An appliance, usually mechanical, designed to perform a specific function, such as prosthesis or orthesis. [M.E., fr. O.Fr. devis, fr. L. divisum, divided]
- central-bearing d. in dentistry, a d. which provides a central point of bearing, or support, between upper and lower record bases; it consists of a contacting point which is attached to one base and a plate attached to the other which provides the surface on which the bearing point rests or moves.
- central-bearing tracing d. in dentistry, a central-bearing d. used for making a tracing and/or for support between upper and lower bases.
- contraceptive d. a d. used to prevent pregnancy; e.g., occlusive diaphragm, condom, intrauterine d..
- intrauterine devices (IUD) pieces of plastic or metal of various shapes ( e.g., coil, loop, bow “T”) inserted into the uterus to exert a contraceptive effect. SYN: intrauterine contraceptive devices.
- left-ventricular assist d. mechanical pump inserted at some point in the circulation to parallel the activity of the left ventricle and thereby reduce its load.
- ventricular assist d. any of a variety of mechanical devices that support or replace the pumping function of the left (LVAD) or right ventricle (RVAD). The inflow end of the pump is connected to the ventricle and the outflow end to the aorta (LVAD) or pulmonary artery (RVAD). Most or all of the cardiac output is directed through the d. to allow time for recovery of the patient's damaged heart muscle after myocardial infraction or heart surgery. Also used as “a bridge to transplantation,” i.e., to maintain the patient whose heart will not recover until a donor heart becomes available.
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de·vice di-'vīs n a piece of equipment or a mechanism designed to serve a special purpose or perform a special function
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de·vice (də-vīsґ) something contrived for a specific purpose.Medical dictionary. 2011.