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Saturday, January 5, 2019

By Deborah Roberts


Medicine has greatly benefited from cell innovations. Battery packs for medical equipment are meant to ease portability. They are also meant to act as backup power sources. In remote areas, they come in handy as some tests and life-saving procedures can be done en route to the hospital or nearest facility. They also come in handy in war and travel. Picking the right one can be tricky especially without guidance. Even with guidance, one should know what the professional is talking about.

How about a quick look at some of the common types? The first is Zinc air. This is not quite the standard option in medicine but it has been known to make an appearance. Many many years ago legislation banned the mercury zinc oxide cell. This has been found to be a suitable replacement for that. It has a short shelf and charges life but it has been found to be very affordable. The mechanism of action is oxidation of the zinc with O2 in the air.

Another type is Lithium iodide. This is considered to be the standard cell in medicine. It uses lithium as an anode and has a long charge life. That makes it quite suitable for devices such as the pacemaker. It can be used for up to 15 years without requiring replacement. It may also be quite expensive. Another type is the NiCad. This is fading out though and is only used in rare occasions where necessary. However, new and modern options are being discovered.

One of the key components of cells and their suitability for any device is the chemistry. The chemistry determines whether the cells will run that device efficiently. Chemistry will also determine how long it will stay in use. The chemistry might also compromise the device itself. That is if it is not appropriately analyzed. One aspect of chemistry is the internal resistance. This is a phenomenon that causes the cell to heat up excessively and causing a drop in voltage, therefore, causing a shortcoming in functionality.

The consensus is that cells operate at optimum capacity in room temperature. However, a higher ambient temperature has been found to have a positive impact on the performance of the cell. On the other hand, over time the battery structure will be compromised and therefore break down. The cell should not be prone to excessive heating. One should ensure to let the expert know if the cells will be used in areas with extreme temperatures. This can be remedied.

Ever had two different phones that charged at completely different speeds? One will be all filled up and ready to go within an hour. The other will take up to four hours to get to 100%. The same is true for these kinds of cells. Fast charging is good until the consequent chemical and physical changes cause a decrease in performance in the long term.

The bottom line is that one should go for a cell that holds power for a long time. One that can run the device for as long as possible. Remember these are used in life and death situations. It is best if they can provide service for longer rather than the alternative.

Whatever cells must be manually charged should be kept fully charged at all times. Life in medicine is very unpredictable. The cells should be on standby at any time. There should also be as many extras as possible. Just keep an eye on the shelf life.




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