Instruments used in general medicine

Instruments used in general medicine and clinics (i.e. internal medicine and pediatrics) are as follows:[1][2]

Instrument list

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Instrument Uses
Bandage to cover and protect areas of the body, such as a recent injury
Bedpan for patients who are unconscious or too weak to sit up or walk to the toilet to defecate
Cannula to create a permanent pathway to a vein (or artery) for the purpose of repeated injections or infusion of intravenous fluids
Cardioverter / Defibrillator to correct arrhythmias of the heart or to start up a heart that is not beating
Catheter to drain and collect urine directly from the bladder (primary use); also to act as a makeshift oxygen tube, etc.
Dialyser to remove toxic materials from the blood that are generally removed by the kidneys; used in case of renal failure
Electrocardiograph machine to record the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time
Enema equipment to passively evacuate the rectum of faeces
Endoscope to look inside the gastrointestinal tract, used mainly in surgery or by surgical consultants
Gas cylinder as a supply of oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, etc.
Gauze sponge to absorb blood and other fluids as well as clean wounds
Hypodermic needle / Syringe for injections and aspiration of blood or fluid from the body
Infection control equipment as in gloves, gowns, bonnets, shoe covers, face shields, goggles, and surgical masks for preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection
Instrument sterilizer to sterilize instruments in absence of an autoclave
Kidney dish as a tray for instruments, gauze, tissue, etc.
Measuring tape for length, height, and girth measurements
Medical halogen penlight to see into the eye, natural orifices, etc. and to test for pupillary light reflex, etc.
Nasogastric tube for nasogastric suction or the introduction of food or drugs into the body
Nebulizer to produce aerosols of drugs to be administered by respiratory route
Ophthalmoscope to look at the retina
Otoscope to look into the external ear cavity
Oxygen mask and tubes to deliver gases to the mouth/nostrils to assist in oxygen intake or to administer aerosolized or gaseous drugs
Pipette or dropper to measure out doses of liquid, specially in children
Proctoscope to look inside the anal canal and lower part of the rectum
Reflex hammer to test motor reflexs of the body
Sphygmomanometer to measure the patient's blood pressure
Stethoscope to hear sounds from movements within the body like heart beats, intestinal movement, breath sounds, etc.
Suction device to suck up blood or secretions
Thermometer to record body temperature
Tongue depressor for use in oral examination
Transfusion kit to transfuse blood and blood products
Tuning fork to test for deafness and to categorize it
Ventilator to assist or carry out the mechanical act of inspiration and expiration so the non-respiring patient can do so; a common component of "life support"
Watch / Stopwatch for recording rates like heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.; for certain hearing tests
Weighing scale to measure weight

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References

  1. ↑ Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 17th ed. # ISBN 0-07-020291-5 # ISBN 978-0-07-020291-7
  2. ↑ Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access (Paperback) # ISBN 0-443-10057-8 # ISBN 978-0-443-10057-4
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