» Archive for November 2009

Buying a Previously Owned Anesthesia Workstation

Buying used medical equipment has become one of the easiest ways for health care institutions to keep costs down and remain profitable in a down economy. Even some of the best-known hospitals are looking for strategies to help them deal with cost-cutting measures.

Anesthesia workstations can be very expensive when purchased new, so it makes sense to look for newer, gently used models online. Many popular models, like the Narkomed 400 Series and the Ohmeda Excel 210 anesthesia workstations, are often available at prices that are less than half of the suggested retail price. These two fully updated models include all the standard and upgraded features most hospitals expect in a new anesthesia monitor.

Two great Anesthesia Workstations to consider:

The Narkomed 6400 Series by Drager has an optimized system for low-flow anesthesia, advanced ventilation, a warmed breathing system, and a very reliable flow sensor, providing an intelligent approach to patient monitoring. Intelligent computer technology integrates respiratory and hemodynamic monitoring in toe a singe touchscreen display.

Ohmeda’s Excel 210 Anesthesia Monitor uses standard O2, N2O and medical air, as well as Hypoxic Guard and a GMS absorber. This all-pneumatic alternative works well in close quarters and offers powerful monitoring and ventilation capabilities. It includes fixed shelving and a 2-drawer storage cabinet, and intelligent power controls and functionality.

Whether you need a smaller, mobile anesthesia monitor for use in the ER or a modern, highly –functional anesthesia workstation for use in the OR, check online for updated models like the Narkomed 6400 or the Ohmeda Excel 210. Used medical equipment dealers offer health care facilities an excellent way to find the latest technology and best prices.

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This IV Pump System Offers Flexibility and Functionality

Abbott Plum A+ Plus Infusion Intravenous IV Pump System

The Abbot Plum A+ Infusion Intravenous IV Pump System is an infusion pump designed to provide accurate administration of fluid regimens, using a wide range of delivery rates, dosing options and fluid viscosity’s. The Abbot Plum A+ can administer a variety of fluids, from a 5% injection of Dextrose to IV feeding products and blood. Its dual channel regimens allow primary and secondary drugs to be delivered at the same time.

Infusion pumps can automatically deliver fluids in ways that would be unreliable, impractical and costly if performed manually. Because pumps can deliver as little as 0.15 milliliters per hour or even a small injection every minute or varying dosages at different times of the day, they make hospital care much easier to manage and keep patients comfortable without too many interruptions.

In addition to venal infusions, the Abbot Plum A+ can inject controlled doses of fluid beneath the skin (subcutaneously) or within the surface of the central nervous system (epidural), which has become a very popular method of pain management during childbirth.

• On the user-friendly Abbot Plum, the interface allows for the practitioner to set the details of each infusion, according to the doctor’s orders.

• For continuous infusion, a nurse or technician will need to specify the volume and speed of infusion.

• Programming the pump for “Intermittent” dosages allows for a less frequent, yet higher, rate of infusion, alternating with a lower rate. The programmable function helps the cannula to remain open throughout the infusion.

• Patient-controlled infusion allows the patient to control the rate of infusion, within an allowable ceiling that is pre-programmed into the pump. This is the preferred method for analgesics, since the device can be coded to prevent a dose that would be hazardous to the patient.
Since certain types of medication require it, many of these pumps offer functions which can control the dosage based on circadian cycles, allowing for mediation to be administered at certain times of the day.

For more information on used medical equipment please visit Absolute Medical

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Modern Applications for CT Scanners

Since its founding in 1979, CT scanners have become more widely used throughout the medical profession. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, more than 62 million CT scans are ordered annually, with 31% of these being used for CTs of the lungs.

CT stands for computed tomography, and is a method of medical imaging that uses a computer processed tomography to generate a 3-dimensional image. It works by taking a series of 2-dimensional images of the inside of an object, using a single axis of rotation, thereby creating a three dimensional view.

While early CT scanners used an axial or traverse plane, modern scanners can process a higher volume of data that can be reformatted into various planes, resulting in a volumetric representation of a structure.

Medical professionals use CT scanner in a variety of disciplines, but they are mainly a diagnostic tool to supplement other imaging techniques like x-rays and ultrasounds. Some doctors have started using CT scanners to screen for diseases like colon cancer, but alternative uses for these scanners have become somewhat controversial because they expose patients to higher levels of radiation.

Modern medical equipment like the GE Hi-Speed DXI and Philips Acqsim CT Scanner are often used to scan a patients head, and can detect a number of abnormalities, from brain injury to skull fractures, aneurysms to brain tumors. They can also be used to determine hearing problems caused by diseases of the temporal bone, and to evaluate the extent of soft tissue and bone damage in patients suffering from facial trauma.

Lung scans are also commonly done with CT scanners, particularly for detecting changes in the inside of the lungs, since normal two-dimensional x-rays cannot show such defects. In addition, CT scans are used for detecting airspace diseases like lung cancer or pneumonia. A CT angiography can be used to identify pulmonary embolisms and coronary artery disease.

Many hospitals are now looking to update their CT scanning equipment, and can often find relatively new, previously owned equipment online. Scanners like the GE Hi-Speed DXI and Philips Acqsim CT Scanner are popular choices.

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