Advances in Medical Technology Since the 1800s, medical technology has made significant advances. The most basic tool for a surgeon, a field in which Dr. Frankenstein was a pioneer, is the scalpel. There have been no drastic changes to the scalpel since it was first built. What has happened are refinements to the tool. When Dr. Frankenstein wielded the instrument it was a simple steel blade with an ivory handle. Although the instrument was adequate it was not entirely sterile due to the ivory handle. The fact that it was also stored in a velvet-lined case also prevented the scalpel from being 100% sterile. Today's scalpel is not only completely made of stainless steel, but there are now disposable scalpels. The operation of the disposable scalpel is "a one-piece molded handle that includes a unique one-way integral hinge" (The Granton Knife Company). This disposable blade reduces the risk of cross-infection. Although scalpels are always disinfected after each use, this is just an extra precaution to prevent infections. The main reason why there have been no drastic changes in the design of the basic steel-bladed scalpel is because "the physiology of the human hand and body has not changed since then." In ancient times, surgical instruments exhibited remarkable constancy." (The Science of Incision, Barry M. Katz) Steel blades are not the only form a scalpel takes. Scalpels now take the form of lasers. use of lasers began with a laser knife. The CO2 laser was used to remove cancerous tissue. The introduction of the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners greatly helped doctors make a better diagnosis. When video imaging became available in the 1970s, doctors discovered that "inserting a fiberoptic endoscope through a cannula they could explore otherwise unimaginable places without invasive surgery." This technique led to laparoscopic surgery "where the surgeon manipulates elongated instruments through a cannula" (Katz), but instead of looking at the patient the surgeon looks at a video monitor. This type of surgery forced doctors to develop hand-eye coordination that is counterintuitive to the style in which these doctors were originally trained. The initial question I was asked was how I felt about technology.