Medical engineering in Swedish medical services

This paper gives an account of the increased need for engineering experts within the Swedish medical services against a background of the developments in this field. The Swedish definition of the term medical engineering is defined and examples are given of techniques which have been developed in Sweden, and that are not internationally known yet, or which are used more extensively in Sweden than in other countries. Descriptions are given of an X-ray spectrophotometer for the determination of the content of bone salts and of an X-ray television system. The use of a Mingograf for the recording to ECG and EEG and different methods and equipment for screening tests on large population groups, i.e., the AutoChemist, are covered. This paper also talks about ultrasonic equipment for recording in intensive care departments, dialysis methods, different data processing procedures, and the development of advanced prosthetics and orthosis. The future of medical engineering and the training of medical technicians in Sweden are discussed and emphasis is placed on the rapid developments that are taking place in medical engineering. The importance of the intensification and extension of international cooperation within the field is stressed and also the work on classification and standardization is discussed.