me 128 hw3 - Wai Cheong Tam ME 128 HW#3 1 Dialysis is not primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function due to renal

Wai Cheong Tam ME 128 HW#3 1) Dialysis is not primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function due to renal failure, but it may also be used for very sick patients who have suddenly but temporarily, lost their kidney function or for quite stable patients who have permanently lost their kidney function. There are differences in expectations for medical devices such as dialysis equipment to be used in the clinic versus in the home. In the clinics, doctors and nurses are always well trained that they are capable and have full understanding on operating the dialysis equipment. The dialysis equipment can be complex and it will have more advanced features because doctors and nurses may need some features to inspect and cure patients. Due to having more features, the dialysis equipment is going to be huge and they are usually stationary. In contrast, the dialysis equipment, used at home, is needed to have a less complex design the users are not necessary well trained. This makes that easier for them to use the dialysis equipment. Also, the dialysis is need to be smaller size because it would allow users to move in or out to the room. Lastly and most importantly, the unit should have a power backup system because it can be life threatening when the device is not operating. According to the textbook, the environment for dialysis equipment use is considered a human factor; while the users are operating the system, they are experiencing lighting, noise level, temperature, criticality of the operation and the amount of stress. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialysis 2) Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure, so having blood pressure checks is significant. Blood pressure can be measured by medical instruments such as sphygmomanometer at home or plethysmography in the clinic. The users can use the sphygmomanometers to check their blood pressure daily or several times a day. They can also record readings of blood pressure and heart rate and they can give the results to the doctor to get some analysis. The expectations for blood pressure determination in the clinic can be very different. In the clinic, doctors or nurses would use a more accurate and a more precise medical instrument such as plethysmography to measure patients’ blood pressure. Admittedly, the device will give more accurate results than sphygmomanometer (home testing); doctors do not only use plethysmography to check your blood pressure, but they also compares the systolic blood pressure of the lower extremity to the upper extremity from the tests to help rule out disease that blocks the arteries in the extremities.