EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Critical care unit wall outlets

Dear mates, don't you know if there is any rule to have all of them powered from an insulated transformer. If there is one for the RTG (X-ray machine) extra, why not more ?

Thanks for advice.

Isolated power system? You need to define "critical care"!

ICU? NICU? Dialysis? Wet areas?

Be aware that you can achieve isolation "locally" by using services pendents. But such "solutions" are never cheap.

There is no general rule (as far as I am aware), but isolated power supplies are often found in operating theatres in some countries (where Local Codes may prescribe their use). There are pros, and there are cons.

Isolated power outlet for a (mobile?) x-ray unit? Unlikely, I would have thought. More likely to be a normally earthed outlet (but rated at 30 Amps or so) in an area otherwise provided with isolated outputs.

Again, Local Codes may apply ... but in reality you need to look at what the x-ray machine actually needs (that is, modern mobiles generally don't need anything other than a standard outlet - as found in the corridor)!

And don't forget that some areas (equipment) really need UPS (lab analyzers being a good - but often overlooked - example).

The bottom line with hospital mains power outlets is that you need to consider (study) the thing in the round, as it were. That is, a consistent approach applied throughout the hospital.

Thank you, Geoff!

In fact, it is the unit of anesthesia and resuscitation.

The hospital performs an installation of the central automatic data storage from bedside monitors, ventilators and infusion pumps.

Across each bed will be the LAN connected PC for an access to the patient data.

The question is: Should this PC be powered from the isolated power system, that is required for this ward? (Isolated system -because of the single fault condition functionality for patient devices)

Do you have wall outlets, that shut down when one line grounded, in room like this? Or just one 30Amps for a mobile X-ray? Do you have common outlets here or not?

Difficult to say, without seeing the actual set up there. But (off the top of my head) I would consider a medical grade isolation transformer for the PC in conditions like that.

The transformer might be similar to the sort of thing usually encountered (I hope) at the bottom of theatre "video stacks" (trolleys).

These guys may be able to assist and advise.

I like the idea of an individual isolation transformer for each PC. But ... how many PC's (one per bed)? Could be expensive! So you may need to consider providing special (specially marked) wall outlets fed from a (larger) isolation Tx especially for the PC's (and, possibly, any other equipment needing isolation). It all adds up to a fair amount of planning, costing, and implementation. I would advise proceeding in a careful, step-by-step manner (whilst making sure that all parties involved are - to use that well-known phrase - "singing from the same hymn sheet" on this one).

Meanwhile, I'm not too keen myself on the idea of wall outlets "that shut down" in critical locations.

If the mobile X-ray unit needs a 30 Amp outlet, then yes, one needs to be provided (clearly marked, and all the rest).

Jack

You might wish to get hold of a copy of IEC 60364-7-710 which deals with "Electrical Installations and Protection from Electric Shock" There are particular requirements which deal with medical locations.

In the UK we are governed by the IEE wiring regulations and particular mention is made in their "Special Locations Guidance Note 7" to the IEC standard.

Of note is the intention that areas where applied parts are intended to be used (i.e. virtaully any clinical room) should be classified as Group 1 locations and areas where intracardiac procedures are possible (theatres, CCU ICU etc) are Group 2. The latter areas incorporate an insolation transformer with isolation monitoring for all equipment used within the "patient environment". This wouuld by default include your local data capture system. Beware, that some of the terminology may be misleading to us biomeds as in electrical circles "medical IT systems" do not refer to "medical Information Technology". It refers instead to the form of electrical isolation.

Whilst I realise my reply is UK based, if the IEC document is truly international ( in Europe at least) then some parts of it should apply to your own location.

There may have been updates since my 2006 edition of which i am not aware, though I would hope my estates colleagues would be!

Hope this points you in the general direction.

Regards

Brian

In the UK you should consult the MEIGaN guidance document available from the MHRA web site. The latest IEE 17th edition or the wiring regulations does not cover medical locations in the Special Locations Guidance Note 7 document.

They were due to be included in the 2011 version of BS7671 but the draft version of IEC 60364-7-710 (2009) failed to pass the CENELEC vote so the standard is in a bit of turmoil at the present time!

Therefore as Brian says IEC 60364-7-710:2002 is the current standard but it is helpful to refer to the UK MEIGaN document.

Always best to keep non-medical equipment outside of the patient environment as simply sticking an isolation transformer on the mains supply of a device will not make it comply fully with IEC 60601-1!

Yes ... I concur (with that last sentence).

The trouble often appears to be that other folk don't seem to be, shall we say, aware!

As I may have mentioned before, it is the Biomed who needs to be the Guardian of Electrical Safety in the hospital. Although they should undoubtedly know better, other "trade disciplines" often appear all too able to turn a blind eye (perhaps regarding the whole issue as "someone else's problem" - back to the Biomed again, then).