SPOTLIGHT
Serial and Bluetooth products
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Serial RS-232/422/485 and Bluetooth products available from an electronics firm are suited for a variety of laboratory and medical applications. The company’s RS-422/485 serial cards have been used for patient monitoring and in medical testing and research laboratories to link peripherals such as DNA, blood, and chromatography analyzers as well as oscilloscopes to PCs. A PCMCIA card available from the company can connect laboratory equipment to laptops that are not fitted with an RS-422/485 port. The manufacturer is a certified partner with Microsoft and develops its own core technologies, including USB, CompactFlash, PCMCIA, RS-232, and PCI products. External test houses are used to verify that the company’s products are compliant to relevant standards. The electronics firm’s manufacturing facility is certified to ISO 9001:2000. Brainboxes Ltd., Liverpool, UK.
Pressure transmitters
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A series of pressure transmitters has been designed for industrial applications in processing, measurement systems, and pressure control. The pressure transmitters house both sensor and electronics in a cylinder that weighs approximately 30 g. With high overpressure possible, the transmitters can be used in harsh conditions. The EPT1000 transmitters are available with support for 0- to 600-bar pressure ranges, 4–20-mA or 0–10-V outputs, G1–4 standard pressure ports, and mini DIN connectors. Custom units can be developed with options such as pressure ports, AMP Superseal, or DIN 72484. Elettrotec Srl., Milan, Italy.
Plug-in power supplies and chargers
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A company offers plug-in power supplies and chargers that support a power range of 8–80 W. The devices’ ≤10-µA leakage current satisfies the EN 60601-1 Class CF standard for medical technology. The firm also supplies industry-standard and client-specific 3- to 60-W power supply units and battery chargers in moderate volumes. It routinely develops custom devices and offers its products in open-frame versions. FRIWO Gerätebau GmbH, Ostbevern, Germany.
Rugged-duty keyboard
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An electronic products manufacturer offers a rugged-duty keyboard that meets healthcare safety needs. The M779 keyboard’s moulded-elastomer design minimizes hidden grooves where dust, dirt, chemicals, or other debris can accumulate. In addition, the keyboard’s wipeable, watertight surface reduces the risk of contamination and bacteria, making it suitable for use in operating rooms, hospital rooms, intensive-care units, and cleanrooms. The waterproof keyboard has 88 keys, an external USB port, adjustable backlighting, and a sealed touch pad that can be operated without an external mouse. All keys are backlit with a soft glow making the keyboard suitable for medium-lit to dark environments. The keyboard can be sterilized with any hospital disinfectant or spray. StacoSwitch, Costa Mesa, CA, USA.
Laser power supply
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A 400-W laser power source that can be used for a variety of medical device applications features a 60-A constant current source and nominal voltage of 2 V dc. Current monitoring for lasers and TEC is provided in 0–10-V dc format with voltage monitoring proportional to output. For safety purposes, an additional laser interlock control offers beam attenuation and shuts down the laser output to meet the requirements of US 21 CFR 1040.10. The product features low-voltage outputs of 5, 15, and 24 V dc via a six-way 0.156-in. header, eliminating the need for an external power supply to drive ancillary microprocessor control circuitry. Suitable for global applications, the product features active power- factor correction to meet the line harmonic-distortion requirements of EN 61000-3-2 Class D. The power supply is currently undergoing medical approvals testing to EN 60601-1. Ferrus Power Ltd., Peterborough, Cambs, UK.
Battery packs
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A manufacturer offers a range of standard and custom battery packs suitable for medical applications. Certified to ISO 9001:2000, the manufacturer offers a range of battery types and chemistries. Offering complete project management, the company supplies original and replacement medical batteries to medical distributors in mainland Europe. The firm also can provide replacement industrial batteries and supply a range of chargers and test equipment that are compatible with its battery range. Euro Energy Resources Ltd., Leicester, Leics, UK.
Laser diode
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A 685-nm laser diode features an optical continuous-wave output power of 50 mW. Housed in a 5.6-mm package, the Opnext HL6750MG is a single-longitudinal-mode AlGaInP diode with a multi-quantum-well structure. The structure and the waveguide structure of the diode have been designed to provide an operating current of 75 mA. In addition, the RoHS–compliant laser diode also features an operating voltage of 2.3 V, a threshold current of 30 mA, a monitoring output current of 0.15 mA, and an operating temperature range of –10° to 70°C. Photonic Products Ltd., Hatfield Broad Oak, Herts, UK.
Single-output power supplies
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A series of single-output medical power supplies offers high-quality power sources for medical system applications. The SMD750 supplies feature power factor correction and an input-voltage range of 90 to 264 V ac operation. The series was designed with conservative derating and design margins to ensure reliable operation in medical device environments. The self-cooled SMD750-series units are available with output voltages ranging from 3.3 to 56 V in 0.1-V increments, and can deliver 750 W of continuous output power at operating temperatures between 0° to 50°C. The supplies meet global medical safety requirements including UL 60601-1, CSA 22.2 No. 601-1, and IEC 601-1. Conversion Device Inc., Huntington Beach, CA, USA.
Memory keys and tokens
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Low-cost portable memory tokens can withstand autoclave and EtO sterilization. Typical applications of the rugged, programmable memory keys and tokens include calibration data upload, firmware updates, data transfer, data logging, user authentication, and access control. The keys and tokens have been tested to survive many cycles of autoclave or EtO sterilization. The company has recently expanded its mating SR4000 SlimLine token receptacle family to provide miniaturized receptacles and surface-mount designs, which are suitable for a range of portable medical applications. Datakey Electronics Inc., Savage, MN, USA.
