create beauty as in Orlan’s numerous plastic surgeries meant to depict famous beautiful women (Rose). In parallel, art has been used to help educate on and advance medical treatments. One technology that is being explored is virtual reality to help facilitate mediation that can help those with chronic pain (Gromala). In simulations a snowy scene is depicted and the sky clears and the patient becomes more relaxed. Another technology is medical avatars which were designed by Virgil Wong to show patients their health conditions in a 3D anatomical model. The program also shows them what they can look like both inside and out and how conditions such as smoking can affect them (Wong). This has shown that through the advances in both art and technology the lives of many can be made better.

• Gromala, Diane. "TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty." YouTube. TEDx, 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
• Rose, Barabara. "ORLAN: IS IT ART?" Stanford University, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
• ROSENHEK, Jackie. "Doctor's Review: Medicine on the Move." Doctor's Review. N.p., Sept. 2009. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
• "Vascular Ultrasound." Vascular Ultrasound. Radiology Information, 27 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
• Wong, Virgil. "Research on Time Travel Simulations of Personalized Patient Bodies for Smoking Cessation." Experiments in Art, Medicine, and Technology. Virgil Wong, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.