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Basics
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Summary
A medical device is any product used to diagnose, cure, or treat a condition, or to prevent disease. They range from small and simple, like a blood glucose meter, to large and complicated, like a ventilator. You might use one at home or at work, or you may need one in a hospital.
To use medical devices safely:
- Know how your device works. Keep instructions close by
- Understand and properly respond to device alarms
- Have a back-up plan and supplies in the event of an emergency
- Keep emergency numbers available and update them as needed
- Educate your family and caregivers about your device
Food and Drug Administration
Related Issues
- Medical Device Safety Communications (Food and Drug Administration)
- MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program (Food and Drug Administration)
Specifics
- Full-Body CT Scans: What You Need to Know (Food and Drug Administration)
- Home Healthcare Medical Devices: A Checklist (Food and Drug Administration)
- Needles and Other Sharps (Safe Disposal Outside of Health Care Settings) (Food and Drug Administration)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Equipment and Supplies
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Patient Handouts
- Handling sharps and needles (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Home Healthcare Medical Devices: A Checklist (Food and Drug Administration)
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.