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Basics Of Battery Packs For Medical Equipment

By Deborah Roberts


There are many instances in which backup power source for devices at a hospital or health facility might be needed. Say there is a blackout. Or there is a need for extra devices to be set up because the facility is past capacity. Battery packs for medical equipment then come in handy to help save lives. They become the saving grace in emergency situations. More so in remote areas and war zones.

Though not very common in medicine, the Zinc-air is one type of cell used to run such devices. The science is actually quite smart and therefore makes the production cost very low. For that reason, this could very well be the cheapest option. The cells pull oxygen from the air and oxidize the zinc in there. The only issue is that it has a short life.

Another type is Lithium iodide. This is considered to be the standard cell in medicine. It uses lithium as an anode and has a long charge life. That makes it quite suitable for devices such as the pacemaker. It can be used for up to 15 years without requiring replacement. It may also be quite expensive. Another type is the NiCad. This is fading out though and is only used in rare occasions where necessary. However, new and modern options are being discovered.

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.

As a layman, one will usually be interested in one thing. The charge life. How long will the charge keep? How long will the device run on the cell only? Is it long enough? Is there some sort of mechanism that allows for a backup cell to be attached?

Some cells do not require manual charging. Especially those that are only in place as backup power sources. If the batteries require manual charging, someone should have the responsibility to ensure they remain fully charged at all times. The same person should ensure to keep extras.




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