In the list of medical equipment used in hospitals, you will see different life-saving equipment every hospital that has the interest of their patients at heart should have.
A good hospital is known for its preparation on attending to cases brought to them. A machine becomes the answer for cases that go beyond the physician’s skill.
In order to provide effective care and treatments for patients, there is equipment that all hospitals should have ready no matter the cost. Life is priceless and the priority of every physician is to preserve and save a life.
What would be of a physician to have a patient lose his/her life because of lack of equipment?
Having the right medical equipment used in hospitals and knowing to use them is the clever approach towards having an outstanding health facility.
In this article, we have the list of over 20 pieces of medical equipment used in hospitals explained with their uses and categories.
Introduction to the list of medical equipment used in hospitals
Medical devices or equipment are tools, apparatus, machines, implants containing no medicines used to prevent, diagnose, cure, and alleviate illness, care for the sick and healthy in humans and or to build structures and improve body functions.
The merits of this medical equipment in hospitals can never be over-emphasized. As earlier mentioned, no health or medical center will be rated high in the absence of these machines. A good hospital is known for its sophistication with this medical equipment or devices.
In this article on the list of medical equipment used in hospitals, we are going to consider the different categories of this medical equipment based on uses or functions.
Categories on the list of medical equipment used in hospitals
Below are the major categories on the list of medical equipment used in hospitals every health practitioner is meant to know.
- Diagnostic equipment
- Treatment equipment
- Life support equipment
- General equipment used in hospitals
Diagnostic equipment
Diagnostic equipment is devices used to identify the nature or cause of a certain medical condition.
List of medical equipment used in hospitals {diagnostic equipment}
The list of diagnostic medical equipment is not limited to the ones below
- Medical imaging machines
- Haematology equipment
- Urinalysis equipment
Medical imaging machines
Medical imaging refers to techniques and processes used to create images of various parts of the human body for diagnostic and treatment purposes within digital health.
The term, medical imaging, includes various radiological imaging techniques such as:
- X-ray radiography
- Fluoroscopy
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computer tomography scan
x-ray radiography
X-ray or radiography uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the body’s internal structures. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.
Fluoroscopy
This x-ray procedure makes it possible to see internal organs in motion.
Fluoroscopy uses x-ray to produce real-time video images. After the x-rays pass through the patient, they are captured by a device called an image intensifier and converted into light.
The light is then captured by a TV camera and displayed on a video monitor.
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body.
MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves to generate images of the organs in the body.
Computer tomography scan
A CT scan is a medical imaging technique that uses computer-processed combinations of multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce tomographic images of a body, allowing the user to see inside the body without cutting.
Analyzers
Analyzers are used to measure blood gas, pH, electrolytes, and some metabolites in whole blood specimens.
They can measure pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and concentrations of many ions (sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate) and metabolites (calcium, magnesium, glucose, lactate).
They are great diagnostic medical equipment every hospital must-have.
Hematology equipment
These are medical diagnostic equipment that analyzes blood. They are used in medical laboratories and can do blood counts, detect proteins or enzymes, and help to diagnose illnesses or genetic defects.
This equipment might include:
- Flow cytometers
- Blood gas analyzers
- Electrolyte analyzers
- Differential counters
- Coagulation analyzers
- Slide strainers
Urinalysis equipment
These are equipment used for urinalysis. Urinalysis is a set of screening tests that can detect some common diseases. It may be used to screen for and/or help diagnose conditions such as urinary tract infections, kidney disorders, liver disorders, diabetes, or other metabolic conditions.
Urinalysis equipment are materials that may include but are not limited to
- Consult 120 Urine Analyzer
- Urine Reagent Strips 10 Parameter
- Consult Liquid Urine Control
- Plastic urine containers, sterile or unsterile
- Conical centrifuge tube, 15 ml
- Microscope slides and 1 coverslip
- Clinical Centrifuge
Treatment equipment
These medical equipment are used for these treatment purposes in the clinics
List of medical equipment used in hospitals {treatment equipment}
The list of medical equipment used in hospitals is not limited to the ones listed below:
- Infusion pumps
- LASIK surgical machine
- Medical lasers
Infusion pumps
An infusion is a treatment pump that infuses fluids, medication, or nutrients into a patient’s circulatory system.
It is generally used intravenously, although subcutaneous, arterial, and epidural infusions are occasionally used.
LASIK surgical machine
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. This medical equipment is used by ophthalmologists for laser vision correction. Laser vision correction is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
All represent advances over radial keratotomy in the surgical treatment of refractive errors of vision.
Medical lasers
Medical lasers are medical equipment that uses precisely focused light sources to treat or remove tissues such as cancerous tissues.
The term “laser” stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser medicine consists of the use of lasers in medical treatments, or therapies, such as laser photodynamic therapy, photorejuvenation, and laser surgery.
Life support equipment
As the name implies these medical equipment support life by aiding a failing or failed organ or system with its physiological activities.
List of medical equipment used in hospitals {life support equipment}
The list of life support equipment is not limited to the ones listed below:
- Ventilators
- Cardiopulmonary bypass device
- Dialysis machine
Ventilators
Have you ever imagined what would have happened if not for life support equipment like ventilators during a coronavirus pandemic?
A ventilator is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.
Cardiopulmonary bypass device
Cardiopulmonary bypass is a technique in which a machine is known as a heart-lung machine temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery by maintaining the circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the patient’s body.
Dialysis machine
This machine helps in removing excess water, solutes, and toxins from the blood in people whose kidneys can no longer perform these functions naturally.
This process of a machine taking over the dialysis function is referred to as renal replacement therapy.
General equipment used in hospitals
There is numerous medical equipment for different purposes which for one reason or the other are not included in the other categories in this article.
These pieces of equipment are of utmost importance and therefore must be listed among the list of medical equipment used in hospitals.
List of medical equipment used in hospitals {General equipment used in hospitals}
Below are some of the medical equipment hospitals are expected to have for effective treatment, diagnoses, life support, prevention of diseases, and general care of patients.
- Anesthesia machine
- Aspiration/Suction Pump
- Autoclave / Sterilizer
- Blood Chemistry analyzer
- C-Arm system – unit, monitor, table
- Cast Saw
- Centrifuge
- Computer equipment
- CPAP/Humidifier
- Defibrillator
- Dermatome
- Diagnostic Ultrasound with probes
- ECG/EKG
- Electrosurgical Unit
- Endoscopy system – scope, insufflator, light source, etc.
- Exam Light
- Exam Table
- Feeding Pump
- Fetal Doppler
- Fetal Monitor
- Hospital Bed –/surgery, birthing
- Incubator
- Infant Warmer
- Infusion Pump
- IV Pole
- Lab Equipment – incubator, shaker, washer, scale
- Lab Microscope
- Lab Refrigerator
- Laryngoscope
- Nebulizer
- Nerve stimulator
- Ophthalmic Equipment – slit lamp, surgical scope
- Otoscope/Ophthalmoscope
- Oxygen Concentrator
- Oxygen Cylinder and Regulator
- Patient Scale – adult and infant
- Patient Warmer
- Portable Glucose Monitor
- Pulse Oximeter
- Sequential Compression Device
- Sphygmomanometer – aneroid and digital Stethoscope
- Stretcher
- Surgical Headlamp
- Surgical Light Head – ceiling mounted and portable
- Surgical Microscope
- Surgical Table – surgical and delivery
- Thermometer
- Traction Unit
- Ventilator
- Vital Sign Monitor
- Wheelchair
- X-Ray equipment – portable, dental, mammography
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Chibueze Uchegbu is a certified medical physiologist with a great passion for healthy living.
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