Medical Devices Glossary

A medical device is a product which is used for medical purposes in patients, in diagnosis, therapy or surgery.

Anesthesia ventilator
Is designed to provide an accurate and continuous supply of medical gases (such as oxygen and nitrous oxide), mixed with an accurate concentration of anaesthetic vapour (such as isoflurane), and deliver this to the patient at a safe pressure and flow. Modern machines incorporate a ventilator, suction unit, and patient-monitoring devices.
Apnea monitors
Regulate respiration and heart rate.
Aspirators
An instrument for removing body fluids by suction.
ECG (Electrocardiogram)
Displays important information about the heart, including the occurrence of a heart attack or lack of oxygen, whether conduction of the heartbeat is disturbed, or its rate or rhythm altered.
EEG (Electroencephalogram)
A test to detect problems in the electrical activity of the brain.
Electronic Thermometer
An instrument that uses thermoelectric current to measure temperature.
Endoscopes
A device with a light attached that is used to look inside a body cavity or organ.
External pacemaker
A medical device which uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart. The primary purpose of a pacemaker is to maintain an adequate heart rate.
Fetal Monitor
Fetal heart monitoring lets the health care provider monitor the baby’s heartbeat in the uterus, including during labor. The procedure can be done with monitors outside the body (external monitoring) or in the uterus (internal monitoring).
Heart Lung Machine
A machine that does the job the heart and lungs such as removal of carbon dioxide from the blood, oxgen delivery to the blood, blood flow to the body and temperature control. This machine is used in operating rooms to provide blood !ow and respiration for the patient while the heart is stopped.
Incubators
An apparatus with a chamber used to provide controlled environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and oxygen concentration, especially for the cultivation of microorganisms or the care and protection of premature or sick babies.
Infusion pump
A device that releases a measured amount of a substance in a specific period of time.
Phonocardiographs
A device consisting of microphones and recording equipment used to monitor and record heart sounds and murmurs.
Phototherapy
Is performed on infants who have jaundice which is increased levels of bilirubin in the blood. Phototherapy involves the exposure of bare skin to fluorescent light. The blue fluorescent “Bili” lamps give off specific wavelengths of light that help break down bilirubin into nontoxic substances.
Pulse oximeters
The pulse oximeter is a photoelectric instrument for measuring oxygen saturation of the. A pulse oximeter uses infrared light and a photo sensor to detect the amount of oxygen in a patient’s blood. Commonly used on infants, and patients with lung or heart disorders.
Sphygmomanometer
An instrument, often attached to an inflatable air-bladder cuff and used with a stethoscope, for measuring blood pressure in an artery.
Surgical Microscope
A binocular microscope used to visualize fine structures within the area of a surgical procedure.
Treadmill
An excersice machine used for running or walking while staying in one place. This is used in cardiac stress tests to see how well the heart responds to exertion.
Ultrasound sensor
An ultrasound machine creates images that allow various organs in the body to be examined. The machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which reflect off body structures. A computer receives these reflected waves and uses them to create a picture.