Abbott Laboratories Medical Equipment

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare products company that is based in northern Illinois. Abbott develops, manufactures and sells diagnostic equipment as well as medical devices for vision care, diabetes care and treatment of vascular disorders.

Abbott Laboratories is a leading provider of immunoassays and blood screening equipment. Instruments and tests produced by its Core Laboratory Diagnostics unit are used in hospitals, clinics and laboratories to diagnose and monitor infectious diseases, cancer, diabetes and heart disease and to protect blood supplies in blood banks and hospitals.

The company’s point of care diagnostics equipment provides instant data inputs for patient care right at the bedside in real time based on a small blood sample from a finger-stick. Wireless capabilities enable remote consultation through easy sharing of test results. i-STAT systems provide information for routine diagnostics as well as diagnosis of cardiac conditions.

Highly sensitive molecular diagnostics are screening tests designed to ensure that every individual cancer patient receives the therapy or combination of therapies that will be most efficacious, based on the specific molecular structure of his or her disease. Abbott Laboratories currently offers molecular diagnostics for breast and lung cancers and is developing similar tests for additional types of cancer.

Abbott Laboratories equipment for treatment of vascular disorders include drug-eluting stents designed to establish and maintain blood flow in clogged arteries as well as bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, which are sold under the Absorb name. Additional vascular care products include mitral clips for repairing mitral valve leaks, carotid stents, guide wires, devices that protect against emboli and vessel closures.

For diabetes care, Abbott Laboratories offers fast, accurate and easy-to-use blood glucose monitors, including a recently introduced monitor that features an integrated meal-time insulin calculator. Blood glucose monitors are sold under the FreeStyle, Precision and Xceed brand names.

Abbott Laboratories is also active in the ophthalmic products market, with products ranging from consumer eye drops and lens solutions to professional LASIK surgery systems. The company markets phacoemulsification systems for sculpting and emulsifying cataracts as well as excimer and femtosecond laser systems for refractive surgery to correct myopia and astigmatism.

New Developments in Urology Probes

Urology probes are used for treating a variety of disorders including prostate, renal and urinary tract cancers, and urinary and renal obstructions. They are also used for imaging the urinary tract.

Cryoablation probes are used to treat prostate cancer in a minimally invasive technique that has entered wider use in recent years. In cryoablation, an extremely small cryoprobe (2.4mm-.36 mm) and a thermoprobe are inserted through the perineum and are used to freeze the prostate gland in a controlled process that destroys the cancer at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. The procedure is often used as a second tier treatment in cases where radiation treatment fails or when the cancer recurs following radiation. The freezing process is monitored via a transrectal ultrasound probe.

Various types of lithoscopy probes are used to break up and remove biliary and urethral stones. Electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) probes are comprised of two electrodes, with insulation between them. A spark is generated at the end of the probe by activating an electric current between the electrodes, vaporizing a drop of fluid that is at the end of the probe. The cavitation bubble that results from vaporization of the fluid expands rapidly, creating shock waves that cause the stone to fragment. Each disposable EHL probe is used for just one patient.

Ultrasonic lithotripsy probes are positioned percutaneously via a rigid endoscope. The procedure differs from electrohydraulic lithotripsy in that the probe must form a straight channel through which ultrasound waves can reach the stone, since deflection results in significant decrease in power. Mechanical and ballistic lithotripsy probes are inserted via endoscope as well, and use pneumatically propelled projectiles to break up the calculi. In recent years, physicians have come to prefer laser-equipped lithotripsy probes that fragment stones effectively and result in fewer complications.

Urology probes are used in additional cystoscopy procedures such as viewing the inner surfaces of the urinary tract and treating a variety of urinary conditions via microsurgery.

In recent studies, optical coherence tomography (OCT) probes have been proven effective at imaging cross-sections of the upper urinary tract at resolutions of 10 to 20 µm. The probe was inserted through a cytoscope and urinary catheter. In the studies, physicians were able to distinguish between the different layers of the urinary tract and identify urothelial cancers in vivo.

Lasers

Lasers are devices that amplify light by stimulating photon emission. By minimizing diffraction, lasers create a very narrowly focused pencil beam of highly coherent, high intensity light. The beam can be directed with great precision to any spot, where it heats the target area to the desired degree.

Lasers may use gas, chemicals or a glass rod doped with ions to generate the energy state required to stimulate photon emission. The various types of lasers produce light with different wavelengths and degrees of coherence, giving users the ability to choose the ideal tool for each application.

Chemical lasers provide very high levels of power and are generally used for military and industrial applications. Gas lasers vary widely in power and function based on which gas is used to power them. Helium neon lasers are used in optical labs and research, while CO2 lasers are for cutting and welding in industrial applications. Other gas lasers are used by hobbyists and for spectroscopy. Specialized gas lasers called excimer lasers are used for LASIK eye surgery as well as for semiconductor lithography.

Solid state lasers, which create photon-generating energy states by doping glass rods with various ions, are used for different purposes depending on which ions are used and the power and spectrum of the resulting beams. Neodymium lasers are used for cutting and welding metals as well as for spectroscopy. Very high power solid state lasers are used in optical fiber surgical devices. Extremely short pulses are directed through the optical fibers and used to resurface joints, vaporize cancers and dissolve kidney and gall stones.

Other specialized types of lasers that are used for diagnosing and treating medical conditions include diode lasers, free electron lasers, optical parametric oscillators and diode lasers. Used for surgical procedures, lasers provide greater precision than even the smallest scalpel, enabling surrounding areas to remain unscathed. Laser procedures result in less blood loss, less discomfort and less scarring than traditional procedures, and reduce the incidence of infection. Lasers are also used in medical imaging, hair and tattoo removal and angioplasty.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging utilizes high frequency sound pressure waves to detect and map anatomical structures within the body. The frequencies of the waves, generally between 2 and 18 MHz, are too high to be detected by the human ear.

Boston Scientific Medical Equipment

Boston Scientific develops and markets a wide range of medical devices and technologies, with a particular focus on developing technologies that are less invasive than standard solutions and therefore less traumatic, less risky, less costly and require less aftercare.

The company’s primary areas of focus include interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, endoscopy, cardiac rhythm management, women’s health and urology, neuromodulation, and peripheral interventions.

In the field of cardiac rhythm management, Boston Scientific product offerings include a range of devices that prevent and treat rhythm disorders and arrhythmias, as well as heart failure and cardiac arrest. The company’s products include pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, resynchronization therapy devices and remote monitoring solutions.

Boston Scientific electrophysiology products enable physicians to accurately diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias. The line includes devices for cardiac ablation, mapping and catheritization which integrate advanced technologies such as cryogenics and radiofrequency energy.

The company’s endoscopy line focuses on diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions of the respiratory and digestive systems, such as tumors, pulmonary and gastrointestinal diseases, renal disease and abscesses. Solutions include stents, biliary and urinary drainage, enteral feeding systems, hemostasis, cholangioscopy and balloon dilation.

Interventional cardiology is an area of particular specialization for Boston Scientific, which has been a leader in developing and marketing innovative less-invasive technologies in the field. Solutions for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction include drug eluting and bare metal stents, catheters, balloons, guide wires and coronary intravascular ultrasound.

The company has also developed stents and balloon catheters that are used to relieve blockages and prevent embolism formation in carotid, renal and lower extremity arteries.

Boston Scientific neuromodulation therapies focus on chronic neuropathic pain management through the use of microelectronic stimulators that are implanted in the spinal cord. The company is currently testing deep brain stimulation systems for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Urology and gynecological disorders including stress incontinence, kidney and bladder stones, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and excessive uterine bleeding can be addressed by Boston Scientific endometrial ablation, HoLAP, lithotripsy and urethral bulking and sling products.

Boston Scientific is active in markets throughout the world. As part of an effort to expand its presence in the Asia Pacific region, it is currently constructing a state-of-the-art manufacturing and healthcare provider training facility in China.

Infusion Pumps

Infusion pumps are generally used in hospitals, healthcare facilities and in home care settings to intravenously deliver controlled amounts of fluids containing nutrients and medications into patients’ bodies. They are designed to safely administer chemotherapy, analgesics and antibiotics.

Endoscopy

Endoscopy is a procedure in which a physician examines a patient’s digestive tract from within. During an endoscopy, an endoscope—an instrument that features a minute camera and a light mounted on a long, hollow, flexible tube—is inserted into a patient’s lower or upper digestive tracts.

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat diseases and conditions of the eye, perform surgery on the eye, provide preventive care and correct patients’ vision.

Pathology

Pathology focuses on studying, diagnosing and characterizing diseases, including their causes and mechanisms, and resulting cellular and clinical changes.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic surgery focuses on treatment of the heart and lungs—the organs within the chest cavity—and includes surgery to correct heart malformations, repair pathology within the heart, and to treat lung conditions including cancer, emphysema, esophageal cancer and mediastinal diseases.

Electron Beam Scanners

Electron beam tomography (EBT) is a specialized form of computed tomography that is designed to obtain better images of heart structures than can be obtained using standard CT technology. In order to capture clear, accurate images of the constantly-moving heart, a CT’s X-ray source point must move extremely rapidly around the patient. In conventional CTs, X-ray tubes spin mechanically around the patient, but simply cannot move quickly enough to prevent blurring of cardiac images.

New Developments in Mammography/Elastography

Elastography is a new technique that uses ultrasound to assess the relative stiffness of different tissues. Adding a fourth dimension—time—to ultrasounds allows the movement and elasticity of normal tissue to be compared to the movement of lesions within the tissue. Because malignancies tend to be harder than normal tissue, stiffness is a promising diagnostic indicator.

Siemens AG medical equipment

Siemens Healthcare is a division of Siemens AG, a multinational corporation that is based in Germany and active in areas including energy, industry and infrastructure as well as in healthcare. Siemens Healthcare has been a leader in the field for over 130 years.

Clinical Engineering

Clinical engineering is a multidisciplinary field that requires excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work with complex technologies and human factors. Clinical engineers apply both simple and highly sophisticated medical technology to improving healthcare delivery. As practical engineers who are present and active at the front line of the use of medical technology as well as knowledgeable in product design, they serve as a valuable bridge and conduit of information between biomedical engineers and practitioners.

Pulmonary Medicine

Pulmonary physicians, also known as pulmonologists, are internists that focuses on disorders of the respiratory tract. Pulmonologists deal with diseases and conditions that affect the lungs, focusing on their causes and prevention. They diagnose and treat patients and manage chronic diseases. Pulmonologists also manage mechanical ventilation for patients who need life support. Training in pulmonologists entails a two year fellowship following residency in internal medicine. Many physicians choose to study critical care medicine or sleep medicine in conjunction with pulmonology.

New Developments in OB/GYN Probes

Sonograms are frequently used in obstetrics and gynecology practices to visualize an embryo or fetus in utero, or to visualize a woman’s reproductive organs. Obstetric sonograms have traditionally been done by placing a transducer on the abdomen of the pregnant woman. More recently, however, advanced highly sensitive ultrasound probes have been developed that are placed in the woman’s vagina, resulting in transvaginal scans that provide pictures that are clearer, particularly in the early months of pregnancy and in obese women. In addition, a full bladder is not needed to obtain high-quality images, as for abdominal probes, resulting in greater comfort for the patient.

Getinge Group Medical Equipment

The Getinge Group is a medical technology company, based in Sweden and was founded over a century ago. The company operates three divisions, with Getinge Infection Control focusing primarily on sterilizers and sterile consumables; Arjohuntleigh focusing on extended care; and Maquet Medical Systems focusing on equipment for operating theaters, intensive care units and cardiovascular care.

Heart-Lung Machine

A heart-lung machine is a pump that is used to maintain blood circulation and the supply of oxygen to the body during surgery which requires a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The machine is commonly referred to as a CPB pump or just as “the pump”.

Mobile MRI Units

Mobile MRI units provide a fast, flexible and comprehensive answer to a variety of business and clinical needs of hospitals and imaging centers.

Heine Optotechnik Medical Equipment

Heine Optotechnik has been developing and producing high quality diagnostic equipment for the medical industry for over 65 years. The independent, family owned company develops and manufactures virtually all of its products in-house, taking them from concept to finished product. Heine is known for the precision of its assemblies, quality and compatibility of its materials, and rigorous quality assurance process.