The capabilities of Medical Instruments for Patient Monitoring and Therapy have advanced dramatically with the use of powerful and low power microprocessors. Portable and disposable equipment has simplified many disagnostic and treatment processes. For example, portable automatic Defibrillators are now available in many airports and public buildings. Hospital equipment like Ventilators and Electrocardiogram machines are smaller, less expensive and easier to use. Even traditional equipment like the simple stethoscope have gone digital to improve diagnostics and provide a record of examination data.
Lower cost and higher performance electronics processing has dramatically improved Patient Monitoring so that collecting data on patient health is more pervasive and effective. Even the traditional stethoscope is now digital so that monitoring data can be easily recorded, saved and retreived for more detailed trend analysis.
Patient Therapy has become more efficient as well as digital processing techniques are used to create automated equipment to assist with treatment. Equipment for operations like ventillation and defibrilation can more easily respond to patient needs, track progress and initiate activity optimally without expert operators required. Equipment is now available for a variety of conditions like sleep apnea or diabedies that can also improve patient health outside of a hospital environment.