VOA常速英语2014--影像新技术：外科医生前所未有的法宝

 

New Technology Gives Surgeons Unprecedented¹ Views of Patients’ Bodies 影像新技术：外科医生前所未有的法宝

When could a video game possibly save your life?  A new imaging technology, now being used at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas,  has direct links to video games.  It can provide detailed² views of patients’ bodies -- helping³ surgeons plan and execute complicated operations with much more confidence. 

什么情况下视频游戏可能会救命呢？德克萨斯州休斯顿卫理公会医院目前正在应用的一项新的影像技术，就与视频游戏有直接关系。这项技术能够展示病患者体内的影像细节，大大提搞了外科医生们设计和实施复杂手术的信心。

Those who think that developing video games software has no other purpose than entertainment should think again.

那些觉得开发视频游戏软件除了满足娱乐需要而没有其他目的的人，应该重新考虑一下了。

So says Dr. Brian Butler, a radiation oncologist at Houston Methodist hospital and the principal author of a new imaging technology called Plato’s CAVE. “Computer engineers and video gamers -- really propelled this type of technology into a possibility,” he said.

布莱恩?巴特勒医生是这么认为的。他是休斯顿卫理公会医院的放射肿瘤科医生，同时也是一项名为“柏拉图洞穴”的新型影像技术的主要开发者。他说：“电脑工程师和视频游戏玩家们让这类技术成为可能。”

Multi-dimensional images

CAVE is a powerful processing technology, based on both Microsoft and Apple software, which quickly imports data collected by other imaging machines -- such as CT, MRI and PET scanners -- and converts it into detailed images.

“柏拉图洞穴”是一项强大的处理技术，兼容微软和苹果操作软件，它能够快速地输入电脑断层扫描仪、核磁共振扫描仪及正子断层扫描仪等成像设备收集的数据，并把数据转换为详细的图像。”

Similar to the graphics⁴ in a video game, the multidimensional color images are displayed on a touch-sensitive screen, enabling doctors to manipulate them and virtually “fly” through body parts from all directions, rotate them and zoom⁵ in and out.

与视频游戏中的图像类似，多维彩色影像会展示在触摸屏上，供医生们操控，简直就是从各个角度“穿越”患者身体部位，把它们旋转、放大和缩小。

One of the surgeons who uses Plato’s CAVE, Mas Takashima, said being able to clearly visualize⁶ the operation area is the key to successful surgery.

另一位使用过该技术的外科医生马斯?高岛说，能够看到手术部位清晰的视觉成像是手术成功的关键所在。

“When you have the data so you can then visualize exactly what's going on, it definitely decreases the stress level or the anxiety level of just wondering, 'oh, is there a possibility that that blood vessel⁷ might be, you know, wrapped around this tumor⁸? “ said Takashima.

他说：“当你有了这些数据你就可以看到情况到底怎样，这与只是在想‘哎呀，血管会不会缠在肿瘤上＇的猜测相比，当然减轻了压力或者焦虑。”

Precision

Recently, surgeons used the CAVE system to plan a difficult operation on a patient who had accidentally shot himself with a crossbow. They were able to clearly see where the arrow entered the skull⁹ and how close it was to critical blood vessels¹⁰.

最近，外科专家们利用“柏拉图洞穴”系统为一位不小心用弓箭射伤自己的病人设计了一项复杂的手术。他们可以清楚地看到箭头是从哪里射入头骨，以及离关键的血管有多远。

But not too long ago, even prominent physicians were skeptical¹¹ about scanner-imaging technology. Dr. Robert Grossman, who teaches neurological surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital, remembers an experience from 1963.

然而不久前，即使那些有名的医生也不相信扫描仪成像技术。休斯敦卫理公会医院的神经外科医生罗伯特?格罗斯曼回忆起1963年的一件往事。

“When the first CT scan was announced, the chief of neuro-radiology at our hospital - he was a very distinguished¹² individual, I won't mention his name - he said to us, 'boys, this is a hoax,'" said Grossman.

他说：“ 当电脑断层扫描技术首次被宣布的时候，我们医院的神经放射科的主任、一个非常出色的医生，我就不说名字了，他说，唉，这是个骗局。”

Now, experts say, this is only the beginning. And they say medical imaging technology will get even better as time goes on.

如今，专家们说这只是一个开始。他们说医学影像技术会随着时间的推移变得越来越高超。

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 graphics   

n.制图法，制图学；图形显示

参考例句：

• You've leveraged your graphics experience into the video area.你们把图形设计业务的经验运用到录像业务中去。
• Improved graphics took computer games into a new era.经改进的制图技术将电脑游戏带进了一个新时代。

5 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

6 visualize   

vt.使看得见，使具体化，想象，设想

参考例句：

• I remember meeting the man before but I can't visualize him.我记得以前见过那个人，但他的样子我想不起来了。
• She couldn't visualize flying through space.她无法想像在太空中飞行的景象。

7 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

8 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

9 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

10 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

12 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。