TABLE OF CONTENT
Types of engineering materials
Reasons for the choice of material
Engineering materials and preventive health
The role of engineering material in diagnosis
Engineering materials in surgery and treatment
Rehabilitative health and engineering materials
Use of engineering material in health,
Promotion
Conclusion
References
INTRODUCTION
Engineering as a course can be referred as the application of science, technology, art and economics and helps in definition and solution of real socio-economic and ecological problems. We can also see engineering as the sum total of all actions we take to put technology to work. (Adeboye etal 1995) Engineering as a profession is one of the oldest, one of the biggest challenges is to utilize the available resources of nature to restore the dignity of man by improving the comfort, timeliness of operation and removing the drudgery usually associated with the performance of labour intensive, and time consuming activities of mankind. Because of the nature of human problems, the application of the knowledge of Engineering is in the area of conception design, development, manufacture, selection, testing adoption, operation maintenance of machines implements, equipments, tools, structures and systems. In every field of life endeavour, the knowledge and application of engineering are felt.
Engineering application is witnessed in the areas of road construction. Building of houses such as sky scrappers and temples; dam, canals, motor, trucks, ship, aircrafts, railways, refrigerators, air conditioners, nuclear power stations, and infact in all life endeavour. Another major area engineering can be applied is the area of health care delivery. Engineers make use of materials called Engineering materials. These are of two types. Metals and non metals. The metallic components may be ferrous or non ferrous.
The development and advancement as well as sustenance of modern medicine is principally based on the design and manufacture of medical tools, equipment and machines. These range from the simplest tools, syringes, needle etc to the complex radiological laboratory and pharmaceutical machines.
Because of these machines and equipment, it is widely believed that modern medicine heavily depends on the advancement of the engineering filed in order to carry out the diagnosis of health and medical problems of mankind effectively and most efficiently. Other applications include building of hospitals and related medical complexes as well as artificial limbs.
This work will clear some concepts involved in the study, it will look at the various types of Engineering materials, reasons for the choice of materials, the engineering materials used in preventive health, diagnosis, treatment and surgery, rehabilitative health as well as promotion health.
CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION ENGINEERING
Engineering means the use of knowledge of physical, natural, biological and management sciences, humanities and arts, gained through studying and experience applied with a good judgment to develop ways of utilizing economically the materials and forces of nature of the benefit of mankind. Those who are academically empowered in this profession are called Engineers. Engineering has many sub-sections or areas of specialization such as Metallurgical, Agricultural, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical/ Electronics, Environmental and Computer etc (Oluka, et al 1999)
MATERIAL
Materials are the things, substances that we use, we have metals and non metals as engineering materials. We are concerned with the science and technology of development, selection and use of metals and non-metals. The choice of materials, the design process, the technology to apply in the extraction, Fabrication, design and manufacture of the things we use in engineering profession. Materials may be metal alloys or ceramics, plymers, foam or textiles etc.
HEALTH
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Health as a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease. While some people believed that “Health is wealth”, others see it as a condition of improved life conditions leading to physical, mental, social, spiritual and psychological alertness.
PUBLIC HEALTH
The act and science of maintaining, protecting and improving health of the people through organized community effort. It includes those community efforts and programmes aimed at improving their own health.
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Health Professionals are people trained in one form/ section of health care delivery or the other. From those involved in preventive health, curative and promotive Health such as Environmental Health Officers, Health educators, sanitary Engineers, Health economists, Hospital & Health Administrators, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Health Records Officers, Pharmacists, Pharmacologists, Doctors, Nurses, Radiologists, Physiotherapists, Allied medical and paramedical personnel’s.
TYPES OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS
Engineering materials occur in different sizes, shapes and they have varying chemical and physical properties. Engineering materials includes both organic solids that we use in the fabrication of tools, structures and instruments. According to Okorafor (2008) two major classes are outstanding:
a) Metals and
b) Non metals
The metals are subdivided into ferrous alloy and non ferrous metals. The ferrous alloy contain carbon and iron while on ferrous metal are all metals other than iron and its alloys.
Four major types of Engineering materials are metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. Metallic materials include, cast iron, steel, white cast zink, tin, copper, aluminum and others. Non metallic materials includes oil, wood, plastic, ceramics, rubber, asbestos etc.
REASONS FOR THE CHOICE OF MATERIAL
A lot of materials exist in nature and the choice of selecting one for a particular job is usually onerous this is because the engineer makes a lot of considerations before making up his mind. The Engineer or designer must look at the properties of the material, its weight, and usage. Generally, the necessary requirements or consideration to be made will center on its service requirement, which studies the materials properties as elasticity, conductivity, heat resistance, hardness, rigidity etc to determine its suitability for that particular purpose.
Another reasons for the choice of any material is its fabrication requirements. The malleability, machinability, ductibility, castibility and ease of joint must be considered before a choice is made.
It is also important to consider cost of the raw material, its manipulation, machinery, finishing with regards to its alternative to decide which one to be used. This is called economic requirement.
ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH
Preventive health also called Pu
blic Health of which environmental Health is a major component is known to be one area of major breakthrough, considering the number of lives saved and diseases avoided. However, professionals in this area speak glowing that Engineering material is a major contributor to their success story. In this aspect of Health care system we talk about those things that will ensure the safety of lives and property those things that can protect us from various forms of hazards in our domestic and industrial environment. The nose mask, the eye goggle, ear muff, hand gloves, booth, helmets, coverall and other body protective wears in the industries are made of various forms of Engineering materials such as rubber, plastic, polymers, cotton etc.
The sanitary conveniences that we enjoy which have reduced the rate of feaco-oral born diseases are all engineering materials, they include the plastic soil pipes, the ceramic squatting basins, baths, the concrete soak away pits etc.
The pressurized sprayers, knapsacks and cans for disinfectants and pest control are made of tins, plastics, rubbers, and cast iron. We also use materials such as shovels, rake, knife, hoe and other engineering materials in keeping the environment clean and reducing morbidity rates. Environment Health professionals and others involved in this area wouldn’t have made any impact if not for engineering materials.
ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS
Medical diagnosis, screening and conduction of various tests, now has been made possible because of engineering materials. In the laboratory, we use tourniquets made of plastic/ polymer. We use slides and glasses. The microscope, centrifuge, autoclave and other sophisticated laboratory diagnosis equipment are made with iron, glass, steel and rubber components. The test kits, the reagents, the galamicals are stored in cars. Without engineering materials, screening medical diagnosis, laboratory tests etc will not be possible.
USE OF ENGINEERING MATERIAL IN TREATMENT AND SURGERY
There is no gain saying the fact that Health professionals see their ideas come to life as a consequence of engineering materials. This is evident in the endless list of medical instruments used in treatment and surgery. Treatment and surgery have saved the lives of millions of people. The instrument used by the Health professionals involved in this field includes steel needles of various sizes with plastic based and cap; the barrel and splunger are all made of plastic.
Forcepts, scizzors, razor blades, surgical blades, kidney dish and trays are made of ferrous alloy of carbon steel which does not rust, and has high strength, conductivity and are malleable. These materials have economic, service and fabrication ease advantages over their alternatives.
In considering the material to be used for drips and blood bags, synthetic bags/ polymers are used along side drip-rapes for infusion and blood transfusion. This material that does not rust, rot or conduct electricity is chosen. The surgical rope, the loop used for family planning, oxygen used to resuscitate life is stored in a material.
The pharmaceutical products, injections, vaccines, drugs, tables and even capsules that are encapsulated in simple dissolvable cap are beautifully designed for ease of use.
In the radiological section, we use highly automated X-ray machines, which helps in life saving. The dialysis machine used in the treatment of diabetes is all made of various engineering materials.
Physicians and clinicians use stetescopes, sphygmomanometer, mercury thermometers to check the heart beat, blood pressure and temperature which are indispensable for early detection of various ailments and health conditions that promotes treatment and wellness.
The medical profession makes use of bandages, plasters POP (Plaster of Paris) clothes made of polymers, plastics, and composites. The consideration of their possession of certain physical properties which has made then to have advantages over their engineering materials.
REHABILITATIVE HEALTH AND ENGINEERING MATERIALS
Engineering materials are put into proper use in the area of rehabilitative health. It could be recalled that Health professionals are basically involved in life saving, reduction of mortality and morbidity rates. To actually carry out their responsibilities, the preventive curative, rehabilitative and promotve components of health care system are considered. In rehabilitative health, we talk about how to rehabilitate recuperating, disabled and heavily injured persons. Engineering materials in use includes; stretchers, wheel chair, staff, clutches, physiotherapy machines of different shape and sizes. Massaging machines, artificial limbs, artificial tooth made from composites, cellulose and plastic. Professionals in the field of physiotherapy and rehabilitative health will testify to the fact that they are been able to realize their dreams and ideas of effective rehabilitative health as a result of the use of various engineering materials.
USE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS IN HEALTH PROMOTION
We also use engineering materials in promotive health and Health Education. engineering materials are used in the fabrication/ manufacturing of flasks, fridges freezers, ice linings and cold boxes used in the transfer, storage and preservation of vaccines. Health education involves, health talks, presentation, symposium and passing health information to he people, usually, mass media, (Radio and Television), posters, handbills, projectors, power points etc and papers, plastics, polymers, cupper, wood and other components are used in the production of these materials.
CONCLUSION
I wonder what life would have been if not for Engineering materials. Engineering materials provided solution to almost every life problems. Our pattern of life is shaped with Engineering materials. Infact life would have been worthless, empty, frustrating and stressful. The relevance of engineering materials to health professionals cannot be overemphasized simply put without engineering materials, medical practice would be in a state of disarray. Thanks to Engineering materials.
REFERENCES
Adeboye, T. O. Bagachwa, M.S.D. and Bamiro, O. A. (1995) Effects of
reforms on Technological Capability on Sub-Saharam Africa. Concept Paper, African Technology Policy Studies Network, Nairobi, Kenya.
Dieter, G. E. (1988) Mechanical Metalluigy, SI Metric Editon, London, M.
C. Graw Hill.
Higgins, R. A. (1972) Materials for the Engineering Technician, Aodde
and Stoughton.
Okereke, C. D. C. (2006) Environmental Pollution Control, Owerri, Chin
& Chis Ventures Nig Ltd.
Oluka, S. I. Onwuali, A. P. and Eneh, I. I. (1999) Engineer-in-Society,
Enugu, Snaap Printers and Publishers.
Omodu, S. W. (2004) Essentials of Environmental Health: Port-Harcourt,
Paulimatex Printers.
The American National Red Cross (1967) First Aid, Second Edition New
York, Doubleday & Company Inc.
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI
SCHOOL OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TECHNOLOGY
TOPIC
“HEALTH PROFESSIONALS SEE THEIR IDEAS COME TO LIFE, THANKS TO SOLUTION IN ENGINEERING MATERIALS”
PRESENTED TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TECHNOLOGY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF COURSE PHT 615:
ENGINEERING MATERIAL
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