Medical Equipment Glossary

A type of medical insufflator which is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen during an investigative surgical procedure. This device is used to maintain constant intra-abdominal pressure in the patient. Some types of laparoflators include a heating system to prevent lowering the patient’s body temperature.

A minimally invasive surgical technique in which a lighted scope (called a laparoscope) is inserted into a small incision in the abdomen. This technique is commonly used to visualize the inside of the abdomen for diagnosis, to retrieve tissue samples for biopsy, and to perform surgical procedures using tiny instruments which are passed into the abdomen through tiny incisions.

A small, hand-held medical device which consists of a handle, curved tongue depressor, light source, and a magnification source. This device is typically made from surgical metal, allowing it to be sterilized as needed. A larynogoscope is normalled used to move aside the patient's tongue and open the throat and expose the larynx. This process allows the doctor to intubate (insert a breathing tube) or perform other procedures.

Any of several devices that convert incident electromagnetic radiation of mixed frequencies to discrete frequencies of highly amplified and coherent ultraviolet, visible, or infrared radiation; used in surgery to sut and dissolve tissue.

Sensitive method for detection of bacterial endotoxins and endotoxin-like substances that depends on the in vitro gelation of Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), prepared from the circulating blood (amebocytes) of the horseshoe crab, by the endotoxin or related compound. Used for detection of endotoxin in body fluids and parenteral pharmaceuticals.

A cosmetic surgery procedure that removes fat from many different areas of the human body.  Liposuction can remove fat from the abdomen, neck, thighs, buttocks, arms, and more.

A minimally invasive procedure which untilizes sound waves to break up a kidney or other stone into smaller pieces.  This allows the smaller pieces to pass out of the urinary system, and it does not require any type of surgical incision.