HAPPY BIRTHDAY CMX SERIES

We can’t believe it’s been 12 months since the launch of our new energy-dense batteries for Hi-tech portable medical equipment at Compamed 2014, and just how successful the CMX Series has been over the past year. 

The new smart battery range fulfils the needs of manufacturers of high powered medical devices. The CMX series really packs a punch - offering high energy density along with high power discharge. Medical OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are now able to produce innovative portable devices without compromising on safety and reliability in life-critical applications.

The medical market is a challenging environment, and understandably so. With people's lives on the line it is essential that medical practitioners can rely on their equipment to perform under pressure. The rise in the use of portable devices such as acute ventilators, anaesthesia workstations and intra-oral scanners has left many medical OEMs struggling to keep pace in the market.  The CMX Series of batteries and chargers has been designed specifically for medical OEMs following extensive research and discussion with customers and hospitals.

“Part of our branded Entellion range, the CMX meets stringent regulations, demanding development schedules and innovation aims, whilst minimising unit costs," explained Neil Oliver, technical marketing manager at Accutronics. “The CMX Series, as with our other Entellion products, bridge the gap between custom and standard batteries and chargers”.

The seven batteries in the CMX range use three different cell types to provide specific performance attributes which are required for the medical device market.  Smart features of the CMX series include active and passive protection circuits that prevent over-temperature, over and under-voltage, overload and short circuit.  Forming an essential part of its medical device operation, smart power management means the battery only requests charge when needed and shuts down when not being used. Accurate fuel gauging is possible to 1% through an LCD display, further enhancing reliability.

CMX series batteries comply with regulatory certifications necessary for use in medical devices. In terms of safety they meet the requirements of both UL2054 (2nd edition) and IEC62133:2012 (2nd edition), the latter being a mandatory requirement for medical devices being certified to IEC60601-1 (3rd edition).  They also meet the requirements of The Transport of Dangerous Goods, Methods of Tests and Criteria, UN ST/SG/AC.10.11 Rev5 Section 38.3 which is a mandatory requirement for the transportation of Lithium ion batteries.
 
Hospitals can now perform routine power management checks without having to remove the medical device from service using the smart charger that accompanies the CMX battery. A single charger can be used for different sized batteries, because the two devices automatically communicate exact voltage requirements.

Whether batteries or chargers, the Entellion range is available off-the shelf or can be easily customised to meet particular OEM requirements. Options include product labelling and case colours, software setup and SHA-1 algorithmic security, which prevents counterfeit batteries being used under fraudulent warranty claims.

For more information on the CMX Series of batteries & chargers contact us today

Trends in Medical Technology 2015

Medical technology (MedTech) is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and the latest and most exciting innovations are currently being explored at COMPAMED, the international medical trade show running from 12-14 November in Dusseldorf, Germany. 

By Michele Windsor

We launched our latest smart-battery range at the trade show, providing a versatile solution to the demand for portable medical devices. Here, we explore a few of the latest trends, live from COMPAMED, for the next generation of medical devices.

1. Power and energy requirements on the rise for portable battery-powered MedTech devices
The last decade has borne witness to rapid innovation in the medical market. Devices have become smaller and as a result, smarter and more intricate components are increasingly in demand. However, there is now an increased demand for mobile technology used in hospitals and in the field, including acute ventilators, portable anaesthesia workstations and intra-oral scanners.

2015 will see a trend for portable, battery-powered medical devices delivering high power discharge from batteries with high energy densities used in mobile hospital setups and emergency services use.


2. Security in MedTech is a concern for OEMs' brands and reputations
Copycat batteries are now available at the click of a button. These, often grey market and sometimes outright illegally produced, knockoffs are now spreading via improved logistics and global supply chain networks. The problem is that copycat batteries often mimic big name brands but lack the certification, testing and even vital circuitry that protects lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries from unpredictable failure, overheating and potentially exploding.

Battery original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as well as consumer brands including Nokia and Kodak have already taken action to protect their lucrative aftermarket from reputational damage by introducing security measures such as hologram labels and traceable invisible ink markings on devices.

2015 will see companies push further into securing their products. Accutronics has already made headway into improved security by making available a hardware-embedded software algorithm (SHA-1) which can identify and isolate fake batteries, stopping them from being used in critical-care devices. This also provides better batch traceability and deters fraudulent warranty claims.

3. Western OEMs competing to win market share of premium MedTech in Asia
Until now, the western world has dominated medical technology, with the majority of intellectual property belonging to European and North American companies. Lately there has been a power shift in the MedTech industry and the Asian market, specifically China, is booming, with growth expected to continue over the next few years.

Thanks to a growing Chinese middle class there are hundreds of millions of new patients, creating a significant demand for high tech devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and insulin pumps.

2015 will see the trend for European and North American MedTech OEMs begin to establish a more permanent presence in Asian and Far Eastern economies to secure and win market share of the premium industry sector.

4. Fringe technologies will start to be used in MedTech
Having already gained traction in the consumer electronics sector, wireless, or inductive charging, to give it its full name, will begin trials in many MedTech devices in 2015. One of the vulnerable areas of rechargeable medical devices to date has been the connection made between the charging port and the mains AC power supply. This can be a source of ingress for dust and water as well as being a haven for bacterial growth.

2015 will see more medical OEMs explore the use of inductive charging to improve device IP (ingress protection) ratings. Introducing fully enclosed and waterproof designs will make it possible to sterilise devices in high pressure hospital autoclaves. The resultant lack of user-serviceable parts will further elongate device lifecycles by the implementation of a return-to-base repair strategy being adopted widely.

5. Anti-microbial surfaces provide an extra line of defence against superbugs
A World Health Organisation report released in April 2014 states that, "this serious threat is no longer a prediction for the future; it is happening right now in every region of the world and has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country. Antibiotic resistance–when bacteria change so antibiotics no longer work in people who need them to treat infections–is now a major threat to public health."

2015 will see OEMs begin to widely consider the role of antimicrobial polymers and coatings for use in device mouldings, casings and on touchable surfaces to minimise the spread of superbugs such as MRSA and other multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms.

Visitors to COMPAMED can view and discuss Accutronics' new product range in Hall 8b Stand F30. We look forward to seeing you.