As the global population grows steadily and people live increasingly longer lives, on average, due to better healthcare, the need for medical equipment has increased proportionally. In addition, the increase in demand for equipment and life support systems that can be used by patients in their own homes also contributes to the growing medical equipment market in general.
Medical need drives demand for switching devices
Since most of the equipment contains sophisticated electronic circuits and mechanical systems that are controlled by motors and actuators, there is also a growing need for switching devices. These include electromechanical relays for high-current and highvoltage AC or DC switching, in particular, but also relays for signal-type applications.
Typical relay examples for hospital-based systems are high-voltage power supplies, high-voltage AC/DC switching for X-ray diagnostic equipment and motor controls for hospital beds. For these types of applications, power relays ranging from 3-20A are very useful. As for analytical and imaging equipment, signal-type relays can be used. Private home-based systems, such as power chairs, motor-driven wheelchairs and stair-lifts, are a good example of situations where power, signal and even automotive relays can be useful.
Relay design for the internet of things
Fujitsu Components has 100 years of experience in the design of relays and produces a range of relays that are suitable for medical applications. Over the years, requirements for home-based medical and health systems have changed, and the internet of things (IoT) has become a factor in the design and development of several types of medical systems.
IoT opens up a new range of opportunities, including communication with, and tracking of, medical equipment and hospital beds, or evaluating and controlling human traffic in medical facilities with indoor navigation. When it comes to using IoT in asset management, it’s all about harvesting data to make decisions that enhance business. To collect this data, assets should be wirelessly connected to each other and to other systems. In the case of indoor navigation, the use of beacons in combination with a scalable network offers the opportunity to guide, inform and influence visitors.
Expertise in wireless solutions
Fujitsu has recognised the development of wireless functionalities and the difficulties of implementation. Design specialists with knowledge of hardware, as well as wireless software and networking are not always available or easy to find. Fujitsu focuses on solutions that are easy to implement; for example, a wireless module assembled on a PCB, including the antenna, and programmable by simple text commands as part of a wide-area and scalable networking solution. Every wireless device that is part of this solution is a smart router and the connected devices form the network. The combination of a scalable network with smart beacons and wireless devices is the ultimate solution for wireless equipment, indoor navigation and asset management.
