Medical Technology
The field of medicine is more advanced than ever, and cutting-edge technology is now being used to save countless lives every year. While some of these breakthroughs involve preventative treatments and remote medical services, others are designed to prevent deaths in emergency situations.
Here is a quick look at four pieces of technology that are currently on the market and how they are being used to change the healthcare industry.
Barcode Reader Point-of-Care (BRPC) Systems
One of the most challenging aspects of bedside care is making sure that every single patient is getting the right medicine at the right dose. This is especially difficult in busy hospitals where patients are often moved to multiple beds throughout the day. A BRPC device is a small scanner that nurses and doctors can use to accurately track their patients. Instead of relying on the patient's memory or their bedside records, the device can be used to scan a wristband and the barcode on any bottles of medicine. Once scanned, the user is given a full list of information including the patient's age, weight, medical history, and allergies. They will also be given exact instructions on when to administer their medication.Related articles
Internal Monitoring Pills
In order to accurately diagnose their patients, doctors much have as much information as possible. Unfortunately, keeping a patient in a hospital for multiple days so that they can be constantly monitored is impractical in many cases. An internal monitoring pill is a small device that makes its way through a patient's GI tract over the course of three or four days. After being swallowed, it begins transmitting information to a receiver that is worn around the waist. Within just a few days, the pill passes and the doctor can analyze the data that it has sent. These unique pills have been around for over a decade, but they only became popular after a number of changes to wireless technology. They can now be used to track everything from a patient's internal temperature to the acid levels in their stomach.
Surgical Smoke Evacuators
During a procedure, even a small amount of smoke can wreak havoc on the health of everyone in the room. Traditional ventilation systems are still important, but they are not effective at removing the potentially dangerous gases that are created when tissue is cauterized or emulsified. A surgical smoke evacuator is a much smaller filtration system that is designed to be operated by a single surgeon or surgical tech. It allows the user to quickly and safely remove smoke and other noxious gases from the area with a handheld pen. Once the smoke has been captured, it goes through multiple filters in order to prevent cross-contamination and the fouling of any nearby instruments.Renal Denervation Catheters
High blood pressure is associated with a wide variety of medical problems including strokes, diabetes, and heart attacks. For many years, the only way to treat high blood pressure was to take dozens of pills every single day. Researchers have recently discovered that renal denervation catheters can be just as effective at controlling high blood pressure as traditional medications. These devices must only be inserted once, and they gently stimulate the kidneys with radio frequency energy. Those pulses then block the sympathetic nerves that regulate an individual's blood pressure.The field of medicine has evolved quite a bit over the last few decades, and many of these changes are the result of new technology. Key positions are now being created in hospitals and emergency centers throughout the world for those who can bridge the gap between traditional medicine and cutting-edge advancements. These professionals must continue to use these tools to support the doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who are saving lives every day.
By  Hannah Whittenly | Embed |
Author Bio - Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, California. | |
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