Sensors For Level Monitoring In Medical Equipment

Balluff has launched Smartlevel capacitive sensors designed for reliable and repeatable level monitoring in medical equipment. The trend towards more sophisticated medical equipment and laboratory automation instruments that are expected to handle increasingly complex tasks requires reliable sensing technology. Issues of potential end-product contamination, as well as safety regulations such as exposure of personnel to potential biohazards or toxic agents, must be carefully considered.

All of these factors make it especially difficult for machine/instrument builders to acquire, in a non-invasive manner, essential real-time information about the machine or instrument's state. Balluff said its Smartlevel capacitive sensors are a reliable approach to addressing these challenges. For example, in a heart-lung bypass machine, blood is circulated through an oxygenation canister where blood levels are constantly monitored. It is of critical interest to the cardiovascular perfusionist to understand precisely what levels of blood are present in the oxygenator, to ensure proper instrument function and guarantee optimum peripheral oxygen saturation in the patient undergoing heart surgery.

Monitoring blood in general can be challenging as its naturally thick viscosity can cause residue accumulation on the inner wall of an oxygenator - a common point of false alarms with ordinary sensing devices. Balluff Smartlevel capacitive sensors are designed to provide optimum performance without nuisance false alarms in the presence of difficult monitoring parameters such as foaming, froth and residue build-up, which are typically found in substances such as highly conductive, electrolytic blood and blood products.

The sensors comply with all the stringent medical standards and detect target material though vessel walls and bulkheads up to 12mm thick. They are self-adjusting, so there is no need to worry whether or not the sensor has been properly adjusted or tuned to compensate for the vessel or bulkhead wall thickness. Technician time and maintenance time is therefore reduced with Balluff's Smartlevel capacitive sensors.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is Class I Division 2?

Image
A Class I Division 2 is a location: (1) In which volatile flammable gases, flammable liquid-produced vapors, or combustible liquid-produced vapors are handled, processed, or used, but in which the liquids, vapors, or gases will normally be confined within closed containers or closed systems from which they can escape only in case of accidental rupture or breakdown of such containers or systems or in case of abnormal operation of equipment, or (2) In which ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, flammable liquid-produced vapors, or combustible liquid-produced vapors are normally prevented by positive mechanical ventilation, and which might become hazardous through failure or abnormal operation of the ventilating equipment. Class I Division 2 Classification Class I Division 2 refers to the ANSI/ISA 12.12.01 standard. This standard was previously UL1604 until UL recommended the newer ANSI/ISA standard be used and that all hazardous location products be certified under this standa
Read more

FUSE SIZING CONSIDERATIONS FOR HIGHER EFFICIENCY MOTORS

Image
When selecting the proper fuse for short circuit protection in motor starting applications, it is important to not only ensure that the fuse will not nuisance open during motor start up times, but also that the fuse will coordinate as required with overload relays. When sizing fuses between 125% and 150% of the motor nameplate current, several advantages, including ease of coordination with an overload device, a smaller disconnect, and increased short circuit protection from a lower fuse rating, can be achieved. However, if sizing at this level prevents the motor from starting, it may then be necessary to increase the fuse ampere rating and it then becomes important to know the NEC sizing limitations. As of June 1, 2016, the US Department of Energy has mandated that newly manufactured electric motors will need to meet NEMA Premium® efficiency standards. As motor efficiencies increase, motor locked rotor currents can also be expected to increase. In addition to this, with across-the-lin
Read more

7/8 16UN Connectors that Provide 600 Volts and 15 Amps

TURCK announces new A-Size 3 and 4-pin 7/8 16UN powerfast™ connectors that provide up to 600 Volts and 15 Amps of power. These IP67 rated connectors provide a modular wiring system designed to handle high current applications for machine power distribution, while providing resistance to vibration commonly associated with conveyors, motors and material handling applications. The cordsets are available with a tray rated, exposed run PVC flexlife ® cable, with or without STOOW rating, and 14 AWG wires that allow you to replace hard wiring with a robust, quick disconnect system that saves the time and money spent installing a conduit system. The A-Size powerfast line offers male and female, straight connectors, standard and custom lengths, and pigtails or extensions. To make the system complete, fully encapsulated mating receptacles, with 1/2”-14 NPT mounting threads are available.
Read more