The technology encountered in intensive therapy, coronary care, special care baby units, operating departments and, accident and emergency departments demands a source of reference for specialist nurses in working in these areas . The book describes individual elements such as electrodes, transducers, humidifiers and builds up to complete systems such as patient monitors, incubators and ventilators. Current equipment is described and illustrated. Understanding is needed of both the basic principles involved and the functions available in order for the operator to obtain the optimum use from the equipment. The equipment described in the book is in use internationally. The aims of the book are to: familiarize the nurse with the developments in technology in order to help to optimise nursing care for the patient, and to relieve some of the stress of using so much 'smart, supportive technology in terms of the increasing capacity for data acquisition, storage and manipulation. Nurses will welcome this companion guide and it will be used by many others in the field, including managers in all disciplines, technicians and engineers.