Pneumatics in Medical Devices

 

Small medical devices are becoming increasingly popular in the hospital and medical industry and have enabled healthcare professionals to reduce the risks associated with inhalation of hazardous aerosols and other hazardous airborne contaminants. Amongst other things, small medical devices enable healthcare professionals to measure blood oxygen saturation and respiratory exchange volume. For example, portable oxygen concentrators are designed specifically for emergency situations where a large number of patients need to be treated. In addition to being highly portable, the devices are also lightweight, which enables them to be used quickly in demanding situations.

Pneumatics is routinely used in medical devices due to the safety and cleanliness of compressed air. Medical devices that are lightweight, small, safe, and often, portable are found in various healthcare settings from ambulance to operating room and recovery room to discharge at home. Pneumatic piston devices are used heavily in oxygen concentrators, infusion pumps, ventilators, wound therapy, blood analyzers, pressure cuff devices, medical bed surfaces, breathable gas delivery systems and anesthesia devices.

Pneumatic piston devices are in high demand with decrease in the size of medical devices and increasing focus on reduced power consumption. These devices offer more potent, miniaturized control solutions, which boosts their demand as a low cost technology ideal for several handheld and portable medical devices. Emergence of Covid-19 has led to surge in demand for devices such as ventilators and respirators. Pneumatic piston devices increase the effectiveness of these critical care devices and assist in speedy recovery process.

In biomedical research, pneumatic piston devices find application in the process of growing cells and transplants such as bone marrow cells. With increasing preference for precision medicine and increasing demand for organ transplant, the demand for pneumatic piston devices is expected to witness an upward trend. Use of pneumatic piston devices has also led to development of miniaturized respirators. Conventional respirators relied on large glass tubes with bellows. However, with advancements in pneumatics, we now use respirators with small cylinders, small compressor and valves. Electro-pneumatic devices are used in automated blood pressure monitoring devices. The devices use very precise pressure control and help in effective management of several cardiovascular diseases.

The healthcare sector, especially in developed countries, has witnessed a significant shift towards home healthcare, which is expected to further boost demand for smaller medical devices. Portable ventilator products significantly rely on pneumatic piston devices. Other home healthcare devices that use pneumatics include, C-PAP and oxygen concentrators. Furthermore, decrease in size of portable and handheld analyzers and increasing demand for next-generation products that operate longer between battery charges is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the market.


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