At the doctor’s office, hospital, or clinic, patients rarely consider the medical equipment around them. Medical equipment is an integral part of diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Even the simplest physical exam can often require a variety of high-tech medical equipment.

In 15th century Europe, during and after the horrors of the bubonic plague, autopsies began to be performed at universities, and a primitive form of ‘scientific method’ began to take hold in the minds of the educated. Practical surgery and anatomy studies began. These curious medieval Europeans laid the foundation for modern science. They also laid the foundation for the well known process of identifying a problem, creating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis by most importantly observing and experimenting; interpreting the data and drawing a conclusion.

Medical equipment prior to and even during the scientific revolution was based on classical Greek and Roman theories about science, which were not based on science at all, but on philosophy and superstition. Human health was viewed as a balance of 4 internal ‘humors’ in the body. The 4 humors– blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm, were analogous to the 4 elements of the universe to the classical thinker, fire, air, water, and earth. Ailments, both physical and mental, were caused by an imbalance of humors. The ideal mind and body balanced all 4 humors, gracefully. To heal, doctors prescribed foods or procedures which would balance the fluids in the body. Some of the prescriptions seem to make sense– fevers were treated with cold, dry temperature to combat the hot, wet over stimulation in the body. But when that failed, often the next step was blood letting. Unnecessary purging and enemas were also common cures, which might have helped some people, but also might have caused more problems than they solved. George Washington’s death has recently been attributed, not to the strep throat he probably had as he died, but to the bloodletting and mercury enema given to him to cure it.Not-quite-scientific medical cures are still available and used by many, even today.

Since the 15th century, Western science has focused on examining and observing the body, and has created tools to make this easier. X-ray imaging and today MRI devices are merely extensions of the first autopsies and anatomical studies, which strove to understand how the human body actually operates. Diagnostic instruments like ophthalmoscopes, blood pressure monitors, and stethoscopes are likewise extensions of the medieval examination. Exam tables, gloves, and other medical accessories are simply the newest versions of tools that have been used for centuries. Medical technology and medical knowledge feed off of each other. Take for instance hypertension. Although devices for measuring blood pressure have existed for over 100 years, only in the last 20 years have the connections of blood pressure to disease, genetics, and lifestyle been fully explored. As the importance of measuring blood pressure increased, new technologies were explored to keep accurate measurements and records. It wasn’t until the prevalence of automatic blood pressure monitors that a correlation could be made between readings taken by a human and readings taken in a controlled, isolated environment. The medical equipment and the medical knowledge then form a constantly twisting Gordian Knot, one side tightening, as the other loosens, back and forth.

What does the future hold for this push and pull of technology and scientific inquiry? Recent developments in nanotechnology and genetics, along with more and more powerful supercomputers might create a situation where what it means to be human actually changes, due to technology. For example, scientists have actually created simple life forms out of previously non-living DNA material. While it doesn’t seem that dramatic at first glance, it’s an important development. Medical equipment acts as an extension for investigation of the how’s and why’s of the human body, and as science catches up and surpasses the investigations, completely new kinds of medical diagnosis, monitoring and therapy may result. Imagine the ability to grow new organs inside the body. Limb re-growth is possible in other organisms, why not in humans? And if it is possible, would the developments be truly ‘human?’ The future is unknowable; the only aspect about it we can understand is that it will look nothing like we could have previously imagined. In retrospect, we’ll see the signs, like we always do, but this is hindsight, not foresight. Presently, technology marches forward and it continues, as a process, to change human life.

Certain medical equipment are a must have for your personal use. Sickness often comes uncalled and therefore it is best to be prepared to tackle any kind of situation. Frequent visit to the hospital may turn out to be expensive unless you have your health insurance in place. Home medical equipment kit can help monitor your illness like fever, cold or other medical conditions like diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Easy to operate home medical supplies are available on premium online medical supply stores. All basic diagnostic equipment within your reach can ensure that you can keep yourself fit at all times.

Most of the complications occur due to delay in diagnosis or lack of proper monitoring system. If you can bring this facility home then you can avert any kind of emergency situation. Some of the most commonly used home medical equipment are first aid kit, scales and thermometer, cholesterol kit, diabetes monitoring system and blood pressure monitor. All these gadgets can help observe your body condition on a regular basis. Frequent travelers also can use these portable kits to take care of their health while on the move. Even advanced equipment like heart rate monitors are available at affordable price to ensure that stress does not take a toll on your heart.

Otoscope is a medical instrument that helps to check the cause for earaches without having to visit the Otolaryngologist. This can help observe the symptoms at an early stage thereby reducing the risk of further complication. Not all home medical equipment will be of use for every household. Depending on the requirement you can purchase the medical equipment that are needed for your personal use. Determine your budget before going in for purchase of home medical equipment. Comparisons can be made online with major brands with a wink of the eye. Choose a home equipment that matches your specification precisely before sending a cheque.

Online medical supplies stores are in great demand for the reason that it is a one stop solution for all your medical needs. You can choose based on category, brand, price and what not. This convenience is not available with offline medical supply stores in your locality. Since online medical equipment stores do not hoard, but get the supplies delivered straight away from the manufacturer the pricing is nominal. All the medical supplies stores ensure that they deal with FDA and BBB registered companies so there is no chance of any mishap while transacting with them. Online stores with immense experience in the field need to be given first preference. Always ask for written quotes to be on the safer side.

EKG machines have assisted in the diagnosis of various heart abnormalities for all kinds of individuals. Many people walk around every day without knowing their heart pumps blood abnormally or has malfunctioning electrical conductivity. As we invest more heavily into advancing medical equipment, the EKG machine is developing as well. Advancements in medical equipment technology effect all healthcare workers around medical equipment like this.

Electrocardiograph, known as EKG in America, from the German Elektrokardiogramm is an interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over time captured and externally recorded by electrodes placed on the skin. It is noninvasive and performed with an electrocardiographic medical equipment device. The word is derived from the Greek-electro, because it is related to electrical activity, cardio for heart, and graph, meaning to write.

The electrocardiograph was invented in 1903 by Willem Einthoven who won a Nobel Prize for his discovery. His medical equipment is a direct descendant of the equipment used today. Rather than using today’s self-adhesive electrodes Einthoven’s subjects at the turn of the century would immerse each of their limbs into containers of salt solutions from which the EKG was recorded.

The EKG today is one of the most important diagnostic medical equipment devices. It is commonly used in almost every kind of clinical setting, including exam rooms, recovery rooms, cardiology clinics, and emergency rooms. EKG is the best method for determining cardiac murmurs, seizures, perceived cardiac and dysrhythmias. The EKG is a well-known feature in movies and television shows about medical procedures and hospitals because of its instantly recognizable external display of heartbeat. It’s become a cliché, but the cliché is based in the reality that EKG medical equipment is ubiquitous.

With the development of silicon chip technology and smaller, lightweight electrodes, EKG devices have become smaller and more portable than ever before. EKG equipment is now almost always made with built-in computers, handling massive amounts of information at a time. Many EKG systems still print out their graphs on paper, but more often today, doctors are looking at on-screen and even online versions of the graphs.

Cardiac Science a modern company which manufactures EKG medical equipment also invented the modern stress test and the first fully automatic bedside defibrillator. Defibrillators go hand in hand with the technology of EKG devices, although they are used in completely different ways. While an EKG is a monitoring, diagnostic machine, defibrillators are used in emergency situations only. While a patient can be monitored with an EKG for a routine test, a defibrillator in action is always a serious event.

Both defibrillators and EKG medical equipment work due to the fact that the smooth muscles of the coronary system are in motion in coronary circulation. The heart acts as a double pump. The function of the right side of the heart is to collect de-oxygenated blood in the right atrium from the body (via superior and inferior vena cavae) and pump it, via the right ventricle, into the lungs (pulmonary circulation) so that carbon dioxide can be dropped off and oxygen picked up. This is gas exchange. This works because of muscle contraction. Muscle contractions can be measured for their electrical signal, which comes from brain and nerve activity, and contractions can be induced by electric shock. In the case of the EKG monitor, the signals are just viewed and analyzed. In the defibrillator, the electric signal is used to restart a heart that has stopped beating.

Different waves signal different problems in the heartbeat, when viewed in an EKG. A normal EKG should have a regular curve to it, based on different graphing techniques. Abnormalities do not always mean a disease, but when judged with a patient’s history in mind, repeat abnormalities and even rare ones can aid in a diagnosis by a physician.