Harrisandbaker.com – Medical devices are instruments, apparatus, machines, implants used to prevent, diagnose, treat and monitor conditions, treat sick people and restore health in humans and or to form structures and improve body functions. Medical equipment is one of the important factors in the delivery of health services, both in hospitals and other health care facilities. This includes things like surgical kits, syringes, gloves, pacemakers, baby incubators etc.
Doctors, nurses and other medical personnel need medical equipment that functions properly to provide the best care to patients. These tools, when operating at peak functionality, allow healthcare professionals to better monitor the health of their patients and perform a variety of functions, be it in the emergency room, surgical department, or outpatient clinic. If a piece of equipment fails, the quality of patient care can suddenly decline, and even pose a risk to patient safety.
In addition to medical equipment used in health care facilities such as hospitals, medical equipment can also be used in homes that are intended for users in any environment outside of professional health facilities. This includes devices intended for use either in a professional healthcare setting or at home. The devices that are often found in the house, such as thermometers, body scales, tensimeters, blood check equipment, etc.
1. Blood Check Tool
For people with diabetes or diabetes, a blood check tool is an important tool for controlling blood sugar, because diabetics have the obligation to monitor blood sugar.
This blood check tool usually has 3 functions at once in one tool or can be called multiparameter. Besides being used to measure blood sugar levels, it can also be used to measure uric acid and cholesterol levels in the blood.
2. Tensimeter
Blood pressure in humans is a measure that determines the level of a person’s blood pressure. There are several factors that can affect the increase in blood pressure, such as doing strenuous activities, consuming caffeine, the influence of stress drugs, etc.
Tensimeters are useful for measuring blood pressure, by knowing how much blood pressure we can judge whether our blood pressure is normal or not. In general, normal blood pressure for adult humans is 100-130 mmHg for systolic pressure and 60-90 mmHg for diastolic pressure. Tensimeters are divided into 3 types namely Mercury Tensimeters, Aneroid Tensimeters and Digital Tensimeters, all three of which have the same function, namely to measure blood pressure.
Mercury Tensimeter
Mercury sphygmomanometer is actually rarely used abroad, because this tool uses mercury as a filler for measuring instruments, if this tool breaks it will be dangerous if it comes into contact with the skin or respiratory tract. In Indonesia, it is also no longer used or produced because it has been banned by the health ministry.
Aneroid sphygmomanometer
This sphygmomanometer works manually and consists of several parts, namely the cuff, connecting hose, balloon pump and meter. Blood pressure measured using this tool is shown through a meter with a needle as a pointer.
Digital Sphygmomanometer
More modern and accurate, with easy use the results are clearly visible on the LCD monitor. Digital sphygmomanometer uses a sensor as a detection tool so it is good to use.
3. Medical thermometer
A medical thermometer, also known as a clinical thermometer, is a device used to measure the body temperature of humans or animals. At the tip of the thermometer inserted into the mouth under the tongue (oral temperature), under the armpit (axillary temperature), into the rectum through the anus (rectal temperature), into the ear (tympanic temperature), or on the forehead (temporary temperature).
Medical thermometers have various types such as mercury thermometers, liquid crystal thermometers, digital thermometers and infrared thermometers.
4. Stethoscope
A stethoscope is a medical instrument or equipment used to transmit low-volume sounds such as a heartbeat (or bowel, venous, or fetal sounds) to a listener’s ear. The stethoscope may consist of two earmuffs (earpieces) connected by flexible tubing to a diaphragm which is placed against the patient’s skin. The stethoscope has become one of the symbols of the medical profession.
The stethoscope has the basic parts like earpieces, tubing, bell and diaphragm.
5. Nebulizers
A nebulizer is a device that helps a person inhale medication in the form of vapor or aerosol through a mask or mouthpiece. Nebulizers deliver medication directly into the airways and lungs,
achieving targeted action while minimizing systemic side effects in the body. Nebulizers are used for a variety of conditions that affect the airways and lungs. Some common lung diseases that require a nebulizer such as asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis and severe lung infections.
6. Body Scales
Scales are tools used in the home to display weight with a dial or on a digital screen. Body scales have several types and different ways of working, namely with springs and electronically. In general, digital body scales are more accurate than manual scales. But for the most accurate readings, any scale should be set up correctly and used consistently.
7.Pulse oximeter
An oximeter or pulse oximeter is a small electronic device that can measure blood oxygen saturation or levels. Normal oxygen levels are usually in the range of 95% to 100%. If the total number drops to 95% or lower, that’s a cause for concern. This can be marked by symptoms such as shortness of breath, restlessness, until the body is getting weaker, before the condition gets worse. The pulse oximeter is a simple, painless (non-invasive) test tool that uses a red light sensor that is placed on the fingertip or earlobe.
8. Peak Flow Meter
A peak flow meter is a hand-held device used to measure how well air is moving out of the lungs, this tool is commonly used for people with asthma. Measuring with a peak flow meter is an important part of managing asthma symptoms, preventing asthma attacks and being part of an asthma care plan.
9. Colostomy Bag
A colostomy bag or colostomy bag is a plastic bag used to collect faeces or feces from the digestive tract through an opening in the abdominal wall called a stoma. A doctor usually attaches a colostomy bag to the stoma after performing colostomy surgery.
10. Fetal Doppler
Fetal doppler is a test kit that uses sound waves to check the fetal heart rate. Each fetal doppler contains a transducer or probe that sends short pulses of ultrasound sound waves to a targeted area of the body. When these sound waves are reflected from the baby’s heartbeat, their frequency changes.
While fetal dopplers are used at home for many parents-to-be, there are some safety concerns. In 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised against using individual fetal dopplers. The only time you should use a doppler, the FDA says, is when a doctor is using it, in which case it’s medically necessary.