Medical Workstations

Mobile Medical Workstations

During a visit to a hospital hallway or patient room, one will often encounter numerous portable medical devices affixed to mobile carts or technology workstations, typically known as Workstations-on-Wheels. These stations are essential in healthcare settings, often equipped with IT devices such as laptops, monitors, barcode scanners, and printers. Other clinical devices, which include ultrasounds, patient monitors, telepresence systems, and imaging machines, are also a part of these setups. A critical feature of these mobile workstations is their reliance on mobile workstation batteries as a portable power source, allowing for uninterrupted usage.

Since their inception in 2001, mobile-powered workstations have been instrumental in hospital settings, beginning with deployments in a Pennsylvania hospital. However, it wasn’t until after 2012 that a significant transition occurred from the traditional Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries to more advanced power sources. By 2020, the landscape for powering these units had diversified, with many medical workstations integrating a variety of devices and adopting one of two main power configurations: the in-base power systems or the more flexible swappable battery systems.

The former configuration often includes a comprehensive setup within the base of the workstation itself, while the latter offers the convenience of battery-powered workstation carts where power is maintained through mobile workstation battery units that can be exchanged as needed. This adaptability is essential for medical professionals who rely on medical carts on wheels to perform their duties efficiently. The integration of powered mobile carts ensures that healthcare workers can maintain care without power interruptions, which is critical in fast-paced medical environments.

The move towards battery-powered carts reflects an understanding of the dynamic requirements of modern healthcare settings, where mobility and continuous power supply are paramount. As technology progresses, the mobile workstations & carts with power supply are expected to continue evolving, with mobile workstation batteries remaining a cornerstone of their functionality.

In-Base Power Architectures

Typically, mobile workstations are designed to deliver 120 or 240 VAC power, ensuring that user devices mounted on these stations are adequately powered. Central to this functionality is the in-base power architecture, which is primarily composed of a substantial mobile workstation battery—a 12 Volt, 40 (+/- 10) Ahr, 480 Whr, U1 format Li-ion battery—paired with a 100 – 150 Watt inverter/charger. This inverter/charger is a multipurpose unit that handles AC/DC power conversion, charges the mobile workstation batteries, and facilitates DC/AC power inversion. Additionally, it includes an Internet of Things (IoT) processor, communication protocols (SMBus, CANBus) transceiver, and electronics to power a Remote User Interface (RUI) or Fuel Gauge, keeping the user informed about the battery-powered workstation cart’s system performance.

Key Characteristics:

• User Notification: The workstations incorporate a user-friendly fuel gauge, seamlessly integrated into the touchscreen display, allowing healthcare professionals using medical carts on wheels to monitor power levels effectively.
• Training and Usability: The in-base power system is straightforward, minimizing the complexity of user training. The simplicity of plugging the mobile workstation & carts with power supply in to recharge ensures ease of use.
• Reliability: A hard-wired cabling system within the workstation’s base offers a reliable, permanent connection.
• Discreet Operation: All components of the powered mobile cart are concealed within the base, ensuring a nonintrusive presence in the clinical environment.
• Extended Capacity: The in-base design is capable of housing larger mobile workstation batteries, supporting extended use over multiple shifts without the need for frequent recharging.
• Stationary Charging: While the workstation requires tethering to an AC outlet for battery recharge, this design is optimal for settings where the workstation remains in a fixed location during charging periods.
• Cost-Effectiveness: When considering the total cost of ownership, the in-base power architecture proves more economical than alternatives, with its lower initial investment and cost-per-WHr efficiency, making it a prudent choice for long-term use in hospital settings.

Through this integration, the in-base power architecture of mobile medical workstations remains a robust and cost-effective solution for healthcare facilities, ensuring that the essential mobile workstation battery can sustain the demanding pace of medical care.

Swappable Battery Systems

Recently, the evolution of mobile workstations has steered towards the adoption of swappable battery systems, revolutionizing the way these battery-powered workstation carts operate. This innovative system relies on swappable mobile workstation batteries as the primary power source, enabling mobility without interruption. When healthcare professionals, such as nurses, prepare for their rounds, they can simply insert a fully charged mobile workstation battery into the designated slot on their medical cart on wheels, ensuring that all integrated IT devices are powered for the entire shift.

These swappable battery systems are typically configured with a 12 Volt, 20 Ahr, 240 Whr Li-ion battery coupled with a 100-150 Watt inverter/charger, designed to support one or two batteries, enhancing the autonomy of powered mobile carts. Compared to in-base systems, a swappable battery setup includes additional components: the battery itself, a charger, and a sophisticated battery receiver/controller that attaches to the workstation. This controller handles multiple tasks, from AC/DC power conversion to driving a Remote User Interface (RUI) or Fuel Gauge—key for monitoring the status of mobile workstation batteries.

Hot-swapping is a standout feature of these systems, allowing for the exchange of batteries without powering down, thus providing a seamless transition and maintaining a constant power supply for mobile workstations & carts with power supply. This capability is critical for uninterrupted service, especially in high-demand environments where battery-powered carts need to operate around the clock.

Key Advantages Include:

• 24/7 Operation: The workstations are designed for continuous use, preventing downtime associated with recharging, thanks to the mobile workstation battery design.
• Space Efficiency: By removing the dependency on AC outlets, swappable batteries can be recharged at a centralized location, which is particularly beneficial for older facilities with limited power infrastructure.
• Flexibility in Upgrades: Existing non-powered workstations can be effortlessly converted into powered mobile carts with these swappable systems.
• Component Distribution: The system’s components—battery, charger, and receiver/controller—while increasing complexity, offer flexibility and adaptability in workflow.

Manufacturers of mobile medical workstations now frequently offer these swappable battery systems, which are compatible with various brands, allowing for universal application across different workstation models. This trend signifies a shift from traditional power sources to more dynamic and versatile battery-powered workstation carts, aligning with the growing need for efficiency and reliability in healthcare settings.

Integration with the Workstation

The integration of swappable battery systems into mobile workstations necessitates a thoughtful design approach that takes into account ergonomic and human factors. The implementation is aimed to ensure that the mobile workstation batteries do not adversely affect the balance or maneuverability of the medical cart on wheels. Factors such as battery weight, mounting height, and the influence on the workstation’s center of gravity are crucial considerations, as is the visibility and interpretation of the state of charge indicators for the battery powered carts.

In healthcare environments, the use of swappable battery systems in powering mobile medical workstations requires adherence to stringent infection control protocols. The selection of materials for the battery casings, such as PC/ABS plastics, often includes antimicrobial additives like Microban to prevent the growth of pathogens. This is complemented by design choices that promote hygiene, such as tight seams to reduce microbial harborages and surfaces that are easy to clean. The Ingress Protection (IP) rating of these components is critical, ensuring that powered mobile carts can be sanitized with antimicrobial agents without compromising the integrity of the battery system.

Safety and compliance are paramount for mobile workstations & carts with power supply, necessitating that all mobile workstation batteries and associated components meet or exceed industry standards. Typically, these standards include regulatory approvals like UN 38.3, IEC 62133, and UL 2054 for the batteries. The receiver/controller units are often certified with UL 60601 3rd/4th edition and bear a CE mark, endorsing their safety for hospital use and compatibility for markets within the EU.

By maintaining these rigorous standards, the mobile workstation battery systems can ensure that the battery-powered workstation carts are not only effective in their functional role but also safe and suitable for the sensitive environments in which they operate.

Cell Chemistry Options for Workstation Power

The power storage for both in-base and swappable battery systems in mobile workstations utilizes lithium-ion rechargeable cells, with the predominant chemistries being Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC). These mobile workstation batteries come in various standard sizes such as 18650, 21700, and 26650, which refer to their dimensions, and are constructed in a metal-cased cylindrical form. By arranging these cells in series and parallel configurations, the desired electrical output is achieved to power the battery-powered workstation carts efficiently.

Initially, manufacturers provided both LFP and NMC options for their battery-powered carts. However, LFP has become the preferred choice within the medical sector for powered mobile carts due to its longevity and safety profile. LFP mobile workstation batteries have a significantly longer cycle life, often providing 2000-3000 full charge/discharge cycles before capacity decreases to 80% of the original. In contrast, NMC batteries typically offer 500-1000 cycles. This is particularly relevant in healthcare settings where medical carts on wheels are in constant use, and the batteries are cycled daily.

The intrinsic safety of LFP is another compelling factor; it maintains stability at higher temperatures and is less prone to thermal runaway, a critical consideration for mobile workstations & carts with power supply in clinical environments. LFP batteries, therefore, offer a higher degree of safety, which is paramount when considering the mobile workstation battery needs to be reliable and safe given their close proximity to patients and staff.

Despite the higher initial cost per watt-hour, the shift towards LFP chemistry is evident, as it provides a more favorable total cost of ownership compared to NMC and traditional SLA batteries. This is due to the longer lifespan and reduced maintenance costs over the life of the mobile medical workstations. Thus, LFP batteries not only enhance the operational efficiency of battery-powered workstation carts but also contribute to a lower total cost in the long term.