Medical Instruments Trivia Quiz

Answer:

A Deschamps needle is a surgical instrument named after the French surgeon Jean-François Deschamps, who designed it in the 18th century. It is used in medical procedures, particularly in tying off blood vessels or other tubular structures, known as ligature. It has a long, slender shaft with a curved or straight tip, and an eye hole, like a sewing needle, which allows a ligature (suture thread) to pass through. The Deschamps needle was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries, but not so much these days.

A sphygmomanometer, from the Greek words sphygmos (pulse) and manos (pressure), measures blood pressure, an essential device in assessing cardiovascular health. It was invented in 1881 by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch; the modern version with an inflatable cuff was developed by Scipione Riva-Rocci in 1896. In the traditional type, an inflatable cuff is wrapped around the upper arm, while a bulb pump inflates the cuff to apply pressure and temporarily restrict blood flow. A pressure gauge measures the pressure in the cuff, displaying it in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). A valve then controls the deflation of the cuff to measure blood pressure accurately.

The Gamma knife is not actually a knife, but is instead a non-invasive medical device used to treat brain tumors and other neurological conditions in stereotactic radiosurgery. It doesn't make incisions, but it does focus gamma radiation to destroy abnormal tissue surrounding healthy brain tissue.

The cryoprobe is a medical tool used in cryosurgery to freeze and destroy abnormal tissues, such as tumors or warts, using liquid nitrogen or argon gas to get them to extremely low temperatures (as low as -196°C or -320°F). It is inserted either into or against the targeted tissue, and causes cellular death to that abnormal tissue.

The lithotome was an extremely painful, and sometimes lethal, medical instrument used in the 18th century used to remove gall bladder stones through the urethra often without the use of anesthesia. Anesthesia at the time was unreliable; alcohol, opium, and herbal remedies existed, but were woefully ineffective for major surgeries. Ether and chloroform, were more effective but, weren't around until the mid-19th century.

The scarificator is also antiquated and hasn't been a common device since the 18th and 19th centuries. It was a spring-loaded medical instrument with multiple blades and was used for bloodletting. The also antiquated theory of bloodletting, was thought to "balance the four humors" of blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile.

A nebulizer is a medical instrument that administers medication in the form of a mist that is inhaled directly into the lungs. It treats respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and other lung disorders. The liquid medication is placed in a small cup, and compressed air or ultrasonic power converts the liquid medication into a fine mist, that the patient breathes in through a mouthpiece or mask. They're particularly useful to patients who have difficulty using inhalers, such as young children or the elderly.

A speculum is a medical tool used to examine body cavities, particularly the vagina and cervix during gynecological exams. It gently opens and holds apart the walls of a body cavity, so that medical personnel can see and access the area for examination or procedures. A different type of speculum can also be used to examine the ears, nose, and rectum.

The otoscope is a handheld medical device the otologist uses to examine the ear canal and eardrum. Doctors use it to diagnose ear infections, and look for blockages, or other ear-related conditions. The otoscope provides a magnified view of the ear's internal structures, allowing for accurate assessment and diagnosis.

The trephine is a circular saw used in the trepanation/trephination process to drill holes into the skull, in order to relieve pressure or to treat head injuries. It had been used since ancient times, by cultures such as the Inca civilization and medieval European surgeons. Modern medicine of course has much more technologically advanced instruments to perform this task.

The other items are not medical instruments. A selenographer studies or maps the surface and physical features of the Moon. A Halligan bar is used by emergency services (firemen, police, rescue personnel) to access properties by forcible entry. It can break through doors, windows, walls, and is named after Hugh Halligan, a New York City Fire Department deputy chief.

A bone folder is a smooth, flat tool used in bookbinding and paper crafts to crease and fold paper neatly. Typically, it is made from bone, plastic, or Teflon, A chinois is a cone-shaped, fine-mesh strainer used to strain liquids when making a puree or sauce. The sieve removes any seeds, skins, or lumps from soups, sauces, smoothies, custards, etc.

The pacojet is also a culinary tool that has a similar purpose to the chinois. It is used to create very smooth purees, ice creams, sorbets, and by micro-pureeing frozen ingredients. A spinet is a musical instrument, a small, harpsichord or piano, with about a four to five octave range. It was popular from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

The winnower is a farming device that separates the wheat from the chaff.. Grain is first separated from the stalks by beating or crushing the harvested plants; then the mixture is tossed into the air, passes through a winnowing machine, with the lighter chaff blown away by wind, while the heavier grain falls back down.