#Product Trends
Pressure Switches and Transmitters in Medical Technology
Products and Applications
In medical technology, 100% reliability and functional safety of the devices and components are crucial. In addition to legal requirements for product purity (free of oil, grease and silicone), the focus in terms of fail-safety lies on the use of redundant systems. Our mechanical and electronic pressure and vacuum switches and transmitters have earned an excellent reputation due to their high overpressure safety (up to 4 times), relability and long service life. As a manufacturer "Made in Germany", we guarantee that every single product undergoes a 3-stage quality test before it is put into circulation.
Materials and approvals
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Due to their high temperature and corrosion resistance, pressure switches made of stainless steel are very often used in medical technology.
For monitoring drinking water or media containing water, brass (free of nickel and pollutants) has established itself as a standard in many medical technology products.
For oxygen and water applications SUCO recommends the use of the following EPDM diaphragms only:
* EPDM for general applications (including oxygen). The burnout resistance has been sucessfully tested by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing
* EPDM-TW was designed for drinking water applications according national elastomer guidelines, WRAS, ACS, NSF 61 and for use in medical / pharmaceutical applications
* FKM was successfully tested for biocompatibility (luminescent bacteria test with Vibrio fischeri) in the course of the evaluation for respirators and ventilators
* FFKM fulfils the highest elastomer class and is mainly used in vacuum technology and bioanalysis due to its extremely high temperature and media resistance
* Silicone is approved by the US FDA (Food & Drug Administration) for food and pharmaceutical applications
Anaesthesia and respiratory equipment
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Respiratory equipment is a generic term for a variety of different designs, including mobile devices for rescue services, home ventilation equipment or stationary machines in operating theatres. In intensive care units, ventilators are used to ventilate patients over long periods of time. The ventilators used to treat COVID-19 belong to the class of anesthesia and critical care ventilators.
During an operation, an anesthesia machine takes over the respiratory function (ventilation) of the patient, since the respiratory drive of the patient is often suspended during general anesthesia. An additional painkiller (anaesthetic) is added to the gas mixture - consisting of compressed air, oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) - depending on the operation. Our pressure switches monitor the oxygen supply between the gas socket / connection and the ventilator. When handling oxygen, we only recommend the use of plasma-cleaned pressure switches and transmitters with EPDM membrane.
Disinfection and cleaning systems
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Disinfection and cleaning systems are used in hospitals and medical practices for the sterile cleaning of instruments, tools, cutlery, endoscopes as well as clothes and shoes. The systems are manufactured in various designs, ranging from small tabletop machines for dental practices to large equipment in hospitals.
The machines work similar to a dishwasher with very high temperatures and have the option of using special cleaning liquids and disinfectants to safely remove both mechanical and biological soiling on the instruments.
Autoclaves and sterilizers
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Autoclaves and sterilizers achieve the killing of all reproductive pathogens by heat with steam under high pressure. In order to withstand the high pressures, the chambers are normally built in a barrel shape. Autoclaves usually sterilize at 134°C with a holding time of ~5.5 minutes. The units are first evacuated and then filled with superheated steam. These units sterilize instruments and tools contaminated with germs and viruses in combination with upstream cleaning systems.
Gas supply of medical devices
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In hospitals, the gas and media supply is normally ensured by permanently installed supply lines. SUCO pressure switches and pressure transmitters are used both in the central gas supply for monitoring the pressure of cylinders and in the treatment room behind the gas socket for monitoring medical equipment.
SUCO offers pressure switches suitable for oxygen (O2) also for high pressures. Due to the combustion-promoting effect of oxygen, products in use with oxygen are subject to special restrictions in the choice of materials as well as country-specific approvals and handling regulations. SUCO offers pressure switches approved and tested for oxygen up to 200 bar. One application is, for example, the monitoring of the inlet pressure of ozone analysers in ozone therapy.
