Twistable cables for hand-pieces in hospitals reduce malfunctions
Heavy loads due to torsion and cleaning: no problem for chainflex robot cables
Hand-pieces that communicate with a console via electrical cables or hose lines are often used for medical accessories. This connection is particularly vulnerable - continuous, often extreme movements, tension and twisting can cause the cables to break. The costs for repair and maintenance are high, but can be reduced by improving the mechanical stress. The provider opted for igus® chainflex® cables with absolutely convincing results: the rate of defective cables or possible malfunctions has been significantly reduced, while the products are resistant to chemical substances used for cleaning medical devices. igus® has thus helped BIOSET achieve a decisive breakthrough.Profile
- What was needed: Twistable robot cables from the chainflex cable range
- Requirements: the cables had to withstand heavy loads in the form of high tension, torsion, pressure or crushing as well as constant cleaning in hospitals. High reliability of the electromagnetic shielding and dielectric strength were also required.
- Industry: medical equipment
- Success for the customer: chainflex robotic cables were able to significantly reduce breakage and fault rates, increase the reliability of the connection system, lower maintenance and repair costs and improve customer satisfaction.
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Problem
This application focussed on cables and hoses for use in hospitals. In the patient rooms, they are responsible for supplying energy and pneumatics and are attached to applications that are worn by the patients on their hands. Signals can be transmitted from the hand-piece to the control panel of electromedical devices in order to operate them remotely and comfortably.In some cases, the cables have to reach distant console areas and are subjected to particularly high loads due to strong and rapid movements. These lead to high tension, torsion, pressure and crushing of the cables. In addition, the cleaning and aseptic methods used in the healthcare sector lead to premature wear of cable insulation, insulation cracks, cable breaks etc. Another important aspect concerns the reliability of electromagnetic shielding and dielectric strength. Current standards demand high performance from medical devices and their accessories in terms of their electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility. Until now, it was not possible to fulfil these high requirements for mechanical resistance to chemical substances, compatibility and safety (insulation and dielectric strength) with the desired efficiency.
Solution
A new, more suitable solution was needed for this particular problem. This is where the decision-makers at BIOSET found what they were looking for in our twistable chainflex robot cables.These were initially assessed regarding the most critical problem, which was the high failure rate of the cable connecting the devices and their hand-pieces. The chainflex cables have significantly reduced breakage and fault rates, achieved a high level of customer satisfaction, increased the reliability of the connection system and ultimately lowered maintenance and repair costs. The major problems associated with the chemical influence of cleaning substances and asepsis on the cables have been virtually eliminated.
To BIOSET's great satisfaction, the chainflex robotic cables passed all resistance tests against mechanical stress, chemical attacks and electrical safety (dielectric strength and insulation quality) in the laboratory tests for product certification with flying colours. They combine high performance in terms of electromagnetic compatibility with excellent performance in all EMI tests. This meant that the chainflex products were approved for all of the customer's product lines and were also used in all devices that had already been manufactured before the approval. The increased reliability and reduction in the error rate brought added value to the company and a higher perception of value to the end customer, which improves customer loyalty and encourages people to purchase BIOSET products in future.
