Used in anesthesia, this variant of a T-piece is a coaxial system in which fresh gas flows through a narrow inner tube within the outer corrugated tubing. The patient inspires fresh gas from the outer reservoir tube and expires into the reservoir tube. The fresh gas that is flowing into the system at the time of expiration is wasted as it is contaminated by expired gas, so there is an expiratory pause in which the fresh gas from the inner tube washes the expired gas out of the reservoir tube, filling it with fresh gas for the next inspiration.
bariatric
The branch of medicine which deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity, both pharmacological and surgical. Bariatric medical furniture, such as bariatric chairs and bariatric tables, are designed to accommodate the special needs of overweight or obese people.
bilbao-dotter tube
An intestinal tube placed into the duodenum or jejunum for the performance of various gastrointestinal radiologic studies. The tube is placed with the aid of a stiffening guide wire.
BiPAP
BiPAP stands for Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure. It is a breathing apparatus that helps people get more air into their lungs. The development of BiPAP allowed air delivered through a mask to be set at one pressure for inhaling and another for exhaling. Because of these dual settings, BiPAP allows people to get more air in and out of the lungs without the natural muscular effort needed to do so.
bipolar electrocautery
Also known as diathermy, this is one of the two types of electrocautery. With this type, the active and receiving electrodes are both placed at the site of cauterization. The probe is usually in the shape of a forceps with each tine forming one electrode, cauterizing only the tissue between the electrodes. For information on the other type of electrocautery, see Monopolar Electrocautery.
Blake gallstone forceps
Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure inside the arteries as blood is pushed through the circulatory system. This pressure is highest when the venticles in the heart contract to push blood into the system (measured as the systolic reading, or the top number of blood pressure), and lowest when the venticles are relaxed (measured as the diastolic reading, or the bottom number of blood pressure). Both of these pressures are measured in millimetres of mercury. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. A reading of 140/90 or higher is considered to be high blood pressure (also referred to as hypertension).
bone forceps
Strong forceps used for seizing or removing fragments of bone.
bone plate
A bone plate is a thin metal implant used to immobilize bone segments. The plate is affixed with screws to properly align the bone and aid in the healing process.
bone screw
A bone screw is a metal implant inserted into the bone. Screws are used to immobilize fractured bone segments to aid in the healing process, and as an adjunct to spine fusion surgery to help hold implants in place.
Bonney tissue forceps
A strap-on stethoscope head with a long tube attaching it to the ear-pieces. It fits under a cuff encircling the patient's arm which can be inflated and deflated remotely so that the drapes do not have to be disturbed.
