‘Online UPS’ and ‘Servo Stabilisers with Isolator Transformers’ is a must to run Cath labs. Why?
Ever wondered why there are so many causalities even after a plethora of innovations, research, and developments in the medical industry. Now and then, there are new technologies and evolutions coming up with several latest updates. However, still, the hospitals are engulfed with the patients and doctors overloaded with twenty-four-hour hectic working schedules.
And, the answer is simple poor electrical power quality, power outages, brownouts, and erratic power supply, pathetic installations, and non-compliance to standards, rules, and regulations. It's not that we don't have the right technology or the proper solutions for these shortcomings or failures. Still, it is just because of not abiding by quality norms and right systems in pursuit of saving a few pennies in procuring quality equipment, on which Cath-lab runs. All this leads to human sufferings, delayed cures, and even the lives of the patients who pay their life-long earnings to get healed, fit, and healthy.
Here, we will be discussing the electrical power required for the smooth functioning of Cath-Labs and would try to spot out the grey areas leading to their poor performance in terms of quality and quantity of services.
What is Cath-Lab?
A Cath lab or a catheterization laboratory is a lab in a clinic or hospital with imaging equipment used for diagnostic applications. These are used to visualize the arteries and the chambers of the heart to treat any stenosis or abnormality traced.
In other words, doctors conduct invasive tests and procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. These procedures are usually angioplasty and stenting performed by guiding tools through the body arteries.
What happens in a Cath lab?
In Cath labs, Catheters that are tiny, flexible tubes are used to access the heart and the associated blood vessels to pin point the blocks and other brewing troubles in the cardiovascular system. It provides an alternative medication to conducting surgeries, which are more often treacherous and fatal. The imaging equipment displays how are the arteries and how well the blood is flowing through them. It helps to diagnose and trace out the blockages in the arteries along with some other abnormalities of the cardiovascular system.
The Cath lab monitors display the heart rhythm andthe heart rate, and their accuracy helps the physician to locate the blockages. So, the Cath labs precisely identify the abnormalities in the system, preventing the body from functioning normally on daily basis in usual manner. Once the problem gets identified, it helps in the early treatment and quick recovery of the patient.
The success of diagnosis entirely depends upon how well the Cath lab's unique imaging system works in synchronism with other equipment installed there. An excellent working system provides clear and crisp images and displays, the blockages precisely, besides highlighting other hidden problems that are difficult to trace, leave aside the cure.
What are the facilities available at the Cath labs?
There are two types of Cath labs – Cath labs with 'Single plane' facilities and Cath labs with 'bi-plane' facilities.
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Cath labs with 'Single plane' facilities – These labs are equipped with a single X-ray generator source and an X-ray image intensifier for fluoroscopic imaging.
Older Cath labs rely on cine films to record the information while the new setups are coming up with digital facilities to record the data.
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Cath labs with 'bi-plane' facilities – These are the latest Cath labs that are digital and have two X-ray sources in place of a single and use flat panel detectors to locate the blockage of mark the problematic area.
What are all equipment installed in Cath labs?
1) Digital imaging X-Ray System for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Interventional procedures along with
a) pressure injector,
b) Hemodynamic & Electrophysiological Study Recorder with Programmed Extra stimulus Stimulator.
c) Radio-Frequency Ablation Generator and advanced integrated IVUS.
2) High-frequency X-ray Generators with at least 100 kW capacity.
3) Latest generation X-Ray Tubes, with fluoroscopic power of at least 3000 watts, for a noiseless operation to support long-term interventional procedures, besides providing with better visibility in obese and deep angulations.
And much other high-tech equipment making Cath labs worth of Rs. Three to five Crores to let the Cath lab function effectively.
What are the necessary electrical supply parameters for Cath labs' successful operation?
Uninterrupted and clean quality electrical power is a must to make these high-tech Cath labs function correctly. A pure proper Sine wave-free from spikes, surges, and other electrical and magnetic interferences at the specified voltage and frequency with adequate capacity is essential to let these Cath labs function effectively and accurately.
To achieve all, the Cath lab requires-
1) A Servo Stabiliser with an Isolation transformer – A Servo Stabiliser with an Isolation transformer to stabilize the incoming supply while galvanically isolating the equipment from the utility power is essential for optimum functioning of the Cath lab.
It is essential to feed the system with the specified rated voltage and frequency to prevent them from erroneous output and malfunctioning.
2) An Online UPS – An Online UPS of adequate capacity and backup is a must to provide uninterrupted power to all the electrical equipment to prevent frequent
shutdowns, surges, spikes, harmonics, and other magnetic and electrical interferences in the supplied power to the equipment.
The installed electrical system of the Cath lab must adhere to following-
- Compliance with AERB and BARC guidelines.
- Strictly conform to Electrical safety standards for electrical safety IEC-60601-1 General Requirements.
- All the products and the equipment used should be FDA or CE approved.
How poor electrical power will affect the Cath lab?
Any flaw in the power supply will directly affect the machines and other equipment's performance leading to inaccurate reports, improper X-rays, and imperfect analysis leading to incorrect diagnosis and wrong medication.
Any interruption in power during diagnosis or cure could lead to a patient's death or irreversible damage beyond recovery while increasing the case complexity and thus making matters worse from the bad.
Conclusion – A healthy electrical power supply through a quality Servo Stabiliser with an Isolation transformer backed up by an Online UPS with Power backup of a minimum of 30 minutes is a must. It assures optimum functioning of Cath labs while ensuring the right service to the patients leading to early recovery and perfect treatment.
Nexus, an established manufacturer of online and off-line UPS systems with many success stories and firsts to their credit, builds the UPS with world-class highest quality standards by using the World trusted branded components from the original manufacturers, from last more than thirty years. Their UPS are exclusively built to fit the most stringent Indian harsh weather conditions to perform year after year without fail. They were the first and the only manufacturer to manufacture 4KVA Line Interactive UPS. Way back in 1989, they were also the first to launch Ferro resonant type online UPS System with CVCC charger. Here they didn't stop; they are even the first and the only manufacturer in India to design a 10 watts Line Interactive UPS system.
