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.

Portable power gets charged over charger

~ Accutronics launches Entellion credit card battery charger across the globe ~

International battery manufacturer Accutronics has launched an innovative desktop charger for its groundbreaking credit card battery range. The new charger, called the CX6100, is the perfect accessory for charging Entellion CC2300 and CC3800 credit card batteries. 

The single bay desktop charger has a rapid charge capability and can be used around the world, thanks to its wall mounted power supply, which is delivered complete with various interchangeable AC blades. Credit card batteries and chargers are pre-tooled and pre-qualified and therefore get device OEMs to market faster.

Accutronics’ credit card battery range provides OEMs with a rechargeable range of off-the-shelf Lithium Ion professional batteries for portable and wearable electronic devices.

The CX6100 charges a CC2300 battery in around 3.5 hours and a CC3800 battery in around 5.5 hours. LED indicators on the charger provide the charge status. Powered by an AC/DC power supply, it comes with adapters for use in the USA, Europe, UK, Australia and China.

“As with all our products, we’ve designed this charger specifically for OEMs,” explained Accutronics managing director Rob Phillips. “A good example of our understanding of an OEM’s needs is our ability to produce customised versions for customers with very little additional cost. Once the custom design is agreed we will not modify the fit, form or function of the battery or charger without our customer’s prior knowledge and express permission. This gives the OEM the confidence that it will always remain compliant with their device and prevents any regulatory compliance or quality issues.”

The range of credit card batteries that the unit charges have been tested to and meet the requirements of the UN Model Regulations and the Manual of Tests and Criteria (ST/SG/AC.10.11 §38.3), meaning they are ready to be offered for transportation without any additional testing or expense.

The battery range also meets the requirements of IEC62133:2002 and a CB test certificate is available upon request. Compliance to this standard is becoming a requirement for many devices and is already mandatory for medical instruments certified to EN60601-1 third edition.

The charger itself is certified to UL60950-1 and is CE marked. As with Accutronics’ credit card batteries, the CX6100 can be modified to meet specific OEM requirements. Supplied in cool gray as standard, the case colour, labelling and packaging can all be customised.

MD&M East gets charged over charger

~ Accutronics launches Entellion credit card battery charger at East Coast’s largest medical technology show ~

International battery manufacturer Accutronics will join thousands of medical industry suppliers and service providers at MD&M East, on June 10-12 in New York, where the British company will launch an innovative desktop charger for its groundbreaking credit card battery range. 

The new charger, called the CX6100, is the perfect accessory for charging Entellion CC2300 and CC3800 credit card batteries. The single bay desktop charger has a rapid charge capability and can be used around the world, thanks to its wall mounted power supply, which is delivered complete with various interchangeable AC blades. Credit card batteries and chargers are pre-tooled and pre-qualified and therefore get device OEMs to market faster.

Accutronics’ credit card battery range provides OEMs with a rechargeable range of off-the-rack Lithium Ion professional batteries for portable and wearable medical devices.

The CX6100 charges a CC2300 battery in around 3.5 hours and a CC3800 battery in around 5.5 hours. LED indicators on the charger provide the charge status. Powered by an AC/DC power supply, it comes with adapters for use in the USA, Europe, UK, Australia and China.

“As with all our products, we’ve designed this charger specifically for OEMs,” explained Accutronics managing director Rob Phillips. “A good example of our understanding of an OEM’s needs is our ability to produce customised versions for customers with very little additional cost. Once the custom design is agreed we will not modify the fit, form or function of the battery or charger without our customer’s prior knowledge and express permission. This gives the OEM the confidence that it will always remain compliant with their device and prevents any regulatory compliance or quality issues.”

The range of credit card batteries that the unit charges have been tested to and meet the requirements of the UN Model Regulations and the Manual of Tests and Criteria (ST/SG/AC.10.11 §38.3), meaning they are ready to be offered for transportation without any additional testing or expense.

The battery range also meets the requirements of IEC62133:2002 and a CB test certificate is available upon request. Compliance to this standard is becoming a requirement for many devices and is already mandatory for medical instruments certified to EN60601-1 third edition.

The charger itself is certified to UL60950-1 and is CE marked. As with Accutronics’ credit card batteries, the CX6100 can be modified to meet specific OEM requirements. Supplied in cool gray as standard, the case colour, labelling and packaging can all be customised.

Juiced-up at Med-Tech

It's that time of year again, when Accutronics helps the medical device industry get juiced-up on the latest developments in battery design, development and manufacturing. We are, of course, exhibiting today at Med-Tech Innovation 2014. The conference, which runs from 2-3 April at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, showcases the best in medical device manufacturing. So make sure to come along to stand 19 to find out more!

Now in its second year, Med-Tech Innovation Expo caters for all areas of the industry, from components, consultancy and design, to manufacturing, materials and testing. This year's event has been host to some great speakers; notable presentations include, managing challenges in the supply chain, human factors in design, manufacturability and the business benefits of apprentices.

One of the events that really got our own juices flowing was the human factors presentation on day one. In it Matthew Theobald spoke about collaborative design, where user feedback is increasingly influencing design earlier in the process. This is now being used by regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a benchmark for safe development going forward.

Today’s presentation by Dr. Phil Breedon of Nottingham Trent University, which discussed how Medical Technologies are transforming lives, was also hugely informative.

As well as listening to the speakers, we're also exhibiting a really exciting range of batteries and services. Accupro is our custom battery and charger design and manufacturing service, which integrates seamlessly into OEM device development programmes. To ensure that custom solutions are delivered on time and on budget, we use our well-proven project management process.

Our Accupro service is great when standard off-the-shelf batteries will not suffice. Instead of instigating a costly product design modification process, we can work closely with you to provide a low weight, minimal volume and easy to use battery solution.

If your needs revolve around smart, innovative and portable power products, our Entellion range is for you. Designed, developed and manufactured at Accutronics, this group of products is certified to the highest European standards and is available off-the-shelf or customised for your application.

First in the range is the Entellion credit card battery, which is ideal for portable and wearable medical device applications. Next we have the Entellion Intelligent Power Vault, a Lithium-ion multi-battery power system for more demanding industrial applications. Last, but not least, is our Entellion VR Series, a high energy smart battery, which offers accurate fuel gauging for mission critical electronic devices.

So, no matter whether you looking to get your own creative juices flowing with a conversation about your next application or whether you want to juice up your products with one of our off the shelf power sources, come along to stand 19. You are always welcome.

Prefabricerade smarta batterier ger snabbare marknadslanseringar

Accutronics, det oberoende företaget inom design, utveckling och tillverkning av batterier och laddare har lanserat Entellion, en ny serie smarta, innovativa mobila produkter som är utvecklade för att möta de nya behoven hos funktionsrika enheter på de professionella marknaderna.

I Entellion kombineras företagets erfarenhet inom anpassade OEM-batterier med en förståelse för nya krav och trender på OEM-marknaden. Entellion-produkterna är tillgängliga som de är, men de kan även anpassas så att tillverkare av elektroniska bärbara enheter snabbt och säkert kan anpassa sig till sina målmarknader.

De första prefabricerade produkterna var litiumjonbatterierna CC2300 och CC3800 i kreditkortsformat som låter designingenjörer integrera ett smart litiumjonbatteri i nya bärbara enheter med minsta möjliga ansträngning och till mycket låga kostnader. Batterierna är utformade för hög driftsäkerhet och säkerhet och för att förkorta tiden till marknaden samtidigt som kostnader för verktygsanpassningar och certifieringar elimineras.

Den nyaste produkten är de smarta litiumjonbatterierna i VR-serien som innehåller impedansspårning och SMBus- och SBS-kompatibla mätare, LED-laddningsindikatorer med fem nivåer, ett tåligt hölje, kopplingsgränssnitt med sex punkter och glidskenor för enkel montering. Alla batterierna är godkända enligt UN38.3 (transport), IEC62133 och UL2054 (säkerhet) vilket gör att de kan enhetsanpassas till låga kostnader och insatser.

Företaget arbetar tillsammans med, men oberoende av, världens ledande celltillverkare för att kunna välja rätt cell för varje tillämpning, optimera egenskaper som kapacitet, märkkapacitet, livslängd och termiska prestanda.

Uppladdningsbara litiumjonbatterier (Li-ion) är den dominerande batteriteknik som används för bärbara elektroniska enheter. Tack vare en högre gravimetrisk och volymetrisk energidensitet, ger litiumjonbatteritekniken längre driftstider och lägre vikt jämfört med äldre tekniker som nickel kadmium (NiCad), nickelmetallhydrid (Ni-MH) och blybatterier.

”I en värld som domineras av bärbar elektronisk utrustning är behovet att hantera batteriet avgörande”, förklarar Rob Phillips, VD vid Accutronics. Han avslutar med att säga att ”dessa inbyggda smarta elektroniska system gör att batterierna kan hantera laddningen både effektivt och säkert, och inbyggda mätare ger exakt information till värdutrustningen i realtid”.

Batteries préassemblées pour une mise sur le marché plus rapide

Entellion batteries

Accutronics, spécialiste indépendant de la conception, du développement et de la fabrication de batteries et de chargeurs, a lancé Entellion, nouvelle gamme de produits d'alimentation intelligents et novateurs conçus pour répondre aux besoins des appareils professionnels aux multiples fonctions.

Entellion regroupe l'expertise de l'entreprise en fabrication de batteries OEM à sa connaissance approfondie des besoins des produits professionnels OEM et des tendances du marché. Les produits Entellion sont proposés dans le commerce et peuvent être également personnalisés pour accélérer la mise sur le marché d'appareils électroniques portables par leurs fabricants qui réalisent ainsi leurs objectifs.

Les premiers produits préassemblés étaient les batteries lithium ion de format carte de crédit CC2300 et CC3800, qui permettent aux ingénieurs de conception d'intégrer une petite batterie au nouveau produit portable avec un minimum d'effort et à moindre coût. Ces produits ont été conçus pour de hauts niveaux de fonctionnalité et de sécurité, réduisant ainsi le délai de mise sur le marché, tout en éliminant les coûts associés à l'outillage et à la qualification.

Les produits plus récents sont les batteries lithium ion intelligentes standard de la série VR qui présentent le tout dernier SMBus de suivi de l'impédance et les jauges conformes SBS, l'indicateur de charge à cinq DEL, un boîtier robuste, une interface à connecteur six directions et des glissières pour une insertion aisée dans l'appareil. Toutes les batteries sont assorties des agréments UN38.3 (transport), IEC62133 et UL2054 (sécurité) de série, et sont par conséquent prêtes à l'insertion dans les appareils avec un minimum d'effort et à moindre coût.

L'entreprise travaille en collaboration indépendante avec les plus grands fabricants mondiaux d'éléments de batteries, pour sélectionner l'élément adapté à chaque application, en optimisant les caractéristiques telles que la capacité, le régime, le cycle de vie et la performance thermique.

La technologie rechargeable lithium ion (Li-ion) est la plus utilisée dans les appareils électroniques portables. Par sa densité d'énergie massique et volumétrique supérieure, la technologie lithium ion assure des durées d'utilisation plus importantes et des poids moindres en comparaison aux combinaisons plus anciennes que sont le nickel cadmium (NiCad), le nickel-métal-hydrure (Ni-MH) et le plomb.

« Dans un monde dominé par les appareils électroniques portables, il est essentiel de pouvoir gérer l'alimentation par batterie », explique Rob Phillips, directeur général d'Accutronics. « Ces systèmes électroniques intelligents intégrés permettent aux batteries de gérer leur propre chargement efficacement et de manière sûre, tandis que les jauges internes donnent au matériel hôte les informations exactes en temps réel. »