Transformers ensure medical systems meet European performance standards

REO UK has launched a new compact transformer for use in medical applications. The REO Unimed transformer is designed to overcome the growing challenge faced by the medical profession in ensuring medical setups meet European safety and performance standards to protect patients, especially those on life-critical machines. In response, the Unimed was developed to be built into an OEM device to provide full electrical isolation and compliance with international standards. The continued dependence on high-powered equipment in the medical industry, including body scanners, heart monitors, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and dental treatment devices has raised concerns about the effects of non-isolated equipment. Power surges, electromagnetic interference (EMI), overload and core inefficiency, can raise energy costs, reduce reliability and, at worst, result in system failure. Conforming to international standards DIN EN IEC 60601-1 3rd edition, the Unimed transformer can be configured to use a variety of input voltage combinations from 0-115V or 0-100-115V, providing an output voltage of 230V. Rated from 100-300 VA and weighing between 1.9 and 3.2kg for larger applications, the unit offers high efficiency and high capacity with no hum and low power losses as well as a reduced magnetic stray field, says the company. Commenting, Steve Hughes, managing director, REO UK, said: "The open construction of the Unimed series was designed to allow easy installation in compact housing and onto mounting plates. For use in even the most demanding applications, the Unimed transformer is fully encapsulated and achieves an ingress protection rating of IP54, this prevents dust and water from getting into the device. In hospital environments it is especially important that electrical and medical computer data networks are isolated from the mains AC supply and telephone lines because, during invasive surgery, even the slightest current leakage, as low as 50mA, can cause heart failure or paralysis. To achieve this, standard terminals on the Unimed allow for easy connection and the special winding design ensures the safe separation of primary and secondary circuits. The unit also complies with the required air and creepage distances."