Basics Of Battery Packs For Medical Equipment

By Deborah Roberts


Imagine responding to an emergency but being unable to do a simple life-saving test or procedure because there is no power to run the device? Imagine someone dying because their pacemaker cell is damaged? Battery packs for medical equipment are quite literally agents in life and death scenes. The cells enable portability and use of the devices when the main power is out.

One common type of cells is called Zinc air. This is just a cell that oxidizes zinc with oxygen from the air. Experts say that as long as the cell is kept in an airtight package, it has a shelf life of up to three years. As soon as it gets exposed to the air, degradation starts. This may be thought to be one of the cheapest options out there. It replaced the mercury zinc oxide cells which were banned by legislation.

With a longer shelf and charge life is the lithium iodide cell. This is more expensive. It is also quite commonly used in medicine. It may be considered by some as the standard. A third but fading type is the Nickel Cadmium cell. This is being phased out as better options are discovered. Except of course in situations where it is absolutely necessary to use this.

One of the key components of cells and their suitability for any device is the chemistry. The chemistry determines whether the cells will run that device efficiently. Chemistry will also determine how long it will stay in use. The chemistry might also compromise the device itself. That is if it is not appropriately analyzed. One aspect of chemistry is the internal resistance. This is a phenomenon that causes the cell to heat up excessively and causing a drop in voltage, therefore, causing a shortcoming in functionality.

The consensus is that cells operate at optimum capacity in room temperature. However, a higher ambient temperature has been found to have a positive impact on the performance of the cell. On the other hand, over time the battery structure will be compromised and therefore break down. The cell should not be prone to excessive heating. One should ensure to let the expert know if the cells will be used in areas with extreme temperatures. This can be remedied.

Ever had two different phones that charged at completely different speeds? One will be all filled up and ready to go within an hour. The other will take up to four hours to get to 100%. The same is true for these kinds of cells. Fast charging is good until the consequent chemical and physical changes cause a decrease in performance in the long term.

The bottom line is that one should go for a cell that holds power for a long time. One that can run the device for as long as possible. Remember these are used in life and death situations. It is best if they can provide service for longer rather than the alternative.

As a reminder, try to keep these cells fully charged and ready to go at all times. Have extras too. A cell could have degraded in the chaos of a trauma. An important tip, read the instructions on the packaging. These are good at guiding the use of the batteries and ensuring longevity.




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