The field of medicine is advancing all the time. Innovation is the cornerstone to progress, and medical equipment is no exception.
Medical sensors are a crucial piece of equipment that can be found in all sorts of medical machines, and in many different forms.
So, what are medical sensors, and what is their role in modern medicine? Let’s discuss a few basic facts about medical sensors – and where you can buy them.
What Do Medical Sensors Do?
Medical sensors, at their basics, are designed to measure and analyze bodily functions. For example, medical oxygen sensors can measure the level of oxygen in the blood. More advanced sensors can also measure other information at the same time, and administer more oxygen to the patient if the oxygen level is too low.
Chances are, just about every piece of medical equipment in a hospital has some sort of sensor that it needs to work.
Types of Sensors
There are a variety of different medical sensors, and some sensors have several applications. Let’s take a quick look at a few commonly used medical sensors and how they’re used.
- Oximeter
An oximeter measures the oxygen saturation level in the blood, in comparison to the overall hemoglobin count. Most oximeters will start an alert if the oxygen level drops below a certain count. More advanced sensors might trigger more oxygen to be delivered to the patient.
- Heart rate sensor
A heart rate sensor is often used along with other sensors, like ECGs and oximeters. A heart rate sensor measures the number of heart contractions per minute. It’s a very basic sensor and is standard in hospitals.
- Glucometer
A glucometer measures the approximate blood sugar level (or glucose level) of a patient.
- Respiration rate sensor
A respiration rate sensor tracks how many times a patient’s chest rises (as they take in a breath) in a minute.
- ECG sensor
An ECG (Electrocardiogram) sensor is designed to measure the heart’s electrical activity.
- Temperature probes
A temperature probe is one of the simplest and best-known medical sensors – a thermometer! Temperature probes measure the body temperature of a patient and are often used alongside other standard medical sensors.
- Airflow sensors
Airflow sensors are used to monitor a patient’s breathing, oxygen intake, and so on. They’re commonly used in heart pumps, laparoscopies, aesthesia delivery, and more.
- Pressure sensors
Pressure sensors are commonly used in sleep apnea machines. They can monitor blood pressure, collect data, and much more.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of medical sensors, and the list is growing all the time.
Where Can You Find Medical Sensors?
It stands to reason that medical sensors need to be high-quality devices that function perfectly – people’s lives literally depend on it. Medical sensors are expected to comply with very high industry standards, so it’s important to buy your medical sensors from somebody that you trust.
Sensoronics is a well-known and trusted site where you can find a huge variety of medical sensors and other medical apparatus.
