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Vision, body and interpretation in medical imaging diagnostics

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Abstract

This article explores the profound impact of visualism and visual perception in the context of medical imaging diagnostics. It emphasizes the intricate interplay among vision, embodiment, subjectivity, language, and historicity within the realm of medical science and technology, with a specific focus on image consciousness. The study delves into the role of subjectivity in perception, facilitating the communication of opacity and historicity to the perceiving individual. Additionally, it scrutinizes the image interpretation process, drawing parallels to text interpretation and highlighting the influence of personal biases and individuality in medical practice. By revisiting Husserl’s conceptualization of “image consciousness” and introducing the notion of “image theme”, the paper seeks to establish a theoretical framework for making sense of images within the context of technological interpretation. A key objective is to enhance the phenomenology of technology through a systematic analysis of medical imaging diagnosis, contributing to an expanded epistemological foundation for medical practice. The article recognizes that the construction of medical knowledge incorporates subjective elements, especially within a historical context. The interpretation of images involves both instrumental and expert interpretation, with human subjectivity playing a crucial role. The article asserts that human creativity and conscious engagement are indispensable in interpreting all medical images.

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Notes

  1. In the realm of photography, two distinct effects, denoise and bokeh, are employed to enhance or alter the visual appeal of an image. The denoise effect is applied to mitigate or eliminate noise from a photograph, often manifested as grainy or speckled patterns. Denoising algorithms meticulously analyze the image data, employing various techniques to smoothen out the noise while preserving crucial details. On the other hand, bokeh pertains to the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph. The bokeh effect is achieved by deliberately creating a shallow depth of field, ensuring that the main subject of the photograph remains sharp, while the background or foreground intentionally appears blurred.

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Acknowledgements

The authors declare that the submitted work is original and expands considerably (80%) on a previous article in the Chinese language published in the Journal of Dialects of Nature (China), titled “A Tentative Exploration on Medical Visualization Technology and Its Visual Interpretation – Viewpoint from Post-phenomenological Perspective.”

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RZC contributed to the study conception, design, material preparation, data collection and analysis. RZC wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JKBOF commented and contributed on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Renzhen Chen.

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Chen, R., Friis, J.K.B.O. Vision, body and interpretation in medical imaging diagnostics. Med Health Care and Philos (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-024-10200-3

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