5 Medical Machines Every Hospital Uses

Today’s hospitals are more technologically advanced than ever. Computer technology has become intertwined with many of the modern medical machines, stress systems, and diagnostic procedures in hospitals. However, the most widely used medical machines have been in use before the introduction of computer technology to hospitals. Here are the 5 essential machines still used in hospitals today:

EKG Machines

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) machine is the best tool to diagnose abnormal heart rhythms. They are best used to detect abnormal rhythms caused by damage to the conductive tissue of the heart; that tissue carries electrical signals which the machine records. EKG machines are also used to detect abnormal heart rhythms cause be electrolyte imbalances. This noninvasive tool is primarily used to record electrical activity of the heart in order to prevent or diagnose cardiovascular disorders.

Patient Monitors

A patient monitor is one of the most important medical machines found in hospitals today. It is a vital tool in operating rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care, and critical care units because it provides continuous monitoring of a patient. Medical staff is constantly informed of the changes in condition of a patient and some monitors can warn staff of fatal conditions before there are any visible signs in the patient.

X-ray Machines

X-ray machines have been used in hospitals since the beginning of the 20th century to diagnose bone fractures. These machines have been used ever since to diagnose fractures, monitor bone healing, and even treat cancer – though the amount of radiation used for the latter is much higher and can destroy molecules and tissue.

Defibrillators

Defibrillators deliver a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart of a patient with life-threatening cardiac conditions. They were first demonstrated in 1899 by two physiologists from the University Of Geneva, Switzerland when they discovered that electrical charges would reverse ventricular fibrillation. A defibrillator was first used successfully on a 14 year old boy in 1947. Defibrillation was initially only used on patients with an open chest cavity; in 1950 new technology was developed that used alternating currents from a large electrical source to deliver electricity to the sides of the heart by paddle electrodes. Today, new developments of these machines have allowed patients to be more mobile. Portable units and implantable devices provide patients with the life-saving treatment they need for their hearts.

Ultrasound Machines

Ultrasound machines use sound waves and echoes to collect data and provide patients and medical staff with real-time, two dimensional images of various organs in the patient’s body. Ultrasounds are used in a variety of clinical settings, including obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, and oncology. One of the most important factors of ultrasound is the ability for medical staff to observe certain structures in a patient’s body without the use of radiation. This allows doctors to observe and monitor patients who would otherwise be harmed if X-rays were used. Ultrasounds are also performed much faster than X-rays or other radiographic techniques, which has led to the growing use of the ultrasound as a rapid imaging tool for diagnosis in emergency rooms.

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