Medical monitor

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Medical monitor as used in anesthesia

A medical monitor is an automated medical electronic device that measures a patient's vital signs and displays the data so obtained, which may or may not be transmitted on a monitoring network.

Monitors may be classified as

1. Handheld
2. Portable
3. Tabletop
4. Networkable / non-networkable
5. Mains powered or mains + battery powered

In critical care units of hospitals, it allows continuous monitoring of a patient, with medical staff being continuously informed of the changes in general condition of a patient.

Old patient monitors resembled oscilloscopes and computer monitors and use superficially similar technology. However, medical monitors have been safety engineered so that failures are either apparent or unimportant.^{[citation needed]}

Some monitors (for example ECG and EEG) have an electrical contact with the patient. There are strict limits on how much current and voltage can be applied, even if the unit fails or becomes wet.^{[citation needed]} They must typically withstand electrical defibrillation without damage.

In the past, medical monitors tended to be highly specialized. One monitor would track a patient's blood pressure, while another would measure pulse oximetry. Today the trend is toward multi-parameter monitors that can track many different vital signs at once.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Medical equipment
• Medical test
• BIS monitor
• Pulse oximeter

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