Medical equipment in Columbia is designed to aid in the diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions. Innovations in medical technology have produced numerous appliances and instruments that have been essential in diagnosis, treatment, prevention of diseases and rehabilitation of patients. Modern medicine requires and utilizes numerous such instruments for medical purposes, which can be as simple as a scalpel or sutures, to as complex as a respirator or a dialyser. These devices in Columbia are usually designed with rigorous safety standards. There are several basic types: 'Diagnostic' equipment, used to aid in diagnosis, would include ultrasound and MRI machines,PET, CT scanners and x-ray machines;'Therapeutic' equipment like lasers and surgical machines;'Life Support' equipment like ventilators, heart-lung machines, and dialysis machines; medical monitors and medical laboratory equipment. Some well-known equipment supplying companies are Johnson & Johnson, Cameron Health, Philips, Getting Group, etc. The equipment mentioned above are mostly supplied in hospitals in Columbia. Certain medical equipment are specially designed to be used by patients at home.

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Frankenveggies and the Monsanto Protection Act

  Buried in the recently-passed  HR 933, a spending bill designed to prevent the shutdown of the United States government on March 27, is section 735, a provision that should have everyone who consumes commercially-grown food in this country up in arms and contacting his or her Congressional representatives. Officially titled the Farmer Assurance Provision but popularly called the “Monsanto Protection Act,”..