Category: Therapeutic Instrumentation
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Principle of Working of a Demand Cardiac Pacemaker
A cardiac pacemaker is normally used to produce pulses that force the heart to beat at higher rate; this is particularly important when blockage occurs to the biological signals that stimulate the heart to beat. A demand pacemaker is specifically helpful to the patient with partial blockage, in which case an electric pulse to the…
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What is Intraoperative Radiotherapy?
Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) is a method that combines radiation therapy with surgery to irradiate tumours in situ, without delivering a significant dose to surrounding normal, critical structures and is typically performed using electron beams from linear accelerators. This contrasts with external beam therapy using X-ray beams where the dose that can safely be delivered to…
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The Functions of Humidifiers, Nebulizers and Aspirators as Respiratory Therapeutic Instruments
Humidifiers Humidifiers are used to increase the humidity (water content) of the inspired air. The humidity of the inhaled air should be high (near 100%) in order to avoid damage to the upper air passage of the lungs. Hence, the air or oxygen used for the respiratory therapy must be humidified. All ventilators incorporate an…
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Application of Diathermy as a Therapeutic Treatment
Diathermy is the process through which electrically induced heat or the application of high frequency electromagnetic currents as a form of physical therapy and in surgical procedures. Diathermy is commonly used for muscle relaxation. It is possible to pass high currents in the range of 100 kHz through the human body without any risk as…
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The Laser Technology and How it is applied in Medical Field
The word laser is an acronym that stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A laser is defined as a beam of monochromatic light that carries with it a high energy. The monochromatic light can be focused on to any minute area with a fine degree of exactness. The Principle of Operation of…
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How a Ventilator is used to Deliver Oxygen to a Patient with a Breathing difficulty
A ventilator is used on patients who go into respiratory failure and cannot maintain breathing for some reasons. Respiratory failure occurs when the body’s metabolic needs are not met. If this is not corrected, then the patient will have laboured breathing, resulting into a cardiac arrest. When this limit is crossed or about to be…
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Cardiac Defibrillators
Ventricular fibrillation is a serious cardiac emergency resulting from asynchronous contraction of the heart muscles. This uncoordinated movement of the ventricle walls of the heart may result from coronary occlusion, from electric shock or from abnormalities of body chemistry. Due to these irregular contractions of the muscle fibres, the ventricles simply quiver rather than pumping…
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Cardiac Pacemakers
The arrhythmia means abnormal rhythm of the heart. Rhythmic action of the heart is initiated by regularly recurring electrochemical impulses originating at the natural cardiac pacemaker at the Sino-atrial anode (SA). Each pacing impulse spread over the surface of the atria to the AV anode. After some delay at the AV anode, the impulse is…