i-Snake

Some people fear that we are becoming too dependent on technology, which may have disastrous results in the future. I, for one am pleased at the development of novel technologies in the area of medicine and surgery. I think it is beneficial not only to the clinician but to the patient as well. Newer techniques allow professionals to perform life saving procedures that would not have been possible 30 odd years ago. Medicine relies quite heavily on technology whether it is for observations, diagnostic purposes or actual treatment. The focus is now being placed on developing methods that are non invasive thus shortening the recovery times, increasing safety and efficiency and of course being more cost effective.

Initially the scalpel was supreme in the surgical theatre; however vast improvements are now being made for the use of robotics in surgery. For example in the past clinicians would have used a combination of mirrors and lenses to examine the internal structure of the body. Once they obtained a vague idea of what was wrong, the patient would have an open procedure to correct the problem. This was then replaced by fibre optics and the development of endoscopes for more detailed observations so that a clearer and more definite picture was formed before conducting such big surgical procedures. Today endoscopes are equipped with lasers to take biopsy samples and the necessary tools to perform surgery as well as cameras to record images. This means that the patient does not need to go through unnecessary invasive procedures and less invasiveness means shorter recovery times, thus reducing the number of hospital beds being occupied – a start to reducing some of the burden on the NHS.

Back in May/April 2007, a caterpillar robot was being developed by researchers in the US. The caterpillar – only a few millimetres in length – was operated by push and pull wires outside the body and could crawl at a rate of 18mm’s per minute to deliver treatment to the heart. The use of a magnetic tracker system, tiny cameras and a radio frequency probe to correct irregular heart rhythms were just some of the possibilities being explored at the time. Though further research was required, it was suggested that the tiny robot could be used in surgery without having to stop the heart – a process that often causes problems post surgery.

Recently browsing through a newsletter at university, I came across an interesting article about the development of a surgical robot called the i-snake. Similar idea to the caterpillar in terms of less invasive procedures, Imperial College London, are developing the robot which consists of special motors, sensors and imagining tools encased within a flexible tube – a bit like a snake. Although being developed for heart bypass surgery, the robotic could also be used for other hard to reach areas such as the gastrointestinal tract, without having to perform more invasive techniques. Currently being perfected in the lab, the i-snake would hopefully allow more complex procedures to take place in the future. It seems like there are exciting times ahead with regards to the technological development in medicine :)

Marriage

As I mentioned in my previous posts, I’ve attended way too many weddings this summer and this inevitably led to the question... “So when are you getting married?” Uh it’s the question that hangs over your head every day until... well until you do get hitched!

At 15/16 I was excited about school. At 17/18 I was focussed on getting into uni. At 19 - 21, I was at uni studying, preoccupied with getting my career on the right track. At 22, I was busy studying. At 23, I'm still studying but now I'm also scared witless! :(

As you can see I’ve always managed to come out with some excuse but now I think I’m running out of them! People still continue to study and develop their careers even after they get married, so what’s stopping me? I’m not saying I want to get married straight away or that I’m desperate. I just find the whole a bit daunting! The fact that so much emphasis is placed on finding the right one. How will I know who that is? I have way too many questions in my head...

• What if I never find Mr Right? (... will I grow into a single slightly mad old woman over time, surrounded by only my books for company? Not so bad. But what if I get THAT desperate that I start considering some really keen people from back "there" – Uh... ok now I’ve reached a whole new level of scariness!)
• What if I find a possible Mr Right and he doesn’t like me in return? (Urgh rejection is an evil thing... I’ve never been rejected before! Wow this could cause serious issues for my ego and general mental health)
• What if I marry him and his family hate me? (I could have evil in-laws that may try to kill me or constantly trying to frame for someone else’s murder. Oh no, wait... I’ve been watching those Indian dramas with my mother again! Duh!)
• What if everything is fine and then we realise that we’re not the perfect match we thought we were and have to go our separate ways? (Probably most likely AFTER I’ve spent ages decorating the house to just how I would like it and then we have to sell it anyway!)

Uh oh what if my potential life partner finds this blog, reads it and then realises that I may be slightly crazy? Ok ok, so that’s not very likely but on a serious note there are so many things to consider about getting married as well as your usual life stuff about careers, goals, ambitions etc. Also is it just me or do girls seem to have a harder time about getting married than guys do? It’s like girls have an expiry date tattooed on them somewhere and must get married by a certain age or they are considered “past it”. Whilst guys on the other hand seem to be much more laid back about it and don’t really seem to have any age restrictions on them. I don’t get the big gender difference, marriage is hard regardless of what gender you are. Right?

Shazia Baji’s Nikkah

Despite some major setbacks, Shazia baji finally got married. It was a lovely day but also reminded everyone of the people that were missing. I listened to the nikkah being read and paid attention to what was being said. Afterwards auntie Naseem (Saba’s mum) made me giggle by making Saba and I eat the chowarey (sweets that are traditionally handed out after the nikkah) and told us to pray for good husbands, lol.

I’ve been to people’s nikkah’s before, but the first time I properly listened to what was being said was probably Sana’s wedding as it marked the beginning of a new period in our lives. We were all moving onto a new phase in our lives and Sana was the first one to step over that threshold so to speak. And soon after the floodgates opened and people were getting married left, right and centre :)

But this time Shazia baji’s nikkah was different. The order of things said and done was still the same but this time it felt weird... for me. As I listened to the molvi (priest), I felt this really strange feeling wash over me. I found my brain entering panic mode as I realised that the next nikkah of a female member of our family would probably be mine or Saba’s! Eek! I think Saba was thinking the same thing as we both had this look on our face.

Every wedding that I have attended this year has inevitably brought me one step closer to going through that same phase in my life. I’m not scared by it... well ok maybe I am a little, but it’s more to do with wanting to do it right the first time round. I don’t want to make a mistake and would ideally wish that when my time comes, it will be near enough perfect (inshAllah). A happy and successful marriage both for myself and everyone else that I know.