Medical Devices and Monitors

In the medical field, Monitoring the condition, Disease or several medical parameters of the patient is the utmost priority. Reliable and genuine monitors are very important during the period of critical care. The most basic monitors should show up your blood pressure, Heart rate, and the body temperature of the patient. The more advanced models of the monitors could also show how much oxygen is your blood carrying or also, How fast your breathing is.

What are known to be Medical Devices?

A medical device could be labeled as an appliance, Instrument, Apparatus, Machine, etc. Intended by the manufacturer/maker to be used alone or all together for medical purposes.

What is the other name of the Patient Monitor?

The common name of the patient monitor has been electronic vital sign monitors for more than the last 40 years.

What is considered to be the main objective of Patient Monitor?

The ultimate aim of a patient monitor would be to give warnings and dangerous deteriorations in advance / early hand.

Where are the Patient Monitors used?

These monitors are generally used by hospitals and in ICU ( Intensive Care Unit ), CCU ( Critical Care Unit ), Anesthesia operating rooms, and clinical departments.

Some of the very important things to keep in mind while performing a monitoring of the patient :

1. The normal resting pulse rate ( PR ) of a patient should be between 60 - 100 beats per minute.
2. The normal body temperature ( TEMP ) for an adult, Ranges between 36.6 - 37.2 degree Celsius ( 97.8 – 99 degrees Fahrenheit ). Anything lower than 37 degree Celsius would be considered a fever and, Anything below 35 degrees Celsius would be considered hypothermia.
3. The normal blood oxygen level ( SpO2 ) should be between 95 and 100.
4. The normal respiration rate (RR) of an adult at rest should be 12 - 16 breaths per minute.
5. The normal systolic blood pressure ( SYST ) should be between 90 - 120 mm Hg
6. The normal diastolic blood pressure ( DIAS ) should be between 60 – 80 mm Hg.
7. ECG waveform: An electrocardiogram ( ECG ) is there to record the electrical activities of the heart.
8. SpO2 waveform: It is there to monitor the patient’s blood flow.
9. Respiration waveform: The respiration waveform shows how well the patient is actually breathing.

What are the components of the Medical Monitor?

• Sensors: Mechanical and biosensors are included in a monitor.
• Translating Component: The translating component is generally responsible for simply converting the signals received from the monitor to a format that can further be shown on the display device.
• Display Device: The readings/analysis of the patient is then displayed continuously and simultaneously on a LED, LCD, or CRT screen. It also has automated readouts of the peak as well as the average parameters displayed on the screen.
  Digital signal processing ( DSP ) is very commonly used in modern medical displays which have the advantages of portability, Miniaturization, and multi-parameter displays that can track many essential signs at once.
• Communication Links:The various models of multi-parameters are generally networkable. This means, The monitors can send the result to a central ICU monitoring station, Where a single member can observe as well as, Respond to many of the bedside monitors sides by side.
• Other Components:A medical monitor could also be beneficial in making an alarm in order to make aware the staff of some set criteria.
• Mobile Appliances: These monitors can deliver the information that has been gathered in body area networking ( BAN ).

What are the types of Medical Monitors?

The types of medical monitors are as follows:

• Electro Cardiograph device ( ECG )
• Pulse oximeter
• Capnography
• Spirometer
• Continuous glucose monitoring device
• Patient Monitor
• Pulse watches
• Blood pressure monitors