Smart connector provides efficient solution for hospital and care home facilities

Large medical facilities have an immense pool of equipment, from station computers to laboratory devices to X-ray machines. Maintaining an overview of these resources demands intelligent, state-of-the-art solutions. One significant aid is the use of the Schurter Smart Connector DT31.

The growing number of electrical medical and IT devices poses challenges for hospitals and care facilities regarding inventory management and monitoring. This intelligent connector with cloud connectivity supplies an efficient solution to accurately capture, analyse, and manage these devices' utilisation, maintenance, and usage behaviour in detail.

The 'plug-and-play connector is simply inserted between any device with a standard IEC power inlet (IEC 60320 C14) and the power supply. As well as the basic functions such as switching on and off and power consumption monitoring, the device enables extra functions that can be programmed according to the customer's needs.

Data captured by the connector is transmitted to a secure cloud through an encrypted internet connection. The stored data is accessible through the intuitive user interface of Schurter and can even be accessed through an app. Customising the dashboard and its included functions is also possible according to specific customer needs.

Possible applications of the Smart Connector include:

Inventory management: The connector allows the inventory management of all medical devices. Each device is assigned a unique identification code, stored in the cloud with the captured data. This removes the need for manual data entry, and an accurate overview of the device inventory can be accessed anytime.

Utilisation and usage behaviour: By continuously measuring power consumption, operating hours, and device activities, the connector provides a detailed analysis of the utilisation and usage behaviour of each device. By evaluating this data, bottlenecks can be identified, maintenance intervals optimised, and resource utilisation enhanced.

Monitoring and device status: Another significant use case is preventive maintenance. Based on customer needs, a function for preventive maintenance intervals can be programmed in the dashboard, e.g. based on the operating hours of the medical devices. Also, a useful function is monitoring the devices' operational behaviour. If there are deviations from the normal operating behaviour, they can be displayed in the dashboard and, if desired, even communicated to the maintenance personnel.

Maintenance and calibration: Regular maintenance and (re)calibration of medical devices in hospitals is critical to ensure proper functioning and accuracy. Maintenance and calibration protocols must be carefully documented to demonstrate compliance with regulations and quality standards. With many devices needing maintenance, it is easy to lose track. For this use case, upon customer request, intervals for maintenance and calibration can be programmed to provide notifications.

Integration into existing systems: The connector features an API interface, enabling customers to integrate it into their IT infrastructure and seamlessly transfer data from the Smart Connector to other systems and applications. This connector can also support a hospital software solution that facilitates data integration from various IT systems.

Data security and privacy: The transmission and storage of data in the cloud are carried out with the utmost consideration for the highest security standards. Access permissions can be managed individually to ensure data privacy. The data is anonymised and processed in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.

The Smart Connector DT31 with cloud connectivity provides an efficient solution for inventory management and monitoring of multiple electrical devices in the healthcare and caregiving sectors.

By capturing and analysing utilisation and usage behaviour, operating costs can be lowered, and maintenance processes can be optimised. Technicians can benefit from accurate inventory management and real-time monitoring to ensure the smooth operation of medical devices.

The flexibility of the software makes the connector especially interesting for various applications. The company takes customers' requirements seriously, enabling the dashboard and its included functions to be tailored to the specific needs of customers.

The company continues to expand its range of Smart Products, adding new products and features to the portfolio. For the efficient operation of a larger number of electronic devices, digital monitoring, control, and analysis are essential. With Smart Products, it supplies a simple, fast, and reliable way to fulfil these needs.