Personal Medical Devices

This is a thin, flexible tube that goes from an easy-to-reach vein to a large vein in your body just above your heart. Your medical team gives you fluids, nutrition and medicine though this tube. They can also sample your blood through this tube without sticking you with another needle. A PICC line can stay in your body for a much longer time than a regular IV.

This device is a small chamber placed beneath the skin of your chest or upper arm. An access port allows your healthcare team to inject medicines and fluids into your bloodstream easily. The port can also be used to take samples of your blood.

A nasogastric tube, also called an "NG tube," is a thin tube that is placed into your nose and is pushed down your esophagus and into your stomach. This procedure is called an "intubation." An NG tube is helpful for patients who can't eat or swallow.