The medical tricorder is one of Starfleet's most specialized and critical pieces of technology. It is a miniature medical computer consisting of a standard tricorder augmented with a powerful medical sensor. The unit can instantly analyze the biological functions and the conditions of various humanoid and non-humanoid lifeforms, and offer corses of treatment if needed. The medical tricorder is a small but effective indicator of humanity's great progress by the 23rd and 24th centuries. Starships and transporters may be incredibly impressive in themselves, but this device is one of the best examples of technological development improving the quality of life for mankind.
The medical tricorder proves especially useful on away team missions, when immediate biological analysis or emergency medical procedures may be necessary. The medical tricorder can record and monitor all biological processes, including heartbeat, pulse, brain activity, electrochemical changes in the body, and organ functions.
The portable unit, which is only about the size of a small book, can also scan for and analyze injuries and track the progress of diseases. The numerous readings can then combine to provide images and numerical readouts on the unit's display screen to aid Starfleet medical personnel in diagnosing the exact nature of a patient's condition and determining treatment.
The medical tricorder's sensors can identify various species, as long as those species are already recorded in Starfleet computer files. The unit is also capable of sending instantaneous emergency transmissions of all stored information to a ship or space station via subspace radio.
The medical tricorder can be used in conjunction with other medical devices in Sickbay.
The medical tricorder's computer database can perform 1.5 x 1010 calculations per second.
The medical tricorder (MT) consists of a standard tricorder, to which is added a specialized medical peripheral (MP) device. This peripheral, one of a number of dedicated auxiliary computing options available to Starfleet crews, adds many powerful sensor and analysis functions to those used by sickbay personnel aboard the ship.
The MP comprises two components, the computing section and deployable high-resolution sensor. The MP works with the standard tricorder user interface to access all of the normal and added functions, in both shipboard and field operations. It measures 8.5 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm and masses 80 g, bringing the total tricorder length to 15 cm, and mass to 430 g. As with the standard tricorder, the case is constructed of micromilled duranium foam. The major components include an auxiliary sarium krellide power cell, sensor assemblies, peripheral processing block, and memory storage units. Power is not tapped from the main supply in the standard tricorder unless required, and cells in both sections can be recharged through the standard tricorder induction circuit. Total operation time is eighteen hours.
The peripheral sensors encompass 86 electromagnetic devices mounted about the internal frame, upper and side panels of the casing, and the forward section of the hand sensor receptacle. Each maintains an FOV lower limit of 1/4 degree. None are omnidirectional, but specialized for focused medical readings. The hand sensor incorporates fifteen high-resolution devices for readings down to thirty seconds of arc. Active and passive scans provide detailed diagnostic readings of total body mechanical processes, organ system function, disease organism infiltration, and body electromagnetic conditions. Combined readings can synthesize images and numerical readouts to aid sickbay personnel in identifying biological antagonists and determining courses of treatment.
The MP computer capabilities are contained in the medical database comparator/analysis subsection (MDC/AS) attached to 101 sensors. The MDC/AS manages incoming data, prioritizes processing tasks, routes processed data, and manages control and power systems. It is rated at 1.5 x 10¼ calculations per second. In the field the database section draws upon an updatable file of known medical conditions for most humanoid types and 217 DNA-based nonhumanoids. When operating aboard ship, the MP can draw upon the entire medical database of the Starbase as well as the files allocated to other disciplines.
A wide selection of tomographic and micrographic scans are included in the default device settings. The function controls of the standard tricorder may be used to configure custom scan modes for the case-mounted and hand sensors, with menu choices visible on the main display screen.