Should You Buy Used Medical Equipment?

When people need medical equipment, one of the concerns is how long they will be needing it for. If they have sustained an injury which results in a permanent disability, they may need the equipment for many years. That can also be true of a chronic condition. These people may want to purchase new medical equipment, because they want it to be in excellent condition and able to be used for a long period of time. If you have a shorter-term condition, though, it may not be cost-effective for you to buy your medical equipment brand new. It can be very costly, and many people can’t afford it.
Fortunately, there are many places where you can buy used medical equipment. If you’re buying from an individual, be extra careful. Make sure you check the equipment out thoroughly. When buying from a company you may be able to get a warranty. Even if you do, be sure that you look the equipment over very thoroughly and get any problems taken care of. That way you won’t have a problem because the equipment you took home didn’t work properly. For simple pieces of medical equipment this isn’t much of an issue, but some medical equipment is essential to life – it absolutely has to work correctly, all the time.
When you’re buying something that is used to keep someone alive, or even to help them be mobile and perform day-to-day tasks, money should not be the central issue. Of course money matters, but you want to get quality. Even when buying used, the prices can vary widely between brands and between the companies or people selling the equipment. Keep that in mind and look around for the best value for the money that you’re spending.
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Filed Under: Medical Equipment, Medication, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: , ,

Finding the Best Medical Equipment

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If you’re in need of medical equipment, it’s important for you to know what you don’t have to buy it new. It can be quite expensive, and if you’re only using it for a short amount of time because of a specific injury, you might not want to pay a lot out of pocket. Even if you’ll be using it long-term, there are still plenty of reasons for you to buy it used. Price is the main factor, but some people also prefer to get something that’s used because they feel that it’s been tried out and it has held up well. They won’t be as concerned about it breaking down.
When it comes to buying used medical equipment, though, make sure where you’re getting it from. You don’t want to buy something from a person or place that you don’t feel you can trust. If you do that, you could end up with something that’s worn out or that doesn’t work well. That may endanger your health, and it could also affect your mobility. In addition, it’ll strongly affect your bank account because you’ll have to go out and buy something else – and you probably won’t be able to get your money back for your original purchase.
There’s nothing wrong with buying used medical equipment, and you shouldn’t be scared away from doing it. Just make sure that you’re buying from good places and people, where you can feel as though you’re getting the best deal out there. If you choose to buy new that’s also fine, but you’ll often pay a great deal more for essentially the same thing. Depending on the type of medical equipment purchased, though, new may be more sanitary in some cases.
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Filed Under: Medical Equipment, Medication, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: , ,

EKG Machine

James Albert Bonsack's cigarette rolling machi...

The medical industry relies on different types of equipment to diagnose and treat patients who come into doctor’s offices and hospital emergency rooms all across the country. The patients might visit for one reason or another such as cancer, broken bones, asthma attacks, diabetes and heart problems. Doctors and nurses alike use the EKG machine to test the heart of a patient complaining of heart palpitations, chest pains, and other symptoms of heart problems. An EKG machine is hooked up to the patient and then tests are run by the machine, determining different values of the heart’s production and whether or not a heart attack has occurred.

EKG is short for electrocardiography, which measures the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time. The information is recorded by using skin electrodes. There are a handful of lines attached to the patient’s bare skin with round endings. They are attached to the patient in ten different areas covering the majority of the body. One is attached to each wrist and one is attached to each ankle. The other six are attached across the chest of the patient and then to the EKG machine. The machine determines the information about the heart by amplifying the electrical charges that appear on the skin when the heart depolarises when the heart beats.

The very first EKG procedure occurred in 1872 at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital by Alexander Muirhead. Muirhead is credited with attaching wires to a patient’s wrists who had a fever to obtain the heartbeat of the patient. The ten electrodes connected to the patient’s body must be placed on the body avoiding any bony prominences. If the electrodes are placed on bony prominences then the reading will not be completely accurate and will need to be performed a second time, costing more money.

Filed Under: Hospital, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: ,

Nebulizers to Treat Asthma

An asthma inhaler, used as a bronchodilator to...

Asthma is a scary condition to have, no matter what your age is, but it can be controlled and treated with various medications. Patients diagnosed with asthma can treat and control their condition using one or more of the following options:

-Rescue Inhaler
-Albuterol Inhaler
-Allergy medication
-Allergy shots
-Nebulizer

The nebulizer is the focus of this article. Nebulizers are electronic machines, small enough to transport from one location to another, without any problems. These machines pump medication into the patient’s system via the lungs. The patient must breathe into a tube that is connected to the machine. The medication is being fed into the tube so that it can go into the patient’s lungs. The patient is breathing in mist from the machine that consists of vaporized liquid medication.

A nebulizer can save an asthma patient’s life. Some doctors will require a patient to use a nebulizer treatment once per day, twice per day, or only a couple of times per week and it all depends on how strong their asthma condition actually is. The stronger the asthma, the more often the nebulizer treatments will be prescribed, and vice versa. Some asthma patients will not need to use nebulizers on a daily basis or even a weekly basis but will still need to have one on hand at all times in the event of an emergency. Should an asthma patient have a severe attack, one that cannot be controlled using an Albuterol inhaler or a rescue inhaler, will need to take a breathing treatment with their nebulizer.

There are asthma patients across the country today that have the condition so bad that they need to carry their nebulizer with them almost everywhere. This includes to work or school as well along with carrying their rescue inhalers. Asthma is not a condition to laugh at because it involves the lungs.

Filed Under: Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: , ,

Health Fairs and Medical Equipments

Living a healthy life is important to millions of people across the country each year because it helps them live longer. One way to live a healthy life or to have questions about health answered at health fairs. Health fairs can be free of charge to anyone who wishes to attend or can cost a couple of dollars to attend. Health fairs are designed to be helpful and educational gatherings of medical professionals and other personnel where questions can be answered, classes can be taught, screenings can be performed and much more can occur in the health field. Health fairs are typically held on community property, by churches, by schools, by businesses, by your company or on work sites.

Activities or topics covered at health fairs include:

• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture
• Fitness clubs
• Hospitals
• Cholesterol testing
• High blood pressure testing
• Diabetes screening
• Cancer screenings

Health fairs usually last only one day, for the entire day, and are advertised or promoted at least a month in advance prior to the date on the radio, on television, on the internet and in the newspaper. There are professional health fair organization planning companies that can plan and design health fairs for towns all across the country.

Health fairs can also provide some people across the country with medical care even if they do not have medical insurance. People might not have medical insurance because they have been laid off, their employer does not offer medical insurance, or they cannot afford medical insurance on their own. Some health fairs will treat patients without charging them a dime for any of the services or procedures provided. Mobile health fairs can screen patients for one or more of the following conditions:

• Echocardiogram Screening
• Stroke or Carotid Screening
o Patient should wear a shirt that is open at the collar and has short sleeves. The patient should not wear a turtleneck. The patient will need to lie on his or her back on an exam table. The medical professional in attendance will examine the patient’s neck.
• Osteoporosis Screening

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Filed Under: Health, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: , ,

Used Blood Pressure Cuffs for the Home

Conventional (mechanical) sphygmomanometer wit...
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If you or a loved one has a history of high or low blood pressure, consider investing in a used blood pressure meter for personal use. These units can be purchased in excellent condition from used medical equipment suppliers at affordable discounts. Having a blood pressure meter on hand can potentially save the life of yourself or a loved one. Persistent high blood pressure (“hypertension”) can lead to heart attacks or strokes, while persistent low blood pressure (“hypotension”) can cause fainting, dizziness, and, in extreme cases, shock.

The standard manual blood pressure meter used by doctors consists of an inflatable cuff, a bulb pump and valve, and a measurement instrument. When measuring blood pressure, the inflatable cuff is fixed around the upper arm at the same height as the heart, and the bulb is used to inflate the cuff until the brachial artery in the upper arm is blocked. The pressure in the cuff is shown on the meter’s measurement instrument, which typically uses mercury to depict pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).  Then, pressure in the cuff is slowly released through the unit’s valve, until the flow of blood through the artery can be heard again. Listening with a stethoscope, the pressure at which blood can be heard flowing through the artery indicates blood pressure.

Normally, when blood flows through the body, the flow of blood can be felt, but not heard. But when a blood pressure cuff is used to block the brachial artery and to let blood slowly back through, the pumping of blood through the artery can be heard. When the cuff loosens enough to allow blood to first be heard again, the pressure in the cuff indicates the systolic blood pressure. When pressure in the cuff drops so low that these sounds can no longer be heard, the pressure at which the sounds can last be heard is the diastolic blood pressure.

Knowing how to measure blood pressure is only a start, however. By buying used blood pressure cuffs, you will have affordable, professional-quality medical equipment which can save your life or that of another.

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Filed Under: Diagnose, Medical Equipment, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: ,

Air Purifiers for Allergies

A Sharp FU-888SV Plasmacluster air purifier.
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Allergies occur when a person’s immune system overreacts to normally-harmless substances called allergens. Allergens may come into contact with the body in many ways, including airborne particulates, food ingredients, or insect stings. Some of the most common types of allergies are to airborne particulates, such as pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander (usually in the form of shed hair or skin particles.) These allergies can be alleviated in various ways, but one of the most convenient is through the use of an air purifier for the home. These units can be purchased new or used for reasonable prices and at excellent quality. The most effective way to alleviate indoor allergens is to eliminate the source of the allergens—for example, by improving ventilation systems or by weatherizing windows and doors. However, investing in one or more air purification units is a good idea even in well-constructed homes.

Air purifiers come in a range of shapes and sizes, from small standalone units to larger units that work with the ventilation system in the home. Air purifiers also use a variety of methods to purify air, the most common and basic of which is the use of a simple air filter which screens out particulate matter too large to pass through the holes in the filter. However, this technique may still allow very small particles to pass through unimpeded, and many allergens—including some organisms—are tiny. More sophisticated purification methods use ultraviolet light to sterilize the air, removing bacteria and other harmful or allergenic microorganisms. Still another purification method is that of ionization, using electrical charges to produce ions, which then adhere to airborne particulates. The ions are then electrostatically attracted to a collector, and disposed of. Possible drawbacks of air purifiers include noise and rare byproducts, most notably small amounts of ozone from certain types of ionizing purifiers. Ozone itself can be an allergen.

While there are many possible methods of air purification, do not assume that only one may be used at a time. Using several different types of air purifiers will give you the best chance of screening out allergenic substances.

Filed Under: General, Medical Equipment, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: , ,

CPAP for a Good Night’s Sleep

CPAP_DeviceSleep apnea can be a debilitating condition, robbing individuals of sleep and affecting their waking performance in every area of their lives. But a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device can alleviate apnea, allowing you to experience untroubled sleep. These devices can be bought used from medical suppliers for reasonable prices.

Sleep apnea occurs in two varieties: obstructive and central. Both types involve an interruption in a person’s intake of air while asleep, which causes the body to wake up. Usually, these instances of waking are brief enough that the person does not remember them in the morning, but if they occur frequently enough during the night, they can cause symptoms of sleep deprivation. Sleep apnea usually manifests as excessive snoring, interruptions in breathing patterns while asleep, or as excessive, seemingly-inexplicable fatigue while awake.  Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the muscles of the airway relax during sleep and occasionally block the flow of air. Muscle relaxation is normal during sleep, but does not result in a blocked airway. Obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by obesity, sleeping position, or a genetic predisposition to narrowed airways. Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain’s signals to the breathing muscles become interrupted, usually due to neurological conditions or heart failure. CPAP therapy is effective at treating obstructive sleep apnea, but cannot treat the neurological basis of central sleep apnea.

A CPAP device consists of a mask that covers the mouth and/or nose, and a compressed air pump attached to the mask via a tube. The pump provides a constant stream of air to the sleeper, which increases air pressure in the throat and prevents the airway muscles from falling closed as they relax during sleep.

Because sleep apnea is a chronic condition which lasts indefinitely, CPAP therapy is likewise ongoing. Sleeping with the mask on may be a significant adjustment at first, and you may experience a few minor side effects such as skin irritation and dry nose, but these should go away after a few days. CPAP devices can be bought used, offering you an uninterrupted night’s sleep for a modest investment.

Filed Under: General, Used Medical Equipment Tagged With: , ,

Used Nebulizers for Asthma Treatment

For anyone with chronic asthma, inhalers are a familiar sight. But for those unable to use inhalers, such as small children and some adults, a nebulizer can make aerosolized medications much easier to take, preventing asthma attacks and allowing a fuller and happier life. Nebulizers can be bought used, at affordable discounts, making them an excellent investment.

Asthma is a chronic condition wherein a person’s airway becomes inflamed and partially or entirely closes, preventing air flow. Asthma often comes in distinct “attacks”, which can be triggered by environmental conditions such as breathing tobacco smoke or polluted air, or by physical exertion, as in exercise. Asthma attacks can be frequent enough to interfere with daily life, or infrequent enough that the condition is not noticed for a very long time. Asthma can also be caused by genetic predisposition, although research into the specific genes involved is ongoing.

The most common treatment for an asthma attack is medication delivered to the lungs via an inhaler. Inhalers turn liquid medication into an aerosol, which is ejected in a burst of air and inhaled by the patient. However, some individuals are unable to use these devices, and in such cases a nebulizer can be an effective replacement. Nebulizers aerosolize medication in a similar manner to inhalers, but instead of delivering a single, concentrated burst of air which must be inhaled at just the right time, nebulizers use a mask to allow the patient to breathe in the aerosolized medication normally. This can be the most effective way to deliver aerosolized medication to very young children, or to adults experiencing severe asthma attacks; in both cases the patient is unable to coordinate their breathing with the inhaler’s burst.

Nebulizers have long been deemed an infeasible replacement for inhalers, due to the size and weight of nebulizer devices, and to the loud noise they generate. But in recent years, nebulizers have become more compact, lighter, and quieter, allowing for more flexible usage and portability. Consider investing in a used nebulizer if you or someone you know has asthma but is unable to use a conventional inhaler.

Filed Under: Medication, Used Medical Equipment

Ultrasounds are for More than Just Babies

Doppler ultrasound analyzer of blood velocity ...
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If you or someone you know has ever been pregnant, you have undoubtedly heard of (and possibly even seen) the use of an ultrasound machine as a method of identifying how well a baby is developing inside of its mother.  An ultrasound involves using very high frequency (extremely high pitched) sound waves, in order to examine in real time what is going on within a body without having to resort to using radioactive waves like x-rays.  A trained physician can tell an awful lot about what is going on inside of a body, using only an ultrasound image.  And ever since the old two dimensional ultrasounds were replaced by three dimensional ones, and even four dimensional versions (where one can see the movement of internal organs and blood, right as it is happening), the field has opened up to an event greater extent.

The ability to evaluate the flow of blood through your body’s veins and arteries is a process referred to as a Doppler ultrasound.  There are three different types of Doppler ultrasound currently in use in the medical field: Color Doppler, Power Doppler, and Spectral Doppler.  Color Doppler uses a computer to turn the various measurements in a group of different colors, so as to visualize the speed and direction that blood flows through any given blood vessel.  Power Doppler provides a more sensitive, detailed read out of the blood flow.  It can not tell the direction of blood flow, however.  Spectral Doppler provides a graphical display of blood flow instead of a visual one, displaying how much distance blood travels per given unit of time.

With all of these sophisticated ultrasound techniques, a lot of information can be figured out.  Symptoms can be quantified, such as pain, swelling and the effects of an infection.  Any internal organ can be checked out, such as the heart, liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, pancreas, bladder, eyes, thyroid, scrotum and various female parts of a patient.  Pretty much any part of a person’s body can be seen in three dimensions, during the exact moment that it is working on doing its thing.

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