Hirtz compass
Hirtz Compass
The Hirtz Compass (pronounced: /hɪrts kʌmpəs/) is a medical instrument used primarily in radiology to locate foreign bodies in soft tissues, especially in the context of wound care and surgery.
Etymology
The Hirtz Compass is named after its inventor, Dr. Jacques Hirtz, a French radiologist who developed the device in the early 20th century. The term "compass" is derived from the Latin compassus, meaning "a circle, circuit, or boundary," reflecting the instrument's function in determining the location of an object within a three-dimensional space.
Function
The Hirtz Compass operates on the principle of triangulation, using X-ray images taken from different angles to calculate the precise location of a foreign body. The compass consists of a mechanical arm that can be adjusted to match the angles of the X-ray images, thereby pinpointing the foreign body's position.
Related Terms
- Radiology: The medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the body.
- Triangulation: The process of determining the location of a point by forming triangles to it from known points.
- X-ray: A form of electromagnetic radiation used in imaging and therapy.
- Surgery: A medical or dental specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate or treat a pathological condition such as a disease or injury.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hirtz compass
- Wikipedia's article - Hirtz compass
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