device, medical

device, medical Broadly defined, any physical item used in medical treatment, from a heart pacemaker to a wheelchair. In insurance parlance, medical device is usually synonymous with assistive device, although it may include items more frequently thought of as medical supplies, such as dressings needed for wound care at home or syringes for self-administration of insulin. Medical devices are not covered by most insurance policies, although they may be available through supplemental insurance or, in some cases, on an inexpensive rental basis through hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies. See also assistive device.