INTELLIGENT CABLING

Healthcare related compliance is driving innovation in cabling materials describes Matthias Gerber at R & M.

& M is extending its portfolio of special solutions in the healthcare sector to ensure safe networks in clinics and protection for patients, staff and data. Its latest development is the antibacterial R & MhealthLine range for patient rooms. According to the World Health Organisation around 16 million people die every year from infections contracted in hospitals. An enormous number that has to be reduced with appropriate measures.

In a modern hospital room, data connections for connecting computers, medical devices, telephones and multimedia devices are standard. Due to where they are used, these connections are positioned near the patient’ s bed. Whereas the patients change, these cables stay where they are. To reduce the risk of a possible cross contamination with germs from one patient to the next with patients touching cables and outlets, R & M has developed an antibacterial cabling solution for clinics.

The new R & MhealthLine range is the first complete and consistent cabling solution comprising all components that can be touched by the patient. The materials used for the outlets and patch cords feature additives which are harmless for the patients and which prevent bacteria and germs from settling on them. The efficacy of the products was successfully proved with the help of the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus and Escheria coli in laboratory tests complying with ISO 22196.

The R & MhealthLine range offers the same installation and user friendliness as well as transmission performance as standard products. It is compatible with the modular cabling system R & Mfreenet that covers all areas of structured building cabling.

The following in particular are part of the antibacterial network equipment for patients’ rooms:

• Outlets with RJ45 jacks

• Shielded Cat 6 patch cords

• Unshielded Cat 6 patch cords

• Shutters for unused data ports

The relevant standards IEC 60601-1-1, require a different protection for operating theatres and treatment rooms. Medical devices and data networks have to be galvanically isolated at such places of use to protect patients from any possible overvoltage’ s. R & M has developed a solution for this, too: the maintenance-free R & MsafeLine network isolation module. It can be installed in existing LAN outlets

32 Issue 05 INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS