Used Medical Equipment Discussion about reconditioned medical equipment

Omron HEM-790IT

One of the more popular blood pressure monitors on the market is the Omron HEM-790IT. According Amazon’s user reviews, this monitor is considered the one of the best available for the price. This self-inflating, upper-arm blood pressure monitor gets high marks for accuracy and software functionality. It even allows multiple users to track their blood pressure, and the cuff fits a wide range of arm sizes. Using a PC connection, it allows users to chart their blood pressure on a computer using a bundled software package. This function makes it easy for home users to track changes in their BP, and upload this information for their healthcare providers. While the software is incompatible with Mac computers, some users found it difficult to run on Windows Vista as well.
Excellent for users who are on a budget, this blood pressure monitor is available for about $75. Another version, the Omron HEM-650 Wrist monitor is available for $40, and gets high marks for convenience, but may not be as accurate as the upper arm cuff.

A&D Medical LifeSource UA-787EJ

Known as the best home blood pressure monitor, the A&D Medical LifeSource UA-787EJ sells for about $70. It is a full-featured, self-inflating monitor that scores high on accuracy. Using A&D Medical’s “Easy Fit” cuff, the upper arm cuff on this monitor is two inches larger than most medium-sized cuffs, which allows it to fit more arm sizes. This blood pressure monitor can store up to sixty readings, with date and time, and features three programmable alarms to remind users to take a reading. It can also take an irregular heartbeat into account and compensate for that condition. A wrist-cuff version of this blood pressure monitor, the Omron HEM-650 Wrist, is also available for about $40.

Technorati Tags: blood pressure, Blood Pressure Monitor, Blood Pressure Monitors

Anyone who spends time in a hospital environment knows the importance of pulse oximeters. These medical devices measure oxygen saturation, and any changes in blood volume within the skin, by producing a “photoplethysmograph”, rather than using a blood sample. These machines are often attached directly to a medical monitoring device, so healthcare staff can see the patient’s oxygenation at all times. Most pulse oximeters also display the patient’s heart rate, and many are designed for home blood-oxygen monitoring.
The precursor to today’s oximeter was developed in 1972, using the ration of red to infrared light absorption. It was later commercialized in 1981, but didn’t see wide adoption in the US until the late 1980’s.
How do they work?
A pulse oximeter displays the percentage of arterial hemoglobin using a non-invasive instrument. Typically, it shines a small pair of light-emitting diodes, across from a photodiode, through a translucent part of the body, like an earlobe or fingertip. One diode is red, and the other is infrared, and they are able to show difference between oxyhemoglobin and its deoxygenated form through a measurement of the hemoglobin’s ratio of light absorption. The signal bounces in time with the patient’s heart beat, as this is the same pace at which the arterial blood vessels expand and contract, and also measures oxygen absorption in accordance with the patient’s pulse.
Pulse oximeters are very useful in any setting where a patient’s oxygenation may become unstable. This includes intensive care units, operating rooms, recovery, and ERs. Pilots also use them in unpressurized aircraft to determine whether they will need supplemental oxygen. With oxygen being such an essential element of life, a pulse oximeter is a crucial part of many healthcare environments.

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A new breed of patient monitors has become the most efficient way to deliver critical patient data in a mobile environment. Because of their ergonomic design and portability, the GE Dash 2000 patient vital signs monitors are high performance medical equipment that function well in large and small medical facilities, as well as anywhere in between. These lightweight monitors are highly functional and affordable, weighing just 12 pounds, making it easy for any medical facility to deliver GE’s high standard performance, particularly within specialized procedure rooms and mobile lifesaving units.
The GE Dash 2000 features a modern, high-resolution display screen that can be used in both monochromatic and full color modes. It offers a full range of broad spectrum monitoring capabilities, including ECG, vital signs, and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring. These patient monitors provide highly accurate SPO2 and heart rate readings, and they can also record the collected data on a clear, easy to read display.
For blood pressure monitoring, this machine uses Dinamap technology, and uses a Marquette-based ECG, which includes EK-Pro functionality for detecting arrhythmia. User friendly menu options offer intuitively placed functions, making these patient monitors easy enough to be used by a novice. To make it function seamlessly in a mobile ER environment, the machine comes equipped with a wireless LAN for continuous monitoring during patient transport.
Working in conjunction with GE’s Global Research division, GE Healthcare is always looking for new ways to service the medical services industry, particularly in the mobile lifesaving arena. At GE’s request, the FCC recently proposed a dedicated radio frequency band for short-range wireless patient monitoring devices, which will be called MBANS, the Medical Body Area Network Service.

Technorati Tags: Blood Pressure Monitor, ECG, ECG Machines