Medical Equipment Glossary: Hospital Terms Explained Simply

Buying equipment means reading quotes full of terms like 5 para, Class B, DES or CMC. This glossary explains 68 of the most common ones in plain words, with a link to our detailed guide for each.

This glossary covers 68 medical equipment terms used by Indian hospitals and clinics, grouped into critical care, newborn and maternity, operation theatre, hospital setup, renal care, cardiac care, laboratory, aesthetics, and buying rules. Each term has a short, plain definition and a link to a Pulse buying guide.

A to Z: 12-channel ECG · 3-part and 5-part hematology analyzer · 5-function ICU bed · AMC and CMC · Anaesthesia workstation · Autoclave · AV fistula needle · Bed head panel · Biochemistry analyzer · Blood gas (ABG) analyser · Blood tubing set (blood lines) · Cath lab · CDSCO · CE marking · Class B autoclave · Clinical Establishments Act · Cost per test · Crash cart · Cryolipolysis · CSSD · Day care surgery · Defibrillator · Delivery table · Device risk class (A to D) · Dialyser · Dialyser reuse · Diode laser hair removal · Drug-coated balloon (DCB) · Drug-eluting stent (DES) · Fowler and Semi-Fowler bed · GeM · Guidewire · Haemodialysis catheter · Haemodialysis machine · HEPA filter and air changes · HIFEM · ICU ventilator · Inflation device · Infusion pump · Instrument trolley · Introducer sheath · IPL · ISO 13485 · LDR room · Mayo trolley · Medical gas pipeline (MGPS) · Modular OT · Multipara monitor · NABH · Non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP) · NPPA ceiling price · OEM · OT light (shadowless light) · OT table · Peritoneal dialysis (PD) · Phototherapy · Picosecond laser · PSA oxygen plant · PTCA balloon · Radiant warmer · RF microneedling · RO water plant · SNCU and NICU · Stretcher trolley · Syringe pump · Transducer protector · Transport ventilator · Triage

Critical care

Multipara monitor

A bedside monitor that shows several vital signs at once, such as ECG, oxygen level (SpO2), blood pressure, breathing rate and temperature. A 5 para monitor shows five of these; a 7 para monitor adds two more, often EtCO2 and invasive blood pressure. More on Multipara monitor →

ICU ventilator

A machine that breathes for a patient who cannot breathe well enough alone, through a tube in the airway. ICU models offer many modes and close monitoring of pressure and volume. More on ICU ventilator →

Non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP)

Breathing support given through a tight face or nose mask instead of a tube in the airway. It is often used for COPD flare-ups and to avoid putting a patient on a full ventilator. More on Non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP) →

Transport ventilator

A small, battery-powered ventilator used to move a ventilated patient, for example from the emergency department to the ICU or between hospitals. More on Transport ventilator →

Syringe pump

A pump that pushes a syringe at a very steady, set rate. It is used for small volumes of strong drugs, such as sedatives and drugs that support blood pressure. More on Syringe pump →

Infusion pump

A pump that gives IV fluids and drugs from a bag at a set rate, with alarms for air in the line or a blocked line. More on Infusion pump →

Defibrillator

A device that gives an electric shock to the heart to stop a dangerous rhythm. Hospital models also show the ECG; an AED is a simpler automatic version for public places. More on Defibrillator →

Crash cart

A trolley with drawers that keeps emergency drugs, airway kit and resuscitation supplies in one place, ready to wheel to a patient in cardiac arrest. More on Crash cart →

Blood gas (ABG) analyser

A machine that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide and acidity in a blood sample within minutes. ICUs and emergency departments use it to guide ventilation and treatment. More on Blood gas (ABG) analyser →

12-channel ECG

An ECG machine that records the heart's electrical activity from 12 views at once. It is the standard test for heart attacks and rhythm problems. More on 12-channel ECG →

Triage

Sorting patients by how sick they are, so the sickest are treated first. Many Indian emergency departments use red, yellow and green zones. More on Triage →

Newborn and maternity

Radiant warmer

An open bed for a newborn with an overhead heater that keeps the baby warm while staff can still reach the baby easily. Servo models adjust the heat using a skin sensor. More on Radiant warmer →

SNCU and NICU

An SNCU (Special Newborn Care Unit, Level II) gives warmth, oxygen, CPAP, phototherapy and IV fluids. A NICU (Level III) adds ventilators and round-the-clock neonatologists. More on SNCU and NICU →

Phototherapy

Treatment of newborn jaundice with blue light, which helps the body break down bilirubin. More on Phototherapy →

LDR room

A labour, delivery and recovery room, where the mother stays from active labour until a few hours after birth instead of moving between rooms. More on LDR room →

Delivery table

A table for childbirth with sections that lower or tilt and supports for the legs. Manual, hydraulic and electric models are available. More on Delivery table →

Operation theatre

OT table

The operating table. Sections and tilts move the patient into the right position for each surgery. Hydraulic tables use a foot pump; electric tables use motors. More on OT table →

OT light (shadowless light)

A bright ceiling or mobile light that lights the wound from several angles, so the surgeon's hands and head do not cast shadows. More on OT light (shadowless light) →

Anaesthesia workstation

A machine that mixes oxygen and anaesthetic gases, breathes for the patient during surgery and monitors gas levels. More on Anaesthesia workstation →

Modular OT

An operating theatre built from factory-made wall and ceiling panels, with clean air systems, sealed lighting and pendants fitted as one system. More on Modular OT →

HEPA filter and air changes

HEPA filters remove very fine particles from the air entering an OT. Air changes per hour is how many times the room air is replaced each hour; higher numbers keep the air cleaner. More on HEPA filter and air changes →

Mayo trolley

A single tray on a stand that slides over the patient and holds the instruments the surgeon is using right now. More on Mayo trolley →

Instrument trolley

A trolley with shelves that holds the full set of sterile instruments and supplies beside the OT table. SS 304 steel is the usual choice for OTs. More on Instrument trolley →

Autoclave

A steam steriliser that kills germs on instruments with steam under pressure. Types include portable, vertical, horizontal and tabletop. More on Autoclave →

Class B autoclave

An autoclave that pulls air out of the chamber with a vacuum before steaming, so steam reaches inside wrapped, hollow and porous items. More on Class B autoclave →

CSSD

The Central Sterile Services Department, where used instruments are cleaned, packed and sterilised for the whole hospital. More on CSSD →

Day care surgery

Planned surgery where the patient goes home the same day, such as cataract, hernia or endoscopy. More on Day care surgery →

Hospital setup

Medical gas pipeline (MGPS)

A network of copper pipes that carries oxygen, medical air, nitrous oxide and vacuum from a central plant to outlets at each bed and OT. More on Medical gas pipeline (MGPS) →

Bed head panel

A wall panel above a bed with gas outlets, power sockets, lights and a nurse call button in one unit. More on Bed head panel →

PSA oxygen plant

A machine that makes oxygen on site by separating it from air (pressure swing adsorption), so a hospital relies less on cylinders. More on PSA oxygen plant →

Fowler and Semi-Fowler bed

Hospital beds with a back section that lifts. A Semi-Fowler bed raises only the back-rest; a full Fowler bed raises the back-rest and the knee-rest. More on Fowler and Semi-Fowler bed →

5-function ICU bed

An ICU bed that adjusts the back-rest, knee-rest and height, and also tilts the whole bed head-down or head-up. It can be worked by hand crank or motor. More on 5-function ICU bed →

Stretcher trolley

A wheeled stretcher used to move patients between wards, OT, X-ray and the emergency department. More on Stretcher trolley →

Renal care

Haemodialysis machine

A machine that pumps blood through a filter (dialyser) to remove waste and extra fluid when the kidneys fail, while making and warming the dialysis fluid. More on Haemodialysis machine →

Dialyser

The filter used in haemodialysis, also called an artificial kidney. Blood flows through thousands of thin fibres and waste passes into the dialysis fluid outside them. More on Dialyser →

Dialyser reuse

Cleaning and reusing a dialyser for the same patient. India's dialysis programme guidelines allow limited reuse but not for patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV. More on Dialyser reuse →

Blood tubing set (blood lines)

The arterial and venous tubes that carry blood from the patient to the dialyser and back. A new set is used for every session. More on Blood tubing set (blood lines) →

AV fistula needle

The needles used to connect a patient's fistula (a joined artery and vein in the arm) to the blood lines. Sizes run from 15G to 17G. More on AV fistula needle →

Haemodialysis catheter

A tube placed in a large vein, usually in the neck, to give dialysis when the patient has no working fistula yet. More on Haemodialysis catheter →

Transducer protector

A small filter between the blood lines and the dialysis machine's pressure sensors that stops blood and fluid reaching the machine. More on Transducer protector →

RO water plant

A reverse osmosis water system that makes the ultra-pure water a dialysis unit needs to prepare dialysis fluid. More on RO water plant →

Peritoneal dialysis (PD)

Dialysis done inside the body, using the lining of the belly as the filter. Patients can often do it at home. More on Peritoneal dialysis (PD) →

Cardiac care

Drug-eluting stent (DES)

A small metal mesh tube placed in a narrowed heart artery to hold it open. It slowly releases a drug that lowers the chance of the artery narrowing again. More on Drug-eluting stent (DES) →

NPPA ceiling price

The maximum price, set by India's National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, that can be charged for coronary stents. More on NPPA ceiling price →

PTCA balloon

A small balloon on a catheter that is inflated inside a narrowed heart artery to open it during angioplasty. Non-compliant (NC) balloons keep their size at high pressure. More on PTCA balloon →

Drug-coated balloon (DCB)

A PTCA balloon coated with a drug that passes into the artery wall during inflation, so no stent is left behind. More on Drug-coated balloon (DCB) →

Guidewire

A thin wire placed in the vessel first, over which sheaths, catheters, balloons and stents slide. Coronary wires are 0.014 inch; access wires are often 0.035 inch. More on Guidewire →

Introducer sheath

A short tube placed in the artery at the wrist or groin that lets catheters go in and out without further damage to the vessel. More on Introducer sheath →

Inflation device

A syringe with a pressure gauge used to inflate and deflate angioplasty balloons and stents to an exact pressure. More on Inflation device →

Cath lab

A room with X-ray imaging where heart tests and treatments such as angiography, angioplasty and stenting are done through catheters. More on Cath lab →

Laboratory

3-part and 5-part hematology analyzer

Machines that count blood cells for a CBC. A 3-part analyser sorts white cells into three groups; a 5-part analyser sorts them into five. More on 3-part and 5-part hematology analyzer →

Biochemistry analyzer

A machine that measures substances such as sugar, cholesterol, urea and liver enzymes in blood. Semi-automatic models need more hands-on steps than fully automatic ones. More on Biochemistry analyzer →

Cost per test

The running cost of one lab test, mainly reagents, controls and calibrators, plus a share of service and power. More on Cost per test →

Aesthetics

Diode laser hair removal

A laser that heats the hair root to slow regrowth. An 810 nm diode laser with long pulses suits skin types IV and V, which are common in India. More on Diode laser hair removal →

Picosecond laser

A laser that fires extremely short pulses to break up tattoo ink and pigment with less heat in the skin. More on Picosecond laser →

HIFEM

High-intensity focused electromagnetic technology that makes muscles contract strongly, used for body sculpting. More on HIFEM →

Cryolipolysis

Controlled cooling of fat under the skin, used to reduce stubborn fat without surgery. More on Cryolipolysis →

RF microneedling

Fine needles that enter the skin and release radiofrequency heat, used for acne scars and skin tightening. More on RF microneedling →

IPL

Intense pulsed light, a broad-spectrum light used for pigment, redness and hair reduction. It is not a laser. More on IPL →

Buying and rules

CDSCO

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India's national regulator for medical devices. It licenses device makers and importers. More on CDSCO →

Device risk class (A to D)

Under India's Medical Devices Rules 2017, devices are grouped by risk: Class A low, Class B low to moderate, Class C moderate to high and Class D high risk. More on Device risk class (A to D) →

ISO 13485

The international quality management standard for companies that design and make medical devices. More on ISO 13485 →

CE marking

A mark showing a device meets European Union safety and performance rules. Many Indian buyers ask for it as extra proof of quality. More on CE marking →

GeM

The Government e-Marketplace, the online portal where government hospitals buy equipment and consumables. More on GeM →

AMC and CMC

Service contracts after warranty. An AMC (annual maintenance contract) usually covers labour and checks; a CMC (comprehensive maintenance contract) also covers spare parts. More on AMC and CMC →

OEM

Original equipment manufacturer: the company that actually makes a device, which may be sold under its own brand or another company's brand. More on OEM →

NABH

The National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers, which accredits hospitals that meet its quality standards. Medical devices are covered under its FMS.5 standard. More on NABH →

Clinical Establishments Act

The 2010 central law for registering hospitals, clinics and day care centres and setting minimum standards. Many states have adopted it or have their own laws. More on Clinical Establishments Act →

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