Lithium batteries vital in flight defibrillators
A
Saft Rechargeable Battery Systems product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Feb 3, 2000
How the LO26SHX lithium sulphur dioxide 12 Volt primary battery pack powers LIFEPAK 500 automated external defibrillator.
The LIFEPAK 500 automated external defibrillator (AED), now carried as standard equipment on each of British Airways' 250 aircraft, is powered by a long-life, high power Saft lithium sulphur dioxide battery pack.
This primary (non-rechargeable) 12 Volt battery will not only power the LIFEPAK for around 300 individual discharges, it also enables the equipment to remain unused for up to four years yet still be relied on to power up immediately should an emergency arise.
AEDs are designed to enable people without extensive medical expertise to treat ventricular fibrillation (VF) the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest.
In VF the heart quivers ineffectively and is unable to pump blood throughout the body, The AED supplies a powerful electrical shock, known as defibrillation, that interrupts the VF and allows the heart's normal rhythm to regain control.
Without treatment the patient will die within minutes.
The product carried by British Airways is the LIFEPAK 500 AED, manufactured by Medtronic Physio-Control.
This rugged, compact and portable device weighs in at only seven pounds (3.2 kg).
Its low maintenance requirements and intuitive operation, aided by concise voice prompting, audio warnings and instructions displayed on an LED screen, makes it ideal for use by infrequent AED users such as cabin staff.
The LIFEPAK 500 AED is offered with a choice of a rechargeable battery or a primary battery.
Safety legislation and the need to keep maintenance to an absolute minimum dictated the primary battery option for airline usage.
Lithium sulphur dioxide cells - the high power, long life option Medtronic Physio-Control selected a lithium type battery for the 500 because of the higher energy density available in lithium cells.
More specifically, Saft lithium sulphur dioxide cells were specified for a number of reasons: * Lithium sulphur dioxide cells are available in a cell size that provides excellent capacity and current delivery capability for long term defibrillator operation.
They provide the 500 with the longest battery life rating of any AED - a minimum of 230 full discharges and typically over 300.
This reduces the cost of ownership and maintenance since the battery needs to be changed less frequently.
In addition, this feature combines with the extremely long shelf-life (four years in aircraft use) to eliminate one of the most common problems reported with defibrillators: depleted batteries.
* Lithium sulphur dioxide cells have a history of use in rugged military applications where durability and the capability to withstand extreme environmental conditions are important.
Many AEDs are stored and transported in uncontrolled environments where similar demands apply.
* Lithium sulphur dioxide batteries operate effectively over a broader temperature range than other lithium cells.
This enables them to charge a defibrillator faster at lower temperature extremes and throughout battery life.
* Lithium sulphur dioxide cells lend themselves to the design of simple and reliable circuits for low-battery detection.
This eliminates the need for extra sensing cells or complicated detection techniques that are required for other lithium cell types.
Reliable detection of a depleted battery is a vital feature for a defibrillator with a user-replaceable battery.
The battery supplied by Saft for the LIFEPAK 500 AED comprises a pack of four LO26SHX 'D' hermetically sealed cells wired in series.
This provides a nominal voltage of 12 Volts and a capacity of 7.5 Ah in a pack weighing just under two pounds (0.9 kg).
Safety precautions include an 8 A fuse and series thermal cut-outs mounted to each of the cells.
All of the individual cells, as well as the battery pack itself, include a safety vent to release pressure.
A six-page colour datasheet detailing Saft's primary lithium batteries is available.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Saft Rechargeable Battery Systems
Tel +44 1279 772550
Other Saft Rechargeable Battery Systems stories
-
NiCd cells combine the best of both worlds
Saft has developed the new VNT range of NiCd cells to satisfy the needs and requirements of specific applications such as emergency lighting. -
Novel drain cleaners gain battery power
The Trojan Tool company's cordless sewer and drain cleaner provides a powerful and safer alternative to AC powered devices that electrocute hundreds of plumbers every year. -
High-energy rechargeable batteries cycle well
Saft has extended its VH "super high energy" series with two new nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) cylindrical cells - the D-size VH D 9500 and the F-size VH F 1500. -
CD "handbook" features battery selection guide
The new Saft Rechargeable Battery Systems handbook is a full guide to the selection and use of rechargeable batteries. -
Ni-MH cell handles heavy cycling
Saft's new VH F nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) cylindrical cell has been developed specifically for applications requiring high-energy rechargeable batteries for use in frequent cycling conditions.
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
