Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
warmer is also utilized to prevent hypothermia by de-
livering warmed air to an inflatable blanket surrounding
the patient. A hyper-hypothermia unit circulates heated
or cooled water through a blanket, to raise or lower
a patient's temperature. A fluid warmer is a device used
for warming intravenous or irrigation fluids prior to
contact with the patient.
Headlamps
Headlamps are used to supplement the facility lights in
the surgical field. The headlamp apparatus, worn by the
clinician, is connected to a light source by a fiber-optic
cable. This versatile source of light is particularly useful
when overhead lights are insufficient or obstructed.
Tourniquets
A tourniquet is a surgical device that is used primarily to
temporarily occlude blood flow to a part of the body and
to obtain a nearly bloodless operative field. A pneumatic
tourniquet uses pressurized air to restrict blood flow and
comprise an inflatable cuff, connective tubing, pressure
source, pressure regulator, and a pressure display. Tour-
niquets are commonly used in amputations and various
other orthopedic surgical procedures (see
Figure 4.3-7
).
Specialized operating room
technologies
Figure 4.3-7 Zimmer ATS automated tourniquet system.
Lasers
robotics can lead to advantages in providing health care.
The inexhaustibility, repeatability, and precision of ro-
botics are favorable in surgery.
A laser is a device that directs an intense beam of radiation
to the surgical site to cut, coagulate, or vaporize tissue
(Judy, 1995). The major components of a laser are the
lasing material, mirrors, a cooling system, an optical or
electrical pump source, and a delivery system. The lasing
material fixes the output wavelength of the laser and
primarily comprises a gas-filled tubular cavity (gas) or
a solid-statemedium. Lasers with differing lasingmaterial,
wavelengths, beam shapes, and guidance method, are
used in the OR for various physiological effects. Four laser
types that are typically used in the OR to coagulate,
ablate, or remove soft tissue are carbon dioxide (CO
2
),
argon ion (Ar-ion), neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet
(Nd:YAG), and gallium-aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs).
Imaging technologies
Body organs, structures, and tissues are studied using
imaging techniques. Several technologies are available to
the clinician. Hard-tissue imaging is done using X-rays.
Soft-tissue contrast and functional information cannot be
sought using X-rays. There are many techniques, in-
cluding computed tomography and magnetic resonance
imaging, that are effective in fairly accurate de-
termination of damaged cells or soft tissue.
X-rays
Robotics
Radiography utilized electromagnetic waves to produce
two-dimensional images of anatomy, captured on a pho-
tographic film. The intensity of the image on the film is
determined by the intensity of the rays emerging from
The use of robotics has provided extensive benefits to
many industries, and the medical field is no exception.
Specifically, surgery is a field wherein the application of
