These 5 Weird Medical Devices in Hospitals Will Leave You Surprised!
As medical technology advances, some of the devices used to treat patients can seem pretty strange. Let’s explore five unique medical devices that you might come across in hospitals.
1. Babies in a Tube: Pediatric Immobilizer
Trying to keep a baby or young child still for an x-ray is nearly impossible since kids are always on the move. But, staying still is crucial for clear X-ray images. Blurry images can make it difficult for doctors to diagnose problems accurately.
To solve this, hospitals use a device called a ‘pediatric immobilizer.‘ This device safely holds babies and young children in place during X-rays, reducing the need for repeated exposure to radiation. It’s a safer option for both the kids and the radiology staff, since the staff or the bystander don’t have to stand with the baby and get exposed.
2. Hands-Free Automatic “Sperm Extractor”
This device is as unusual as it sounds. In some hospitals in China, there is a machine designed to help men donate sperm without having to do it manually. Introduced in 2012, these ‘sperm extractors’ are now also being used in the US, Germany, Russia, and France.
The machine has a small screen that plays videos to help the process. According to the Jiangsu Sanwe Medical Science and Tech Center, they sell around 10,000 of these machines every year. The device is particularly useful for men who have difficulty donating sperm the traditional way. The Chinese government believes this machine could help address the shortage of donated sperm in the country.
3. Zapping the migraine: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS)
TMS is another bizarre-looking device but it does its magic when it comes to some of the most troubling conditions. The treatment uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.
This device is mainly used for depression, especially when other treatments haven’t worked. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved it for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and migraines. Not just them. It can even help people stop smoking.
An electromagnetic coil is placed against the scalp when treated with TMS. The coil then sends magnetic pulses to the brain, helping to activate areas that control mood and depression. It’s a non-invasive procedure, meaning it doesn’t quite require surgery or cutting the skin.
4. Foil Cap for Babies: Olympic Cool-Cap
It’s a cool cap for babies! But It certainly does so much more than make babies look cool. The Olympic Cool-Cap is a small cooling cap used for newborns who are deprived of oxygen at birth. Lack of oxygen can cause serious brain damage, but the Cool-Cap helps prevent this by cooling the baby’s brain while keeping their body temperature at safe levels.
The Cool-Cap is used within the first six hours of the baby’s life. This treatment can significantly reduce the severity of brain injury and give these babies a better chance at a healthy life.
5. Iron Lung Machine
This is undoubtedly one of the bizarre-looking devices ever. By the looks of it, its like being stuck inside a giant horizontal tube. But this has saved many lives. The iron lung is a large machine designed to help people breathe when they have lost control of their respiratory muscles.
It works by creating negative air pressure around the body, which stimulates breathing. The patient’s head remains outside the machine while the body is enclosed inside.
Although the use of iron lungs is rare today due to advances in medical technology and the eradication of polio in most parts of the world, they were once a crucial tool for patients with polio and other diseases.
Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked some renewed interest in iron lungs as a cost-effective alternative to modern ventilators.
Conclusion
These five devices highlight the fascinating and sometimes strange innovations in medical technology. From helping babies stay still during x-rays to assisting with sperm donation and preventing brain damage in newborns, these tools play vital roles in modern healthcare.
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