Medical equipment

Medical equipment

Medical equipment (also known as armamentarium^[1]) is designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions.

Types

There are several basic types:

• Diagnostic equipment includes medical imaging machines, used to aid in diagnosis. Examples are ultrasound and MRI machines, PET and CT scanners, and x-ray machines.
• Treatment equipment includes infusion pumps, medical lasers and LASIK surgical machines.
• Life support equipment is used to maintain a patient's bodily function. This includes medical ventilators, anaesthetic machines, heart-lung machines, ECMO, and dialysis machines.
• Medical monitors allow medical staff to measure a patient's medical state. Monitors may measure patient vital signs and other parameters including ECG, EEG, and blood pressure.
• Medical laboratory equipment automates or helps analyze blood, urine, genes, and dissolved gases in the blood.
• Diagnostic Medical Equipment may also be used in the home for certain purposes, e.g. for the control of diabetes mellitus
• Therapeutic: physical therapy machines like continuous passive range of motion (CPM) machines

A biomedical equipment technician (BMET) is a vital component of the healthcare delivery system. Employed primarily by hospitals, BMETs are the people responsible for maintaining a facility's medical equipment. BMET mainly act as an interface between doctor and equipment.

Safety standards

See also

• Medical technology
• Medical device
• Durable medical equipment
• Home medical equipment
• Surgical instruments
• Medical test
• Medical grade silicone
• Pharmacopoeia
• Instruments used in general medicine

References

1. "ar·ma·men·tar·i·um". www.thefreedictionary.com. Retrieved 14 November 2013.