Medical Equipment Blog


Laser Safety Goggles Q & A

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Can eye and eye area damage be avoided by the use of laser safety goggles?

Yes providing the laser safety goggles or glasses that are worn are correctly selected based on the laser system in use. Laser safety goggles or glasses can be selected either by the wavelength of the system where they will be in use or through the specific type of laser used. Since goggles cover both the areas around the eyes as well as the eyes themselves they do provide maximum coverage and protection. They are more comprehensive in their protection that laser safety glasses even with side shields.

What is the major advantage of laser safety goggles over laser safety glasses?

Laser safety goggles are a good option when used with Class 4 lasers or some Class 3 lasers since they provide very complete protection to all areas of the eye and around the eye. They are also a good option when there is the possibility of splashes or contamination by liquids when radiation is also in use. Goggles may be more comfortable for people that wear prescription glasses, especially if the goggles are specially designed just for this factor. Many people simply prefer goggles because they are very easy to adjust to any head size with a simple loosening or tightening of an elastic strap that goes around the back of the head.

I need to wear prescription eyeglasses or contacts, how does that work with laser safety goggles?

Laser safety goggles tend to have a much larger lens area that extends beyond where a traditional laser safety glass lens would sit on the face. This allows space for prescription eyewear under the goggles while still providing the maximum amount of protection of the eye itself as well as the delicate skin surrounding the eye. Contact wearers are more fortunate in that they can wear either goggles or laser safety glasses without any discomfort. Therefore, prescription eyeglasses can be effectively worn with laser safety goggles. Keep in mind that the lens on laser safety goggles or glasses can be customized to a prescription lens if so desired with most prescriptions and with most styles of safety eyewear.

What is Optical Density and why does it matter with laser safety goggles?

Optical density or OD is a measurement of the attenuation or reduction of the light entering your eyes from a particular wavelength. Each particular waveband or wavelength of a laser is different so the OD or reduction factor to make the light safe for your eyes will be different. In general OD is a number which indicates a factor of 10. Therefore an OD2 would indicate that the lens is safe for use with a specific laser because it reduces the wavelength hitting the eye by a factor of 100 or 10 times 10. If you do not use the laser safety goggles or glasses designed for a specific laser emission you will not provide the attenuation or reduction in the light wave to protect your eyes from damage.

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Surgical Instrument Kits Q & A

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Are there surgical instrument kits available for general patient care?
Although most surgical kits are designed specifically for surgical procedures or specific types of treatment options there are also generalized types of kits perfect for any doctor, clinic or treatment facility. E.R suture kits are one general type of kit that is always handy to have for minor suturing and wound care. Additionally a minor surgical kit that has all the forceps, retractors, needle holders, scissors and clamps necessary for basic surgical procedures are also ideal for general practice doctors. Another kit that is always going to be used is a wet skin scrub E kit. This kit is perfect for surgical preparation or dealing with minor injuries right in the office. The kit contains sponges, which are disposable, sponge sticks, towels and applicators for applying the PVP scrub and paint to the area required. In addition these kits contain a pair of nitrile gloves and CSR wrap for keeping the area clean after sterilization. The kit comes in a handy double tray with four compartments, keeping all components of the kit in place even when moved or in transit.
What options are available in ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgical instrument kits? Ear, nose and throat procedures use a lot of specialized medical instruments, so having kits available that contain just what you need is a time saving option. This is particularly true if ENT is not the only type of surgical procedure you may have to perform. Kits can include the instruments necessary for basic or major types of surgical procedures, allowing you to determine what type and design of kit is best suited to your needs. Basic ear surgical instrument kits will include all basic medical instruments such as retractors, scissors, skin hooks, suction tubes, forceps and needle holders, but also a variety of sizes of specialized ear specula. Likewise nasal sets include specialized Maltz rasps for backward cutting as well as nasal dressing forceps and tonsil hemostats. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy sets also provide specialized instruments such as adenoid curettes, tonsil knives and tonsil punches. What types of surgical instrument kits are available for specialized types of practices?
As indicated there are several different surgical instrument kits specifically designed for distinct medical procedures. Kits are available for labor and delivery, gynecological and obstetrical procedures, ENT, ophthalmology, orthopedics, rectal surgery, abdominal procedures as well as laparoscopy and plastic surgery. The plastic surgery kits contain a wide range of both general and specific instruments in various sizes, perfect for both minor and major cosmetic surgical procedures. Each of these kits has the basic or advanced types of instruments need to provide specialized patient care. It is important to review what instruments come in each type of kit to determine if you require the basic or major kit. Having these kits available makes preparation for surgical procedures much easier as you always have the instruments you need. The surgical instrument kits do not contain disposable items, they include only the instruments required for the given procedure or area of focus.

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Lab Safety Glasses Q & A


What is the difference between lab safety glasses and safety goggles? Lab safety glasses are different than lab goggles or safety goggles in a variety of ways. First, lab safety glasses can come in standard lenses or with prescription lenses, goggles do not, they only come with a standard lens for protection. In addition lab safety glasses look and feel more like standard glasses. They are designed to sit close to the face like any pair or regular glasses or sunglasses but they aren't snug to the skin on the temples, cheeks and the forehead. Goggles will fit very snug to the skin and typically have additional ventilation on the side to allow heat and moisture to escape since there is a seal around the skin next to the eyes. Goggles can be worn over lab safety glasses but they also protrude much farther from the face. They are adjusted with an elastic strap around the back of the head while safety glasses have arms just like any other type of glasses. The frames can be molded to fit the bridge of your nose or they have anti-slip types of soft rubber to comfortably hold the glasses in place on your nose. If I have prescription glasses do I also need to wear lab safety glasses, after all they are both glasses? Prescription glasses are not the same as lab safety glasses and they cannot be used as a substitute for eye protection. Regular prescription glasses are designed with vision only in mind, and of course style, but safety glasses are specifically designed to limit the risk of injury or damage to your eye. Leaded safety glasses prevent exposure of the eye to radiation from various sources while prescription eyewear will not provide any protection in these types of environments. In addition prescription glasses are not as durable as lab safety glasses in preventing materials and debris from making contact with the eye. This can include chemicals and hazardous liquids or solids, many which can cause chemical burns and extreme pain if they do make contact with the eye or the delicate skin around the eye. Can I find prescription lab safety glasses that don't look like safety glasses? There are a wide range of styles of prescription and non prescription lab safety glasses that are both stylish as well as provide very comprehensive protection for the eye. There are some styles that look similar to wrap around sun glasses or sports styles of glasses and these may even come in leaded glasses for use in areas with radiation. Certain in-vogue styles are also very popular as are more traditional styles that have fully adjustable frames for a comfortable fit. Safety glasses with side shields typically look a bit more like protective eyewear than those without, but they still are available in a wide range of styles and designs. Customizing the frame color is a great way to add a personal touch and some models offer five or six different colors and patterns in the frames to select from.

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Adjustable Hospital Beds

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

When you are in a position of needing special care in the hospital, nursing home, or even in your own home, there are certain items that you simply can’t do without. Even in the case of being the primary caregiver to a loved one who is seriously injured or suffering from a severe illness or disease, medical supplies become very important aspects of your life in a hurry. One of the biggest things that any home needs when it has a medical patient in it is an adjustable hospital bed. Naturally, you can find these easily in the hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center, but most people don’t have this type of furniture just lying around in most cases. Luckily it’s pretty simple to choose the type of adjustable hospital bed that will best serve your or your loved one’s needs. Take a look at some of the most commonly chosen adjustable hospital beds for a starting point in your quest for the right bed.