A person’s health and wellbeing can be improved through the use of medical technology, which includes both low- and high-risk medical devices. These products range from tongue depressors, surgical gloves, and medical thermometers to insulin pumps, pacemakers, and in vitro diagnostics, and among others are used to save the lives of patients all over the world.
Medical devices help patients overcome illness or disease, improving their quality of life, and help healthcare professionals diagnose and treat patients more accurately and quickly. There is a very high probability that people are surrounded by medical devices without even realizing it, even though it is challenging to establish a universal definition of what constitutes a medical device due to the numerous regulatory bodies around the world that oversee their use and classification.
MEDICAL DEVICES USE IN SAVING LIVES OF PATIENTS
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All health technologies necessary for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, rehabilitation, and palliation are considered medical devices (with the exception of vaccines and medications). They are essential for ensuring everyone has access to care, keeping tabs on health, and responding to emergencies or outbreaks. Some types of medical devices include:
- single use devices (i.e. syringes, catheters)
- implantable (i.e. hip prothesis, pacemakers)
- imaging (i.e. ultrasound and CT scanners)
- medical equipment (i.e. anesthesia machines, patient monitors, hemodialysis machines)
- software (i.e. computer aided diagnostics)
- in vitro diagnostics (i.e. glucometer, HIV tests)
- personal protective equipment (i.e. mask, gowns, gloves)
- surgical and laboratory instruments
What is nomenclature for medical devices?
A coding and naming system known as the nomenclature of medical devices is used to categorize and identify all medical devices and related health products. There are between 5,000 and 24,000 different types of medical devices, according to various
classification and nomenclature systems. They range from being extremely simple to complex, affordable to expensive. Device types and numbers are expanding at an exponential rate.
Why is there a need for a standardized nomenclature for medical devices?
The existence of numerous nomenclatures makes it challenging for people and organizations to communicate crucial information, which can have an effect on one’s health as well as their economy and society. It makes tracking medical device supply, trade, and procurement more difficult. Some important information negatively impacted by an absence of a standardized nomenclature include:
- patient safety
- intended use of medical devices
- regulatory status
- technical information
- adverse events
- availability
- others
References:
https://apacmed.org/the-medtech-industry/what-is-medical technology/
https://www.who.int/teams/health-product-policy-and standards/assistive-and-medical-technology/medical devices/nomenclature
Member:
Pasadila, Rhoda May
