Medical instruments are used for diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic purposes for a variety of indications. These instruments are commonly used in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and healthcare set ups. Some medical instruments can also be used at home to monitor and detect any progress.
- Stethoscope to hear sounds from movements within the body like heart beats, intestinal movement, breath sounds, etc.
- Suction device to suck up blood or secretions
- Thermometer to record body temperature
- Tongue depressor for use in oral examination
- Bedpan for patients who are unconscious or too weak to sit up or walk to the toilet to defecate
- Cannula to create a permanent pathway to a vein (or artery) for the purpose of repeated injections or infusion of intravenous fluids
- Cardioverter / Defibrillator to correct arrhythmias of the heart or to start up a heart that is not beating
- Catheter to drain and collect urine directly from the bladder (primary use) also to act as a makeshift oxygen tube etc.
- Dialyser to remove toxic materials from the blood that are generally removed by the kidneys; used in case of kidney failure
- Electrocardiograph machine to record the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time
- Enema equipment to inject fluid into the lower bowel for several purposes, most frequently for relieving constipation
- Endoscope to look inside the gastrointestinal tract, used mainly in surgery or by surgical consultants
- Gas cylinder as a supply of oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, etc.
- Gauze sponge to absorb blood and other fluids as well as clean wounds
- Glucose monitor to measure one’s blood pressure
- Surgical scissors used for dissecting or cutting
- Hypodermic needle / Syringe for injections and aspiration of blood or fluid from the body
- Infection control equipment as in gloves, gowns, bonnets, shoe covers, face shields, goggles, and surgical masks for preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection
- Instrument sterilizer to sterilize instruments in absence of an autoclave
- Kidney dish as a tray for instruments, gauze, tissue, etc.
- Measuring tape for length, height, head circumference and girth measurements
- Medical halogen penlight to see into the eye, natural orifices, etc. and to test for pupillary light reflex, etc.
- Medical ultrasound to create an image of internal body structures
- Nasogastric tube for nasogastric suction or the introduction of food or drugs into the body
- Nebulizer to produce aerosols of drugs to be administered by respiratory route
- Ophthalmoscope to look at the retina
- Otoscope to look into the external ear cavity
- Oxygen mask and tubes to deliver gases to the mouth/nostrils to assist in oxygen intake or to administer aerosolized or gaseous drugs
- Pipette or dropper to measure out doses of liquid, specially in children
- Proctoscope to look inside the anal canal and lower part of the rectum
- Radiography to view internal body structures
- Reflex hammer to test motor reflexes of the body
- Sphygmomanometer to measure the patient's blood pressure
- Stethoscope to hear sounds from movements within the body like heart beats, intestinal movement, breath sounds, etc.
- Suction device to suck up blood or secretions
- Thermometer to record body temperature
- Tongue depressor for use in oral examination
- Transfusion kit to transfuse blood and blood products
- Tuning fork to test for deafness and to categorize it
- Ventilator to assist or carry out the mechanical act of inspiration and expiration so the non-respiring patient can do so; a common component of "life support"
- Watch / Stopwatch for recording rates like heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.; for certain hearing tests.
- Weighing scale to measure weight
- Crocodile Forceps to remove foreign bodies from ear or nasal cavities.
Scalpels, forceps, scissors, retractors, and clamps are used extensively. The nature of certain surgical procedures requires a more specialized set of instruments. For example, bone saws, files, drills (Figure 89-5), and mallets are commonly utilized in orthopedic surgery.