Thursday 21 November 2013

Pre-qualified batteries speed up medical device design

Range of pre-qualified an pre-tested batteries~ New VR range makes integration simple for design engineers ~

Accutronics, the UK-based battery specialist, has launched a new range of pre-qualified and pre-tested batteries. The new customisable VR420 batteries are ideal for applications such as medical equipment and industrial electronics. The range is designed, developed and manufactured by Accutronics in the UK and meets all relevant safety, performance and transportation standards. 

The new 14.4V batteries utilise the latest Lithium Ion technology, delivering high volumetric and gravimetric energy density so that equipment runs for longer yet weighs less.

Furthermore, the VR420 includes a SMBus (System Management Bus), SBS (Smart Battery System) compliant impedance tracking fuel gauge that allows the
battery to communicate pertinent battery data between itself, a smart host and a smart charger. When configured in a product, the host equipment is able to easily request dynamic information from the battery such as runtime to empty, cycle count and discharge current as well as static information such as serial number, manufacturer name and part number. This data allows the customers device to better manage its own power which can increase device runtimes and reduce the number of premature device shutdowns. Additionally, a five bar LED display on the battery case allows the user to easily determine the state of charge in simple 20% increments.

The VR420 includes its own active and passive protection devices which prevent it from being over-charged, over-discharged or overloaded in an abuse condition. Holding safety certification to IEC62133 and UL2054, the VR420 is easily designed into new devices with minimal time and cost.

Designed for rugged work environments the VR420 features a black flame retardant plastic housing which includes a polarised rail feature down either side so the VR420 can be slid into a host device with minimal effort.

Transportation of the VR420 is simplified as the product has a stored energy of less than 100 Watt-Hours and it has been independently certified to the Manual of Tests and Criteria (ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev5) section 38.3.

“The VR420 is a truly powerful product” said Neil Oliver, Technical Marketing Manager at Accutronics. “The particular combination of Lithium ion cells, smart battery electronics and innovative enclosure design are class leading and mean that the VR420 can be used to power a wide range of professional products in both industrial and medical markets” he added.

The VR420 is available in two versions; VR420A and VR420B, supplying 6.2Ah and 4.4Ah respectively. The ‘A’ version provides highest capacity, whilst the ‘B’ option is optimised for higher discharge applications such as motor driven ventilators, where a considerable amount of power is required quickly.

The VR420A and VR420B can be purchased off the shelf or customised to suit a particular customer need. “Accutronics have designed and manufactured the ‘Entellion’ range of products with our customers in mind. When customers require special software, their own labelling or a change in plastic colour to match their device, these can all be easily accommodated” said Michele Windsor, Marketing Manager at Accutronics. “As the product has already been designed tooled and certified the times and costs usually involved for customisation are far less than for a purely customised design – the customisation approach gives the customer what they want with minimal investment” she concluded.

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