Defibrillator

admin — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:33:48 +0000

The Automated External Defibrillator

Every now and then throughout history, a medical machine or device evolves to a point where it can greatly impact the health and well-being of mankind. The automated external defibrillator is one such device. In the last few years, due to advancements in design and technology, the popularity of these devices has grown exponentially.

Not long ago these devices were only used by trained professionals such as doctors and ambulance crews. Back then the smallest defibrillator was large, heavy and technically hard to use – and it was potentially very dangerous to the .

The main function of the defibrillator is to restart the heart of someone suffering cardiac arrest. But given that victims usually die within five minutes of the attack, and given that the average time it takes an ambulance to reach the site of an situation is at least nine minutes, most victims used to die before help reached them.

Enter a new breed of defibrillator.

Thanks to electronics miniaturization plus major advances in cardiac research, external defibrillators have become smaller (about the size of a baseball mitt), relatively inexpensive (you can pick one up for well under $1500), much safer, and far easier to use. Not to mention the fact that they now even more effective.

In fact, many AED’s on the market today can be used by someone with no previous medical training. This is because the defibrillator can assess whether or not the victim is in need of defibrillation, and if so, will audibly and visually guide the operator through the entire process of defibrillation.

The way they work are: the defibrillator will first test and determine if defibrillation is even necessary. Two paddles (electrodes) are then placed on the victim’s torso after a gel is applied to reduce impedance. An electrical is then administered through the body to the heart. This is repeated if necessary until the heart begins beating again naturally and synchronously.

How well do they work? Your chances of surviving sudden cardiac arrest are less than 5% if a defibrillator is not used within a few minutes of the event. Conversely, if a defibrillator is on hand you will have an over 90% chance of survival.

Automated external defibrillators are showing up in public and private places at an ever-increasing rate. This can only be a good thing since only a small percentage of people suffer cardiac arrest in a fully equipped medical facility.

Currently the only defibrillator you can buy without a prescription is the Heart Start. With a prescription there are more choices available. So whether you’re in the home or , an RV or boat, I say, let’s get one and live a safer life.

Graham is a successful Webmaster and publisher. Visit his web site. It covers the Automated External Defibrillator, sudden cardiac arrest, heart attacks, and more.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com

This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Seek the guidance of a licensed physician if you need medical advice.

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Stethoscope

admin — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:21:34 +0000

Stethoscopes

Littman Stethoscopes – Special Outstanding Features Of the Littman Stethoscope

by: Peter Lim

When it comes to health and the dignostic instruments and tools that are required to service health, the factors of quality, precision and accuracy are of the highest priority.

For the medical doctor or nurse, nothing is more relevant and useful than the use of the stethoscope. Ask any doctor or health professional, and he would most likely be using a littman stethoscope.

It was in 1963 that the Harvard Medical School Professor David Littmann, a renowned cardiologist, invented a stethoscope which would revolutionize the world of medical auscultation.

Named after him, this invention continued to improve and develop, resulting in a highly acclaimed stethoscope named aptly, the 3M Littmann Cardiology Stethoscope.

This stethoscope is uniquely equipped to help the medical doctor pick up difficult-to-hear heart, lung and other body sounds admist distracting noises.

Using, the 3M´s new Ambient Noise Reduction technology, it is possible to now reduce distracting room noise by an average of 75% (- 12 decibels) over the bell and diaphragm operating range. This is convincingly the most important feature of the littman [tag]stethoscope[/tag].

Apart from this, the new tunable diaphragm technology used in Littman Stethoscopes, allows the health practitioner to alter the pressure on the chest piece in order to change from bell mode to diaphragm mode and vice-versa. This makes it very versatile for adaptive use.

As a result, the technology has led to a whole new line of Littmann stethoscopes including the electronic Littmann Master Cardiology Stethoscope for infant, pediatric, and veterinary disciplines.

The Littmann stethoscopes are among the most popular stethoscopes for cardiologists where Littman stethoscopes like Littman cardiology III, Littmann cardiology STC, and Littmann Master classic II are used for both adult and pediatric auscultation.

One particular innovation is that the stethoscope carries a large side of the diaphragm and a small side diaphragm. The large side of the diaphragm is for adults and the small side is specially designed for sound with pediatric patients or extremely thin adult patients. This makes it a truly versatile tool for the doctor or nurse or cardiologist.

In addition to the standard adult size, Littman offers a one-inch pediatric bell and the infant bell.

As nurses form the bedrock of the health system and require stethoscopes,they are not left behind. There are active online [tag]nursing[/tag] forum communities where nurses from around the world discuss and share information about the use of medical and nursing tools such as the nursing littmann stethoscope, and there is a nurses’ kit including a littman stethoscope for members at special price.

The next time we see a doctor with a stethoscope, the chances are that he is using a littman stethoscope, and we can be grateful to the efforts of the brillant cardiologist Professor David Littmann.

About The Author

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner and webmaster of the “Littman Stethoscope Guide”.For a special offer and resources on littman stethoscopes, visit http://littman-stethoscope.get-health.info.