Unit 2 Vocabulary: Medical Equipment

Noun (thing)
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Bandage
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a long piece of cloth which is wrapped around an injured body part
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"I need to wrap the bandage around my ankle, as I suspect I have sprained it."
Noun (thing)
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Brace
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an object to support a body part and hold it in the correct position after injury
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"If the patient has suffered a severe head injury and there is a risk for a spinal cord injury, he or she will have to wear a neck brace."
Noun (thing)
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Cast
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a tough cover which protects an injured body part or a broken limb
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"A broken bone will be treated with the cast unless it is very small."
Noun (thing)
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Catheter
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a thin tube inserted into a patient’s body in order to remove a liquid, such as urine
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"As you will be immobilized after the surgery so unable to go to the toilet, you will have a catheter inserted."
Noun (thing)
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Crutches
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sticks which fit under your arms and are used to walk when your leg or foot is injured or broken
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"She’s been walking on crutches for 4 weeks now and is really looking forward to the moment when her leg has fully recovered."
Proper noun (thing)
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Defibrillator
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a device to correct abnormal heart rate by means of electric shocks
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"A defibrillator is commonly used in case of patients with irregular heart beats."
Noun (thing)
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Diagnostic equipment
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tools and devices used by doctors to examine a patient and form an opinion of what is wrong
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"A stethoscope and thermometer are examples of common diagnostic equipment."
Noun (thing)
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Forceps
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an instrument with two long narrow parts for holding things during medical operations
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"Use forceps to close the blood vessel."
Noun (thing)
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Incubator
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a piece of hospital equipment in which ill or premature babies lie to be kept warm and given treatment
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"As my son was born a month before he was due, he had to be placed in an incubator."
Noun (thing)
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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
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a medical imaging technique used to produce images of internal organs
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"To produce images of the body, MRI scanners use magnetic fields or radio waves."
Noun (thing)
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Scalpel
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a small sharp knife used by doctors during operations to cut skin & tissue
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"Make sure the scalpel is sterile before you begin performing a surgery."
Noun (thing)
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Sling
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a piece of cloth to support your arm in case it’s injured
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"As I have injured my wrist and have to wear a sling, I’m going to take a few days off work."
Noun (thing)
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Splint
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a metal, plastic or wooden element placed next to a broken bone to immobilize it while it’s healing
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"Before the doctor put my arm in a cast, he placed a metal splint next to it, so now my arm is so heavy!"
Noun (thing)
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Stethoscope
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a tool which is used for listening to someone's breathing or heart
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"When you complain to a GP about an acute cough, he or she uses a stethoscope to listen to your chest."
Noun (thing)
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Stretcher
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a type of portable bed used to carry an injured or ill person
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"Stretchers are included as standard equipment for ambulances in case paramedics need to carry injured patients."
Noun (thing)
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Syringe
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a tool which is used to inject fluid into the body or withdraw fluid from it
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"The majority of doctors' surgeries use disposable syringes these days."
Noun (thing)
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Thermometer
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a tool to measure temperature of the body
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"Due to the toxicity of mercury, mercury thermometers were banned in the EU."
Noun (thing)
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Tongue depressor
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a tool used during examinations of the throat which helps keep the view open
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"Now please open your mouth and I will use a tongue depressor to check your throat."
Noun (thing)
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Wheelchair
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a rolling transportation device often used by someone who cannot walk
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"She's been in a wheelchair since she had her leg amputated."
Noun (thing)
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X-ray
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a type of radiation used to produce images that help to diagnose diseases
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"He had an X-ray taken and it revealed he had broken a rib"
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