Instrument |
Uses |
Flow cytometer |
used for automated cell counting as in total blood count, differential count, etc |
Tissue bath or Organ bath or Dale's apparatus |
used in tissue culture experiments mainly in Pharmacology for drugs, etc |
Sahli Haemoglobinometer |
an old but rapid and simple method of hemoglobin estimation in the laboratories. Presently used in some places where sophisticated optical instruments are not available |
Haemocytometer |
a microscope associated apparatus used for manual counting of cells in body fluids like blood, etc including for sperm count |
Wintrobe's Tube |
used for ESR (Wintrobe's method), PCV, haematocrit, etc |
Westergren's tube and ESR stand |
used for ESR (Westergren's method) |
Capillary tubes |
used for capillary method of clotting time estimation |
Urinometer |
used to determine the specific gravity of urine |
Esbach's or other albuminometer |
used to measure the albumin content of urine |
Lumbar puncture needle |
used for puncturing into the spine (or cisterns or fontanelles of a new born) for cerebro-spinal fluid aspiration or for injection drugs, specially anesthetics in spinal blocks, epidurals, etc |
Bone-marrow puncture needle: Shals's, Klima's, Bone marrow biopsy needle, etc |
for puncturing into the cavity of bones containing red bone marrow for its aspiration. Used in diagnostic examinations |
Disposable plastic molds or embedding molds (Leukart's L blocks) for tissue paraffin block making w.r.t. Histopathology |
used to make blocks of tissue for cutting into thin slices for microscopy |
Block holders w.r.t. Histopathology |
used to hold the tissue blocks during cutting |
Microtome: w.r.t. Histopathology |
used to cut the blocks of tissue embedded in paraffin into micro fine slices for miroscopy |
•Rotatory microtome |
-do-; a special type |
•Sliding microtome |
-do-; a special type |
•Freezing microtome |
-do-; a special type |
•Refrigerated microtome (cryostat) |
-do-; a special type that is used during operations to aid the surgeon in demarcating the diseased (specially neoplasms) tissue. |
•Rocking microtome |
-do-; a special type |
•Base sledge microtome |
-do-; a special type |
•Ultra microtome |
-do-; a special type |
Tissue section floating baths w.r.t. Histopathology |
used to spread the cut thin slices onto water using surface tension from where it is placed onto glass slides |
Ryle's tube or Nasogastric tube |
used for nasogastric suction (or at times introduction of food or drugs). vide link |
FNAC needles |
used for fine needle aspiration of material from inside the body; used for diagnostic examinations of the cells hence obtained; vide link |
Trephine biopsy needle[4] |
used for taking a biopsy from a deep hard tissue like bone marrow (within a hard bone) |
Spirometer: |
used to test lung function; vide link |
•Water-seal type |
-do- |
•Douglas bag type |
-do- |
Peak flow meter or Peak expiatory flow rate meter |
used to test lung function by testing the rate at which the person can exhale; useful to diagnose COPD and asthma |
Mercury or other manometers |
used to measure pressure of a fluid within a cavity like the spinal canal, which is raised in certain diseases |
Electrocardiography machine (ECG) |
to read and trace the electrical activity of the heart; vide link |
Sphygmomanometer or blood pressure monitor |
used to record blood pressure |
Blood gas analyzer |
used to analyze and quantify the amount of various gases within blood (diagnostic standard requires blood from an artery). It is a standard intensive care unit or operation theater apparatus |
Calorimeter |
to calculate basal metabolic rate; useful in thyroid diseases; vide link |
•Atwater-Rosa-Benedict respiration chamber |
-do- |
•Benedict-Roth's apparatus with Collin's modification |
-do- (uses a water seal) |
•Ergometer |
-do-; antiquated instrument using a modified bicycle |
•Electronic |
-do-; modern method |
Electroencephalography (EEG) |
to read and trace the electrical activity of the brain; vide link |
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) apparatus |
to replicate a DNA molecule manifolds; used in genetics, DNA fingerprinting from small samples, detection of infective organisms by their DNA, etc |
Ophthalmoscope |
to look at the retina |
Otoscope |
to look into the external ear cavity |
Endoscope |
to look inside the oesophagus, stomach, upper intestines, bile duct, larynx, trachea, bronchi-through the mouth; anal canal, rectum, colon- through anus; used mainly in Surgery or by surgical consultants |
Colposcope |
to look inside the female genitalia, eg. vagina |
Proctoscope |
to look inside anal canal and lower part of the rectum |