Quick guide: components for patient care equipment
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is one of the most unnerving areas in a hospital. Most patients are extremely ill and need constant, close monitoring and support from the staff, equipment and medication to keep normal body functions going.
The medical equipment these patients need can be grouped into three main areas:
- Patient monitoring
- Life support equipment
- Diagnostic devices
These machines and devices also provide pain management, respiratory and cardiac support, life support and include resuscitation devices and diagnostic medical devices.
Medical equipment manufacturers around the world rely on Essentra Components to supply the critical items that make their devices and equipment work, from 3D ultrasound equipment to medical infusion pumps.
We’ve designed this guide to help you select the components you’ll need for your:
- Diagnostic equipment design
- Ventilator design
- X-Ray design
- ECG design
- CT scanner design
- MRI design
- Other medical equipment
Most of the components we’ve recommended can be used across different devices and machines. If you’re not sure which solutions will work best for your application, let us know. Chances are, we can suggest an innovative solution that you might not be aware of, which can also reduce cost and save time in manufacturing.
Free samples and CAD downloads
To make your job easier, we’ve also made available free samples on most of our solutions, so you can try before you buy. You can also download free CADs of our solutions to help with your medical equipment development.
Patient monitoring equipment
Physiologic monitoring systems continuously measure and display a number of vital signs via electrodes and sensors that are connected to the patient.
They allow continuous monitoring of a range of parameters that include heart rate and heart electrical tracing via an electrocardiogram (ECG), apnea monitors to measure breathing/respiration, oximeters to enable monitoring the oxygen level of the patient's blood, as well as monitors for urine output, intracranial pressure, blood pressure, body temperature and the administered fluids, food and drugs.
Each patient bed in an ICU has a physiologic monitor that measures these body activities and all monitors are networked to a central nurses' station.
Here are the components of patient monitoring systems you’ll need to consider, from pulse oximeter parts to components of an ECG machine:
Horizontal plastic PCB card guides snap in to mount circuit boards in tight spaces. Two tapered ends mean a quick and easy insertion of the PCB from both sides. Side grips hold PCB in place. Hollow pin design eases insertion of the guide. Operating temperature range: -40°F to 185°F. UL94 V-2, nylon 6/6. Also available: vertical PCB card guides.
Typically used: computer systems within monitors
Cable clamps with adhesive base
D-style adhesive cable clamps are fast and easy to mount. Just press the top of the clamp under the overhang to lock cables into place. Operating temperature range: 32°F to 122°F. UL94 V-0, PVC. Be sure to check out our entire range of plastic cable clamps.
Typically used: within monitoring systems’ casings or enclosures
Flat cable clamps, adhesive mount, tension
Nylon cable clamp has hinged design with tension for quick access and added cable stability. Adhesive mount allows for quick install. UL94 V-2, nylon 6/6.
Typically used: running ribbon cables for computers within monitoring systems
P-clip cable clamps hold larger-diameter cables, tubes and pipes. Simply bend the P-clip open, place them in and refasten. Available in nylon 6/6, aluminum and steel with a rubber cushion.
Typically used: to provide a strong, neat finish to keep peripheral elements tidy and secure
Standard cable ties – heat stabilized
Heat-stabilized cable ties make the most of limited space, keeping cables orderly. Ideal when heat is generated or present. Cost effective and strong. UL94 V-2, heat-stabilized nylon 6/6.
Typically used: on cable assemblies and wire harnesses within monitoring systems
Save space by breaking away the mounting tab after assembly, so that nothing extrudes inside the component. Also protects from vibration and shock. Perfect for smaller applications, where space is limited. Rubber.
Typically used: underneath monitors, casings and enclosures
Self-adhesive bumpers and feet – cylindrical
Commonly used as feet, cabinet stoppers, door stops and surface protectors. These peel-and-stick bumpers will not tarnish, scratch, or discolor any surface. Available in clear or black. Operating temperature range: 32°F to 122°F. UL94 HB, polyurethane.
Typically used: on contact surfaces, within doors and panels
Scalloped edges allow for an ergonomic grip and comfort when tightening mounts holding monitors. These durable female lobed knobs are impact and chemical resistant and provide a neat appearance. Available in phenolic, nylon or duroplast, with steel thread. Also available: our full range of male clamping knobs.
Typically used: on positioning elements and mounts that support monitor equipment
Indexing plungers – threaded, non-locking
Allow for rapid adjustments on a variety of platforms and fixtures. Used for locating, positioning, indexing and securing a wide variety of medical applications. Available in nylon, zinc-plated die-cast zinc, burnished steel, zinc-plated steel or aluminum. Get in touch with our expert team to order.
Typically used: to ensure precise adjustment of movable elements like height and angle of a screen
Life support equipment
Intensive care equipment for life support and emergency resuscitation includes the following:
- ICU ventilator (also called a respirator): assists with or controls pulmonary ventilation in patients unable to breathe on their own. Ventilator parts consist of:
- A flexible breathing circuit
- Gas supply
- Heating/humidification mechanism
- Monitors and alarms
- Suction pump: airway suctioning reduces the risk of:
- Lung infections
- Prolonged hypoxia
- Pooling of secretions
- Infusion pump: device that delivers fluids to the patient intravenously or epidurally through a catheter. Automatic, programmable pumping mechanisms provide:
- Continuous anaesthesia
- Drugs
- Blood infusions
- Dialysis machine: kidneys filter blood and remove waste products, which produces urine. If kidneys fail, this machine takes over their function, which makes the quality of dialysis machine parts critical. Components of dialysis machines also need support for hoses and tubing.
- Crash cart: also known as a resuscitation or code cart. This is a movable cart that holds emergency resuscitation equipment for patients whose vital signs are in a dangerous range. The emergency equipment typically contains:
- Defibrillator
- Airway intubation devices
- Resuscitation bag/mask
- Medication box
- Intra-aortic balloon pump: a device that helps reduce the heart's workload and aids blood flow to the coronary arteries for patients with:
- Unstable angina
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
And patients awaiting:
- Organ transplants
Intra-aortic balloon pumps use a balloon placed in the patient's aorta. The balloon is on the end of a catheter that is connected to the pump's console, which displays heart rate, pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) readings. The patient's ECG is used to time the inflation and deflation of the balloon.
Here are the components you’ll need for high-quality life support equipment:
Life support equipment relies on an abundance of hose, tubes and cables that benefit from quality twist ties to ensure they are kept tidy and in place. Simply twist the arms to secure fastening. Releasable and reusable twist ties for better value. Nylon. UL94 V-2.
Typically used: to manage cables, hoses and tubes
Hose clamps are designed to secure fittings over hoses, vital for preventing fluid and gas from leaking at the connection. Available in black, white or natural. Nylon.
Typically used: tubing on dialysis machines, infusion pumps, ventilators
PCB standoffs – hexagonal/insulator
These male-to-female hexagonal plastic standoffs ensure high performance and can be installed by hand. Ideal for use when high mechanical strength is required and provide sturdy, insulated spacing for high-power electronic applications. Nylon and brass, UL94 V-2.
Typically used: internal circuit boards
Perfect for electronics with demanding applications. PEEK® socket-head cap screws give you outstanding mechanical properties and high-temperature stability. This is especially helpful for electronics used in healthcare and hospital environments that endure high-temperature sterilization cycles.
Typically used: for areas exposed to harsh cleaning and sterilization
A wide range of foam materials, used for environmental sealing, vibration isolation, sound dampening and shock resistance. Custom shapes, sizes and configurations are available for your specific design requirements. Available in EPDM or PVC.
Typically used: doors, panels and for diverting fluids to avoid contact with critical areas
Simple to install, our rotary damper controls the speed and acceleration of movement in parts such as doors or buttons. Self-contained or can be fitted as part of an assembly. Available in a range of torques and gear profiles. Operating temperature range: -40˚F to 212˚F. Polycarbonate or acetal. UL94 HB.
Typically used: inside ventilators and infusion pumps
Door latch/striker is perfect for applications with a push-open and close feature, providing a lifecycle of 50,000 operations. Operating temperature range: -58˚F to 203˚F. Glass-filled nylon 6/6.
Typically used: crash carts and infusion pump doors
Pull handle – one piece, stainless steel
Easy to clean, chemically resistant, 3-A standard range of products are ideal for hygienic equipment design. This set of feet, handles and knobs all incorporate polished 304 stainless steel, silicone gaskets and smooth surfaces to reduce dust and dirt build up. Polished 304 stainless steel nuts prevent air, dust and liquid ingress by obscuring threads. Also available in 303 stainless steel and chrome-plated steel. View in our online catalog and contact our experts to order.
Typically used: mobile equipment where cleanliness is essential
Tube fittings
Premium grade barbed fittings are made with critical use applications in mind and designed to accommodate most types of flexible tubing. Available in white nylon, polypropylene, clear polycarbonate, and kynar (PVDF). Non-standard materials are available on special order. Get in touch with our team of experts to order.
Typically used: to connect tubing used on fluid management equipment
Our extensive range includes tapered plugs, available as solid or hollow core to fit threaded or unthreaded holes. Our push-fit caps are available in numerous thread sizes. Reusable masking pull plugs are available as premium high-temp silicone tapered plugs or in economical reduced-temp EPDM. To mask irregular shapes, try our masking tapes and discs.
Typically used: finishing process in manufacturing and fabrication
Diagnostic equipment
The use of diagnostic imaging equipment – and non-imaging devices – is an increasingly common and essential requirement in the ICU.
- Scans: Some ICU patients may need further investigation in terms of a computerised tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) or an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine) of their head, chest or abdomen. These investigations give detailed radiological pictures which are not possible with a plain x-ray film. Components of CT scan machines and MRI components include fan hardware, cable management, fasteners, PCB and electronics hardware.
- Ultrasound: increasingly used to assess and guide the management of critically ill patients due to more compact, portable, higher quality and less expensive equipment.
- Echocardiography (ECG): a scan of the heart to look how it is functioning and guide treatment of the patient using the same principle as an ultrasound. Just a few of the ECG components you’ll need include feet and PCB hardware.
- Mobile x-ray units: used for bedside radiography, particularly of the chest. Mobile x-ray units use a battery-operated generator that powers an x-ray tube. X-ray machine components range from cable management and fasteners to access solutions.
The ability to carry out quick examinations by the bedside is a clear advantage in an acute care setting. The ultrasound machine is used to assist the doctor in inserting lines, and also forms an easy and safe investigative tool. A probe is placed on the part of the body to be examined and images are obtained based on the density of the organ such as bone, muscle or a blood vessel. Ultrasound machine parts range from cable management to fasteners. - Point-of-care testing: handheld, portable clinical laboratory devices, or point-of-care analyzers, are used for blood analysis at the bedside. A small amount of whole blood is required, and blood chemistry parameters can be provided much faster than if samples were sent to the central laboratory. The components you’ll need range from PCB hardware to fasteners.
Name the size and fastening method you need. Our solutions are vast, from heat-resistant snap rivets, to push rivets, removable plastic rivets and quarter-turn panel fasteners. Available in nylon 6/6, nylon 6, acetal, polycarbonate, polypropylene and acetal, and steel and nylon.
Typically used: machine fabrication
Find the perfect solutions for specialist, light-to heavy-duty medical equipment, from flat washers to pan-head machine screws. Easy to install and available in a variety of materials, including nylon 6/6, polycarbonate, PEEK®, and glass-filled polyurethane.
Typically used: machine fabrication
Barbed fasteners – push rivets, fir-tree
Fast, tool-free assembly. This barbed rivet gives you a reliable fitting in bore holes with larger tolerances. Its qualities work for blind holes or holes with or without screw threads. Nylon 6/6.
Typically used: machine fabrication
Keep your PCB cool by preventing obstruction to your fan. This set includes one fan guard, fan filter cover, fan filter mesh sheet, and felt filter. Rated IP30 to protect against small objects from falling in. Materials: fan guard and filter cover, 40% GF nylon 6/6. Filter, polyester. Mesh sheet, 304 stainless steel.
Typically used: internal circuit boards
Ideal for restricted spaces. Simply mount onto a panel and slide wires into the grommet. Operating temperature range: -40˚F to 176˚F. Polypropylene and TPE.
Typically used: wherever wires and cables protrude from machines
Mounting cable ties – push in, tension wings, spacer
Simply push into your pre-drilled hole. The arrowhead fixes itself onto your panel, with no need for a separate cable holder. Flexible enough to accommodate bundles before or after mounting. Push-mount cable ties available in different dimensions and with different tensile strengths. Nylon 6/6, UL94 V-2.
Typically used: within or outside of machines where cables need to be neat and organized
Heat-resistant snap push rivets
Nylon rivets push in and stand up to the heat generated by diagnostic medical devices and advanced medical equipment, withstanding temperatures of up to 266°F. Quicker to install than screws, our snap rivets are also ideal for awkward spaces. Aesthetically pleasing from the outside, helping the finished product look stylish. Nylon 4/6.
Typically used: enclosure and casing fabrication
Black hinged locking clamp opens and closes while securely mounting cables or wires. Offers the same advantages of our cable clips with the added benefit of providing strain relief, protecting wires and cables, and ultimately your medical equipment products. Operating temperature range: -40˚F to 257˚F. Nylon 6/6, UL94 V-2.
Typically used: inside or outside the enclosure or casing
Organize your wires in a single bundle with a more permanent solution than standard cable ties. Our rapid spiral cable wraps give you durable protection from wear and tear. This flexible cable wrap is easy to install, enabling you to route cables through the wrap’s slits at any point. Polyethylene.
Typically used: cables running from machines
When electric and heat insulation is critical in assemblies, such as those found inside MRI machines, use our self-lubricating and corrosion- and abrasion- resistant shoulder washers, ensuring improved safety, a longer life and more value from your application. Available in natural nylon 6/6.
Typically used: portable X-ray machine components, MRI system components and CT scan machine parts
This rigid base stud mount leveling foot has a rigid base for securely and safely mounting your ECG machine design and ultrasound equipment. Made of PP.
Typically used: underneath floor or bench-mounted equipment
Specially designed for hygiene requirements and cabinets that require tighter sealing under vibrating conditions. Typically used on access panels and hatches where cleanliness and security are required. Rated IP65 for protection against dust and liquid ingress. Latch made of 316 stainless steel for higher resistance against corrosion.
Typically used: MRI machines, CT scan machines
Download free CADs and try before you buy
Free CADs are available for most solutions, which you can download. You can also request free samples to make sure you’ve chosen exactly what you need. If you’re not quite sure which solution will work best for your application, our experts are always happy to advise you.
Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast despatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.com or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 800-847-0486.