MediCal eQUiPMeNT Unlike medical devices in a clinical setting, home
medical devices cannot be designed with the assumption that there is a trained operator on site that can use tested outlets and equipment according to a set procedure. As a result, safety precautions must be built into the device design itself. One way to improve patient safety is to
incorporate an isolation transformer to step down the voltage going into the device, similar to the “brick” used to step down voltage for a smartphone charger. But isolation transformers are notorious for being big, bulky and expensive, which works against the goal of miniaturization for home medical devices.
SAFeTy VeRSUS MINIATURISATION So, what is the solution to ensuring safety without the need for bulky and expensive technology? It starts by designing devices within a systems approach. For instance, it is not sufficient to create a
heater that runs at 95 microamps leakage so that it can be incorporated into a device that must be rated to run under 100. Although this type of heater would meet the given specification, it would take up most of the available leakage budget. Adequate heater design of the entire thermal system must take into consideration these difficult system level requirements.
DeSIgNINg heATeRS WITh A SySTeMS APPROACh A new generation of thermal solutions are being used to ensure safety and economy of space especially in home haemodialysis machines and respiratory devices. With haemodialysis machines, it is necessary to
keep blood at body temperature to prevent thermal shock. Higher temperatures are also needed to disinfect the machine itself. Watlow’s FLUENT in-line heater can achieve the desired temperatures quickly and efficiently, while meeting space and safety constraints. This is attributed to the small, lightweight design, which acts as an integrated solution that replaces multiple components in a system Furthermore, Watlow’s heating technology also
improves respiratory solutions where a high flow of oxygen must be maintained, like in COPD devices. The compressed gases tend to be cold and dry, creating irritation and often, patient rejection. Watlow’s ULTRAMIC heater can be used to warm and humidify the gas quickly without requiring a large transformer or bulky heating elements. Today, home medical devices must meet higher
safety standards, while maintaining a small user- friendly, light weight design. But to achieve this, components must be designed with a systems approach in mind. This involves using thermal components that optimise devices by making them smaller, lighter and with greater thermal performance that makes use for the patient easier and more comfortable.
Watlow
www.watlow.com
UKManufacturing Winter 2022
specialist Intertronics has introduced the Dymax 2000-MW series of medical wearables adhesives and encapsulants. The series is the first dedicated, light-curable adhesive product line to be specifically formulated without common skin irritants and materials of concern for medical wearable and electronics applications. All adhesives in the range are
T
compliant with ISO 10993-5 for cytotoxicity, with some grades available that also meet ISO10993-10 for sensitisation and irritation. Notably, all materials in the 2000-MW range are formulated without isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), a known skin irritant, and TPO, a photoinitiator and material of concern. Light curable materials bring a whole
host of process and cost advantages during wearable device assembly. These adhesives cure in seconds “on demand” on exposure to the correct wavelength of visible and/or UV light, increasing throughput, reducing work in progress and reducing costs. A 100 per cent solids, 100 per cent solvent-free, single part formulation simplifies and reduces cost of handling, processing, and dispensing, while minimising environmental impact and improving worker safety. Applications include coating and
encapsulation of RFID chips or sensor housing assemblies, as well as wire and flex tracking, needle-to-hub bonding, and
adhesives for wearables
o help manufacturers of wearable devices adapt to industry trends and customer requirements, adhesives and dispensing equipment
general assembly bonding. The materials form a reliable bond to many commonly- used plastics and have dependable performance against moisture and shock, and can therefore be considered for a wide range of products, including smart monitoring devices such as continuous glucose monitors, pain management devices, sleep monitoring products, and hearing aids, alongside many others. “Any products that come into proximity
with the skin are under increased scrutiny,” explained Ben Swanson, sales manager at Intertronics. “In the highly regulated and rapidly growing wearables market, manufacturers can future-proof their products and avoid costly product recalls and redesigns by choosing adhesives that they know to be safe and compliant with relevant regulations. This new Dymax series of adhesives gives manufacturers some additional peace of mind that the product will be safe for users.” Intertronics offers two formulations in
the series. Dymax 2101-MW-UR is ideal for the general bonding of medical wearables, offering strong adhesion to a variety of substrates including PC, PVC, and TPU. It also features patented Ultra-Red fluorescing technology for instant in-line quality control. Dymax 2022-MW is a versatile general bonding adhesive, coating, and electronics encapsulant with minimised water ingression and extremely low water absorption of 0.5 per cent. It bonds well to stainless steel, aluminium, glass and PCBs.
Intertronics
www.intertronics.co.uk
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