The medical and healthcare industry covers a wide range of applications, and manufacturers are looking for more technologically advanced products based on wireless connectivity, that are easier to use and comply with plenty of safety and relevant regulatory requirements.
Moxa has connected more than 57 million devices globally, being present for over 30 years in the business. Thanks to their products, you can create dependable network solutions that let devices connect, converse, and interact together with other systems, procedures, and people.
Discover innovative solutions for medical and healthcare industries with various uses. From mobile e-nursing carts, hematology and hematopathology devices to picture archiving and communication systems, pharmaceutical systems, DNA sequencers and others.
Interconnected devices for medical applications
Along with patients and data mobility, incorporating wireless technologies and connecting devices into medical products became more popular. By giving patients amazing amounts of mobility and facilitating simple access to patient data for healthcare providers, wireless technologies and the interconnection of devices dramatically enhance healthcare quality.
Moxa offers plenty of secure edge connectivity products that offer reliable real-data transmission and data encryption, they are certified, come in compact sizes and are easy to install. In this article, we will cover some of these devices and show their applications in Medical and Family and Medical Counseling Services (FMCS), In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Device (IVD) or Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
IVD Medical Devices
In vitro diagnostics cover a wide spectrum, from simple self-tests for pregnancy and blood glucose checks for diabetics to complex diagnoses carried out in clinical laboratories. In vitro, which literally means “in glass” refers to the fact that these tests are frequently carried out in test tubes and other similar apparatus as opposed to in vivo testing, which are carried out inside the body.
According to the European Commission, in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD) utilise tests on biological samples. Tests known as in vitro diagnostics can identify diseases, disorders, and infections. Some of the types of IVDs include COVID-19 testing and HIV tests.
Manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic medical devices have to ensure that they meet the necessary legal standards, which are detailed in the Manufacturers of in vitro diagnostic medical devices have to ensure that they meet the necessary legal standards, which are detailed in the EU’s In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (EU) 2017/746 or others relevant outside of Europe, before putting such devices on the market.
Mobile e-nursing cart
The first highlighted medical equipment is a mobile e-nursing cart to keep track of a patient’s medical status.
Features:
- Nurses can frequently monitor the vital signs of their patients.
- These medical records can be moved on a server computer and shared by all hospital departments.
- A converter can connect to a computer through Ethernet and medical devices via RS-232.
For connecting your serial and Ethernet devices, such as PLCs, metres, and sensors, to a computer, the NPort W2150A and W2250A are the best options. Your communications programme will be able to connect to the serial devices from any location over wireless LAN. The wireless device servers also require fewer connections and are the best choice for applications with challenging wiring scenarios. The NPort W2150A and NPoiort W2250A may connect to Wi-Fi networks in offices and factories, allowing users to move, or roam, between many APs (access points). They are a great option for devices regularly moved from one location to another, which is often a necessity in hospitals and clinics.
Automated Hematology Analyzer & Hematopathology Diagnostics
The Moxa NPort 6450 may be used to automatically transmit medical records to laboratory information systems. It can offer reliable real-time data transmission for the appropriate medical equipment, such a hematological analyzer. You can use it to aid in analysis and storage inspection outcomes.
The NPort 6000 series are terminal servers that send encrypted serial data over Ethernet using the SSL and SSH protocols. Using the same IP address, the NPort 6000 may connect to up to 32 serial devices of any kind. It is possible to set up the Ethernet port for a non-secure or secure TCP/IP connection. The NPort 6000 secure device servers are the best option for applications requiring several serial devices crammed into a tiny area. Any type of serial device may be connected to the NPort 6000, and each serial port on the device can be individually set to transmit data via RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485.
Another solution is UPort 1250, which is a cost-effective serial to USB converter in a compact size. It can be used in hematopathology diagnostics.
For laptop or workstation PCs without serial ports, the UPort 1000 Series of USB-to-serial converters is the ideal solution. They are necessary for engineers who have to connect several serial devices in the field or for equipment that doesn’t have a COM port or DB9 connection.
Other Medical Applications
Besides in-vitro diagnostic devices, Moxa has solutions for other medical applications. Some of the mentioned are pharma packaging systems, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care systems, endoscope cleaning machines, and more.
Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems
Packaging, especially drugs, is a critical part of pharmaceutical goods. Such products must be sterile and have to be protected from contaminants and temperature changes. Also, the cover and labelling are vital to not confuse with other products, for example, while transporting.
Thanks to sensing or wireless technologies, packaging becomes “smart”. This can provide a lot of functionality. The packaging then serves as more than just a means of protecting and disseminating information about medications; it can also provide a wide range of additional functionality and even be integrated into a connected system that is IoT enabled.
The previously mentioned UPort 1000 Series, the UPort 1110 can connect serial devices to any notebook or PC via USB. It has a simple interface expansion with no installation or restarts required.
Picture Archiving and Communication Systems
Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a medical imaging technology which enables the capture, presentation, and storage of medical images for easy access from various medical devices. The system has received the imaging modalities.
The CP-114EL and CP-114EL-I from Moxa are smart 4-port PCI Express boards made for POS and ATM applications. The boards support a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and UNIX, and are a preferred choice of industrial automation experts and system integrators. The CP-114EL and CP-114EL-I provide modem control signals to assure compatibility with various serial peripherals.
Endoscope Cleaning Machines
The Endoscope Reprocessing controls, monitors and tracks the endoscope cleaning process. To monitor through Radiology Information System (RIS), NPort 5410 with human-machine interface helps with on-site configuration. It allows for the operation of endoscope reprocessing and easily transfers serial data through Ethernet.
A user-friendly LCD panel for simple installation, dual DC power inputs, adjustable termination and pull high/low resistors, as well as an independent operation mode for each serial port are just a few of the helpful features offered by NPort 5400 device servers for serial-to-Ethernet applications.
Features:
- Easy to transfer serial data to Ethernet
- Compact size for simple installation
- Reliable real-time data transmission
- The latest Windows driver support
- Medical EN60601-1-2 & EN55011 certification
- On-site configuration thanks to NPort 5410 WITH LCM human-machine interface
ICU Care Systems
The term “intensive care unit” (ICU) refers to a structured system for the care of critically ill patients that offers intensive and specialized medical and nursing care, enhanced monitoring capabilities, and includes several physiologic organ support modalities to maintain life in the time of potentially fatal organ system failure.
The previously mentioned NPort 5410 series is medically EN60601-1-2 & EN55011 certified, and Networked Servers from Moxa are helping nurses connect multiple serial-based bedside monitoring devices. Therefore, medical personnel can electronically monitor their patients’ condition and replace traditional paper charting with EMR (electronic medical records).
Connected Hemodialysis Machines
Hemodialysis is a treatment where a patient’s blood is cleaned using a dialysis machine and a specific filter called an artificial kidney or a dialyser. The doctor must create an entry or entrance into the patient’s blood vessels in order to get the blood into the dialyser.
Therefore, the main purpose of connectivity hemodialysis machines is to network them to data management systems for either patient monitoring during treatment or archive patient records.
Dialysis machines can be connected through the previously mentioned NPort W2150A and NPort 5100 device servers that are made to instantly network-ready serial devices. The servers’ compact size makes them perfect for tying up hardware like card readers and payment terminals with an IP-based Ethernet LAN. Thanks to the NPort 5100 series, your PC applications have immediate access to serial devices from anywhere on the network.
Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories
Advanced laboratory tools are used by pharmaceutical and medical researchers to find innovative remedies for patients. In pharmaceutical research laboratories, researchers frequently send each other data and photos from microscopes and other devices to laptops or desktop PCs.
To enable such connection, for instance, between PCs and Microscopes or some NB-IoT devices, Moxa offers UPort 1610-8, which is a USB to serial converter and its features are:
- Up to 8 ports for easy USB-to serial expansion
- True USB 2.0 high-speed transmission for large data transmission
- Stable data transmission thanks to 128-byte FIFO and non-chip hardware and software flow control
- Easy troubleshooting with LED indicators
- Compatibility with laptop or desktop PCs
Factory Environment Monitoring System
When releasing new medicine in the market, it is important to complete data logging for an European Medicines Agency (EMA) or FDA (Food and Drug Administration) review, depending on location. Moxa helps with local data storage, as research may take 5 to 10 years.
Especially helpful are ioLogik 2542, ioLogik E1240, and ioLogik E1262 devices that allow for multiple places monitoring, local data storage, auto- data buffering and supplement after network reconnection.
OEM/ Medical Application Devices
An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of medical devices is referred to as a medical OEM. Medical OEMs play a significant role in the production of medical devices. The medical device manufacturing industry is a crucial part of the economy since medical devices come in a wide variety of instruments, apparatuses, implements, items, implants, machines, even software or types of material.
In this category, Moxa focuses on DNA sequencers and automation in drug discovery.
DNA Sequencers
DNA sequencers are devices that read a DNA sample and create an electronic file containing symbols that indicate the sample’s nitrogen base sequence (A, C, G, and T).
Machine makers like tool-free mounting and wiring mechanisms for installation and auto-reconfiguration for maintenance with repeated production. Moxa provides support for X-architecture (wiring design for integrated circuits that makes extensive use of diagonal wires) if there is a required different connection method to an IT system (i.e. data analysis).
According to Moxa, DNA sequencer machines upgrade over time and need to flexibly add different types of I/O. Previously, customers used the ioLogik E1200 series. Now thanks to the implementation of products like the ioThinx 4510 and ioThinx 4500 series (45MR), they enables users to choose an I/O combination.
The ioThinx 4510 series is ready for IoT applications and supports the ‘trendy’ protocols like SNMP, RESTful API and MQTT. The series offers a cutting-edge modular remote I/O product with a distinctive hardware and software design that makes it the perfect choice for a range of industrial data collecting applications.
A special mechanical feature of the ioThinx 4510 series shortens the time needed for installation and removal, streamlining deployment and maintenance. Additionally, the ioThinx 4510 Series supports converting between OT and IT protocols and the Modbus RTU Master protocol for obtaining field site data from serial meters.
The ioThinx 4500 (45MR) series provide customers with a wide range of options, enabling them to choose the I/O combination that best suits their intended usage. These I/Os include DI/Os, AIs, relays, RTDs, and others. The hardware’s distinctive mechanical form makes it simple to install and remove without the use of tools, significantly cutting down on time needed to set up and swap out the modules.
Drug Discovery Automatic Experiment Equipment
Since automation has been a part of the drug discovery industry for some time, it is now possible to change what is achievable during the drug research and development process, because of innovative technologies and high flexibility. Labs may now implement innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology solutions thanks to a new pair of robots with advanced software tools.
Moxa is offering multiple interface data monitoring and control of automatic experiment equipment such as a serial barcode reader and fixture, and DI/DO/relay, as well as various combinations of I/O data.
Their portfolio includes a multiport serial board, modular remote I/O, and gigabit switch for network requirements and interface data collection. Again, with the ioThinx 4510 modular design, customers can choose different module combinations for different equipment with one I/O solution to reduce the installation and maintenance effort.
Choosing the right connectivity for medical device
Moxa’s wide range of products are improving medical and healthcare facilities. These devices increase the speed of viewing and connecting patients’ medical records with systems for quick and efficient work.
Moxa is a leading supply partner for Distrelec, supporting customers with a wide range of networking solutions for industrial automation. With enabled connectivity, any of your applications can be completed quicker and safer, which is especially important in medical solutions.
Source: Moxa
