4 portable medical equipment that revolutionized healthcare
The bulky equipment that was once only seen in hospitals and healthcare centers is now easily carried by healthcare professionals for home visits. This has made it easy for patients to get diagnosed in the comfort of their homes. Here are some portable medical devices that save time and help diagnose patients effectively.
Ultrasound imaging devices
Ultrasound imaging devices started out as gigantic machines. Today, these machines can fit in one’s palm. This portable imaging device is as small as a smartphone and weighs not more than a pound. The device can effectively offer color flow mapping, echoscopy, and echocardiography, albeit with a slight reduction in accuracy. The device helps in better patient management by eliminating the need for visiting a healthcare center for a minor ultrasound scan.
Blood analyzers
The portable medical device is small enough to fit in one’s bag. Portable blood analyzers may not be as extensive as traditional analyzers. But they are of great help for physicians to check a patents’ vitals on the go. One can measure vitals like pulse rate, oxygen saturation level, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels. Most analyzers have a ring-like sensor that fits on the patient’s finger. The sensor is connected to a small LCD screen that displays different blood vitals. Other analyzers have cartridges on which patients are required to apply few drops of blood.
EKG devices
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most prevalent health concerns in the country. Hence, it seems logical to have a medical device at home that monitors one’s heart health. An EKG (electrocardiogram) device is a pocket-sized device that can analyze one’s heart health through its sensors. It can even transmit data to a smartphone. The portable EKG device can detect anything from a normal heart rhythm to fibrillation, bradycardia, and tachycardia in under a minute.
Glucometer
It is one of the earliest medical devices to be made portable. Today, these medical devices can be synced with a smartphone, making it easy to keep track of blood sugar levels. Glucometers come with a test strip on which patients have to smear few drops of blood. The strip is then inserted into the device, which measures blood glucose level, displaying it on the screen. It then sends the data to the synced smartphone via Bluetooth.