Medical Cables

Medical Cables



Medical cables are the electrical cables used in hospitals, clinics, laboratories and other medical facilities. These cables are used to connect various medical devices, apparatus and laboratory equipment. These devices are used for patient monitoring and other medical applications.

Medical Cable


Features of Medical Cables
Though the medical cables are used in normal environment at normal temperature but even though they should have certain general features and properties.

* Medical Cables should be able to withstand the general wear and tear.
* Medical Cables should be able to bear high abrasion, high tension, and high temperature.
* Medical Cables should have an scratch resistant cover which should be able to provide relatively low surface friction.
* Medical Cables should be mechanically durable.


Materials used in Medical Cables
Medical Cables are designed and manufactured in such a way that it should perform consistently and reliably in different environments. Cables specially made for medical applications are complex, heavily regulated so that they could perform even after continuous repeated exposures to several sterilization processes, including autoclave, ETO, gamma, e-beam, and high level disinfectants and sterilants. The selection of materials for insulation, tape-shield laminate, and jacket should be appropriate.

* PVC
* Polyurethanes
* Polypropylenes

Specifications for Medical Cables
Medical cables should be resistant to discoloration and they should be highly flexible. Important specifications for medical cables include:

* Conductor range: The conductors used in medical cables are generally copper. But in some applications aluminum and other materials are also used.

* Shielding: Shielding of medical cables is necessary to keep the conductors away and avoid the interference from each other.

* Insulation: The insulation of medical cables is a very important for their long life and proper functioning. The materials used for insulation in these cables include PVC, polyurethane, and other plastics.

* Plating: Some medical cables also require the plating of conductors for the proper functioning of devices and equipment.

* Jacket material: The material used for jacketing the cables should be durable and long lasting.


Applications of Medical Cables
Medical cables are made for use in medical fields in a variety of devices and instruments. They are applicable in health care, medical, and laboratory applications. Some of the cables are used with wearable therapeutic devices and laboratory analysis equipment. The most common and widely used devices and instruments are:

* Electronic catheters
* Patient monitoring systems
* Ultrasound equipment
* ECG machines
* Ultrasound machines
* Heart rate monitors
* Defibrillator
* Fetal monitors

Medical Fiber Optics Cables
Fiber optics have been one of the most important materials used in the medical field for years. Its physical characteristics automatically make it a natural option for various applications. The fiber optic cables are usually used for illumination, light conductors, flexible light guides, laser delivery systems, flexible image bundles, and other similar uses. Fiber optics offer a very compact and flexible passage for light or data delivery in surgical equipment and instrumentation applications.

Applications of fiber optics cables
The traditional and common medical fiber optic uses include a myriad of applications:

* Light therapy
* X-ray imaging
* Ophthalmic lasers
* Lab and clinical diagnostics
* Dental hand pieces
* Surgical and diagnostic instrumentation
* Endoscopy
* Surgical microscopy

Medical Cables: Flexibility and flex life

* Flexibility and flex life are two different things but both of them are equally important for the proper functioning and long term working of medical cables. Medical cables should be flexible as well as should also have sufficient flex life.

* Flexibility defines the cables ability to remain supple and soft while flex life is cable's proficiency to perform consistently even after continuous flexing cycles operating at high speeds and for millions of repetitions.

* Flex life is not of so much importance for disposable or limited-use applications. For flexural survival different specifications are needed to be considered like elasticity, material's coefficient of friction, and flex modulus.

* Certain other things which are important for improving the medical cables flex life are special tapes and laminates, the helical lay of primary components, sub assemblies, tapes, and fillers. The extrusion technique, pressure, semi-pressure, and tube techniques also effects on flexural characteristics of extruded materials.