Medical - Great Inventions - They Finally Got It Right!

Medical technology has come a long way in the past 50-100 years. From open heart surgery to knee replacements to angioplasty for the heart, the advancements have been tremendous. However, it has not been until recently, that medical devices have been invented to assist with patient care and prevention of infection. Here are a few of the durable medical devices that I find exciting to the hospital industry because they speak directly the comfort and safety of the patient.

This tiny item is one of my favorites and therefore is at the top of list. With the added wax, dental floss is now easier than ever. The taste of cinnamon is refreshing.

Great dental hygiene is much more enjoyable with this great combination of smooth, gliding wax combined with a pleasant taste. Truly a patient pleaser!

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Ease of use and great taste = less gum disease and overall better health.

This little item is medicinal - if you have every had back or neck pain you know exactly what I mean.

No pressure is needed to operate this small device - it delivers both the massage and the heat!

Great for the whole family. A must for your spouse/significant other.

Talk about a great pain reliever - this item is it!

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Home pain relief = better patient care.

Bacteria is always problematic but in the hospital setting it is a constant war against germs.

The addition to the medical field of adding ozone water not only provides clean, pure water but also provide a safe and natural way to disinfect - both at the hospital and at home.

Ozone water actually explodes the molecules whereas chlorine attacks from the outside in. UV is only line of sight. So adding ozone water to the hospital sinks provides an important level of disinfection.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Pure natural water with no chemicals, and a natural disinfectant too!

I still remember coming out of open heart surgery at Mayo Clinic in 1976 and how very cold I was! My Mother was frantic, running around telling everyone I was cold! And of course, later on, we found it was normal! But what a memory!

Now patients at Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn, WI will be treated to a "body warmer" both during and after surgery. What a wonderful, wonderful item to help patients. Six units have been purchased and will be implemented in the spring of 2010.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Comfort for the patient equals better care.

Angioplasty and stent placement - heart

Angioplasty is a medical procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. The stent is a small, metal mesh tube that expands the opening of the artery. So while it can be used throughout the body, one of the highest and best uses is for heart disease.

A stent is often placed after angioplasty and is used with a balloon catheter. The catheter expands and the balloon is inflated. The stent remains and helps prevent the artery from closing up again.

Not every blockage can be treated with angioplasty. Some patients will need heart bypass surgery in order to open up the arteries.

The need for the stent and/or the coronary surgery is a narrowing of the arteries that cause the heart to work inefficiently. The narrowing of the arteries occurs when fat and cholesterol sticks to the inside of the artery walls.

Angioplasty with a stent greatly improves blood flow through the coronary arteries and the heart. Stents with angioplasty may remove the need for coronary artery bypass surgery.

Stents have a multitude of uses from urinary tracts, to other vascular pathways.

It is important to note that angioplasty does not cure the cause of the blockage in your arteries. Your arteries may become narrow again especially if you don't help those precious arteries. To help your heart, don't smoke, eat a heart-healthy diet and of course - Exercise!

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Helping blood flow throughout the body.

Patches for medicine - what a wonderful invention for the patient -non-invasive delivery method for medications!

For a person who doesn't like needles, pills - this is huge!

Skin is the largest and most accessible organ of the human body.

Providing medication through the layers of the skin allow the medicine to access the circulatory system quicker and more efficiently but most important with no needle wounds!

And I heard vitamins will soon be available through skin patches too! The days of needles and pills are slowing fading into history.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Less intrusive = better patient care.

New medical technology has also brought us inhalation vaccines. Again for those of us who are needle shy, this is a major step forward in comfort to the patient.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Less intrusive = better patient care.

Don't pass the tissue box - it is carrying bacteria! Finally we have a sanitizing method to grab for a tissue.

If you are still passing the tissue box which cannot be wiped down - consider upgradig your procedures to one of great sanitation.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Less exposure to bacteria = better patient care.

Antimicrobial Face Masks service several markets - hospitals, clinics and home too!

We have known about bacteria for ages but we have not actively address the problem - until now with face masks to help protect those of us to want to remain healthy.

Most face masks today are high performance antimicrobial, non allergenic that serves to filter out allergens, mold spores and bacteria - helping both the patients and nearby well caregivers and other somewhat well patients.

The masks have finally become acceptable and standard practice from clinics to hospitals to lawn mowing too!

Great for the patients and also serves to help protect those around you.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Wider use = less exposure to bacteria = better patient care.

EXTRA - RollerAid™ - Substitute for Clumsy Crutches

Finally an invention to help those who need those clumsy crutches. Yes, it looks strange at first but look closely, it really makes sense. Like any new innovation, it will look strange - but is is so functional!

The RollerAid™ makes clumsy crutches completely obsolete.

As I wrote in my hub about pleasing people at the front desk of the hospital: "It is essentially a knee scooter that serves to hold the infirm or frail/immobile leg and redistribute the patients' weight with the ease of the wheels which turn for added mobility. What a huge improvement over the old-fashioned crutches!"

Great innovation to help the patient recover. Throw out those old-time crutches!

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Better comfort = better patient care.

Remember the old heavy, heavy iron canisters for oxygen.

Look at the improvements that have been made to the oxygen concentrators - plastic, lightweight and high-performance.

This is a great patient-preferred design. Lightweight yet effective.

In addition, both systems offer patients these benefits:

• Increased mobility, freedom and health benefits
• Clips to belt, backpack or shoulder bag
• Requires no batteries or electricity for operation
• Covered by Medicare and most insurance plans when medically necessary and prescribed by a physician
• Could save hundreds on power bills per year

Health Benefits of Portable Oxygen Therapy:  Many physicians encourage increased movement to improve the health and quality of life for their oxygen patients. Not surprizing a new study shows that there may be survival benefits from long-term portable oxygen use when compared with shorter periods of treatment on stationary systems.

Portable oxygen therapy may provide:

• Maximum mobility at home and away
• Increased physical fitness
• Greater social acceptance
• More freedom
• Greater independence
• Improved quality of life

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Greater mobility = better patient care

So often I will see patients who obviously spend a lot of time in their wheelchair.

On rare occasion, I have seen the ultra lightweight aluminum wheelchair with a multi-position back that I label the reclining wheelchair.

The promotional literature states it can adjust 15° and a lifetime warranty.

With our populace's greater dependence upon wheelchairs, this is a big improvement in patient-care. Making life more comfortable with better medical products.

HOW THEY FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT: Greater patient comfort = greater patient care.

If you found this article of interest, please feel free to share with your friends and family.  If you found it worthwhile, please click the green button to rate it up!

Thank you!

Pursuant to the new Federal Trade Commission's rules, I have not received any remuneration for any of these products - no gifts, no products, no services and no contact from the manufacturers.

Medical Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only. Neither it nor the products sold here are designed to diagnose, treat, or cure any problem. You should contact your physician for further information, diagnosis, testing, or advice on how to use the information/products listed in this site.

Copyright: © 2010 Gma Goldie All Rights Reserved - GmaGoldie loves to share her ideas but greatly appreciates credit for her hard work. Please email the author for permission for use of terms and ideas shared in this or other Gma Goldie articles on health, fitness and exercise.