Posts Tagged ‘Imaging’

Major Types of Medical Imaging Equipment

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Many of us are familiar with the most common type of medical imaging equipment, X-rays, but did you know that there are many different types of imaging machines that help doctors diagnose health issues? The advances in medical imaging equipment are amazing, and an example of some machines you might not know as much about are electron microscopes, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI’s), ultrasounds.

Electron microscopes are a great tool for physicians and clinicians to get a better sense of what’s going on at the basest level. Because electron microscopes can magnify at a level of 2,000,000 times, they are used in anatomic pathology, which identifies orgnalles within a patient’s cells. Although immunhistochemistry, a new method has taken some of the focus off of electron microscopy, this essential medical imaging equipment is irreplaceable for the identification of immotile cilia syndrome, the diagnosis of kidney disease, and many other things.

Most of us have heard of MRI’s, but what are they exactly? Simply explained, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner uses the power of magnets to polarize and excite the hydrogen nuclei in water molecules that are present in all human tissues, and this then produces a detectable signal which can be interpreted to create images of the body. This type of medical equipment is especially useful for identifying soft tissue problems, such as those in the joints or the brain, because X-Rays work more specifically for harder tissues like bone.

Another medical imaging machine you may have heard of are ultrasounds, especially for pregnant women looking at their unborn babies. It is have very broad uses in medicine however, including imaging the abdomen, heart, breast, muscles, tendons, arteries and veins. How does it work and what do doctors use it for? Medical ultrasound instruments use high frequency broadband sound waves in varying degress in the megahertz range to produce 3-dimensional images. These ultrasound images do not have the anatomical detail of images produced by an MRI machine, it is widely used because it is appears to not have any adverse side effects and is safe to use. Ultrasounds are also relatively inexpensive as opposed to catscans or MRI’s, so they continue to be a staple in medical offices and hospitals.

These are just three examples of the medical imaging equipment available today. Technology continues to advance and there are sure to be many more exciting developments to come in the world of medical equipment and supplies, and you can expect the level of healthcare to commensurately increase.

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Medical Imaging Supplies: What To Consider When Buying

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Buying medical imaging supplies is something that you may never have to do. After all, this is not common among everyday people. But with that being said, if you have a job within the health field you may have to deal with medical imaging supplies on a regular basis. And of course, there are many people who have to purchase these supplies in order to run their business. If this sounds like you, you need to know what to consider when buying medical imaging supplies. For people who have been buying for many years this may be second nature to them. But those who have never purchased medical imaging supplies may not know where to start.
The first thing to consider when buying medical imaging supplies is what you need. After all, there are many items which fall within the medical imaging supplies category. For this reason, you need to know exactly what you want. If you go into the process and find yourself lost, you should step back and get a better idea as to what items you are after.
The next thing to consider is price. Although this should not be the only thing on your mind, price is something that is always important no matter what type of buyer you are. Being able to save money when you buy medical imaging supplies will surely make you feel much better about yourself.
But to go along with price is quality. Even though you probably want to save money when buying these supplies, if you have to compromise quality you are not doing the right thing. A lot of people rely on quality medical imaging supplies to give them the best care and treatment possible. Skimping on quality for low price is never an option.
Finally, make sure that you know who you are buying your medical imaging supplies from. Once you find a reputable seller who you trust, hang onto them for as long as possible. The best sellers of medical imaging supplies are those that have a great level of customer service, and also have the items that you need. There are many suppliers out there. You simply need to search for the one that is best for you and what you need.
As you can see, buying medical imaging supplies is nothing to take lightly. Even though you may think that you have everything figured out, if you take a closer look at your buying process you may find a few things that could need a bit of fixing.
In short, here is what you need to remember when buying medical imaging supplies.
1. Know what you need
2. Price is important
3. Quality is more important than price
4. Know your supplier

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