Medical Devices that Save Lives on a Daily Basis

There are many lifesaving medical devices on today’s market used for several reasons from testing to treatment. Some detect injuries or diseases at various stages, and others help to maintain life after a specific disease diagnosis or during a recovery from a traumatic event. Below are many listed life saving devices used in healthcare today.

Imaging Devices that Detect Disease or Injury

Imaging devices, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography scan (CT scan), may be used to detect various medical concerns in the body various medical concerns. An MRI uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images from within the body to help diagnose life-threatening issues such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), malignant tumors, dementia, internal bleeding, infections, birth defects of the brain or spine and some diseased organs. A CT scan, also known as CAT scan, is a computerized x-ray device that uses motorized x-ray source to develop two dimensional pictures ``slices” of the internal body. Medical doctors may order a CT scan to detect life threatening concerns of various types of cancers, or to locate specific injuries or tumors, a stroke or hemorrhaging in the brain, defects or malfunctions of the heart, or to find excessive fluid or a blood clot in lungs.

Intravenous Devices that Save Lives

There are several life saving devices that intravenously deliver fluids or medications to help save lives. Central venous catheters are inserted into large veins for long-term use of medication and fluid replacement. The list of medical uses for this delivery method is lengthy; some examples are chemotherapy, dialysis, long-term pain medication or antibiotics. A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) may be used to deliver fluids or medication on a short term basis for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance or antibiotics. Devices used for blood transfusions will help a patient with a specific blood disease or who has experienced significant blood loss after trauma or surgery.  If someone is having a severe allergic reaction to food or an insect bite then an epinephrine pen may be crucial to stop the reaction. There are hundreds of other medical injection devices that save lives daily whether directly, such as a naloxone delivery device for an opioid overdose or indirectly with a diabetes monitor. The FDA has the Unique Device Identification (UDI) system to allow healthcare providers a way to safely track and properly administer these all medical devices using individual codes that are readable by humans and machines. And the Global Data Synchronization Network, or GDSN gives trading partners within the healthcare industry a standard format to effectively share product information.

Devices that Replace or Maintain Normal Functions of the Body

There are numerous devices that help a person to stay alive when the body is not able to function on its own, such as during cardiac arrest or after a heart attack, stroke or spinal cord injury. An automated external defibrillator (AED) may be used in an emergency during CPR to revive someone experiencing cardiac arrest. A cardiac patient with abnormal heart beat or very rapid heartbeat may need to rely on an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or a pacemaker to monitor and maintain a normal heart rhythm. Other surgically implanted devices, such as a left ventricular assistive device (LVAD) or valve replacement may be necessary to regulate blood flow within the heart. Often times after a severe life threatening accident, such as a stroke or TBI, a person must rely on mechanical ventilation through a tracheostomy for life support when the body is unable to breath on its own. If a patient is unable to properly intake food due to sedation or dysphagia after a stroke, then the person would rely on a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, or peg tube, to adequately receive proper nutrition and medication in order to survive.

Ongoing technological advances in medicine have allowed so many important life saving devices to be on the healthcare market in order to allow humans to recover from significant life changing health issues and subsequently live healthier, longer lives. The list of lifesaving medical devices is non-exhaustive to this article and each device is widely used and relied upon in today’s medical world.