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Instrument

Uses

Bandage

to cover and protect areas of the body, such as a recent injury

Bedpan

for patients who are unconscious or too weak to sit up or walk to the toilet
to defecate

Cannula

to create a permanent pathway to a vein (or artery) for the purpose of repeated
injections or infusion ofintravenous fluids

Cardioverter /Defibrillator to correct arrhythmias of the heart or to start up a heart that is not beating
Catheter

to drain and collect urine directly from the bladder (primary use); also to act as a
makeshift oxygen tube, etc.

Dialyser

to remove toxic materials from the blood that are generally removed by
the kidneys; used in case of renal failure

Electrocardiograph
machine

to record the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time

Enema equipment

to passively evacuate the rectum of faeces

Endoscope

to look inside the gastrointestinal tract, used mainly in surgery or by surgical

consultants

Gas cylinder

as a supply of oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, etc.

Gauze sponge

to absorb blood and other fluids as well as clean wounds

Hypodermic
needle /Syringe

for injections and aspiration of blood or fluid from the body

Infection control
equipment

as in gloves, gowns, bonnets, shoe covers, face shields, goggles, and surgical
masks for preventing nosocomial or healthcare-associated infection

Instrument sterilizer

to sterilize instruments in absence of an autoclave

Kidney dish

as a tray for instruments, gauze, tissue, etc.

Measuring tape

for length, height, and girth measurements

Medical halogen penlight

to see into the eye, natural orifices, etc. and to test for pupillary light reflex, etc.

Nasogastric tube

for nasogastric suction or the introduction of food or drugs into the body

Nebulizer

to produce aerosols of drugs to be administered by respiratory route

Ophthalmoscope

to look at the retina

Otoscope

to look into the external ear cavity

Oxygen mask and tubes

to deliver gases to the mouth/nostrils to assist in oxygen intake or to

administer aerosolized or gaseous drugs

Pipette or dropper

to measure out doses of liquid, specially in children

Proctoscope

to look inside the anal canal and lower part of the rectum

Reflex hammer

to test motor reflexs of the body

Sphygmomanometer

to measure the patient's blood pressure

Stethoscope

to hear sounds from movements within the body like heart beats, intestinal

movement, breath sounds, etc.

Suction device

to suck up blood or secretions

Thermometer

to record body temperature

Tongue depressor

for use in oral examination

Transfusion kit

to transfuse blood and blood products

Tuning fork

to test for deafness and to categorize it

Ventilator

to assist or carry out the mechanical act of inspiration and expiration so the nonrespiring patient can do so; a common component of "life support"

Watch / Stopwatch

for recording rates like heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.; for certain hearing tests

Weighing scale

to measure weight