R&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 and takes care of the galvanic isolation of the data lines. That saves costly solutions on the side of the medical equipment and ensures uninterrupted data transmission. R&MsafeLine is not dependent on a particular device, does not require any software or its own power supply, and is also compatible with the cabling system R&Mfreenet.
Reliable data and communication networks are absolutely vital for any institution in the healthcare sector. The IT cabling system supports many applications at the same time: clinic information systems, electronic patient records, image-based digital archives, HD video transmission for training sessions and remote consultations, telemedicine, alarms, office programs, file and print services, Voice over IP, WLAN, IP-based monitoring and security systems, as well as energy, climate and building management, amongst others.
The applications generate many gigabytes of data material every day. In turn, data has to be reliably accessible in milliseconds, from any computer on the clinic campus.
In addition, there are requirements for compliance, risk and quality management in accordance with ISO 80001 or ISO 27001. These standards demand failsafe IT infrastructures. For example, clinics have to ensure that the operation of medical, administrative and multimedia applications is clearly separated. The R&M security system supports this goal with colour coding, shutters and labels to mark the different connections.
With mechanical locks for LAN connectors, the highest level of the security system prevents misuse or errors when cables are unplugged or plugged. Only authorised people can open the locks. This means clinics can take steps to physically ensure that data connections are not interrupted unintentionally or negligently. The highly reliable R&Mfreenet system with its special solutions which address specific problems during operation makes R&M the ideal partner for healthcare projects.
In a bid to simplify network infrastructure while accommodating the increased demand for bandwidth, R&M has also released its new OM5 fibre solution in the Middle East. The vendor’s lime green OM5 solutions support duplex transmission up to future 200G requirements, thereby eliminating cabling complexity associated with MPO polarity management.
The new OM5 solution enables 40G and 100G on an LC-duplex and offers customers the ability to further increase capacity to 200G per fibre in the future. It is available with R&M’s push-pull LC-QR patch cords that have the smallest cable diameter cable and this minimises the cabling bulk. As per specifications of the OM5 standard, the solution supports all legacy applications as well as OM4, and is fully compatible and intermateable with both OM3 and OM4 cabling. The solution also integrates with R&M’s Netscale, which is the industry’s highest-density fibre cable management solution.
R&M has also developed the new outdoor solution for fibre optic networks. The SYNO dome closure is revolutionising the assembly process. A modular system for cable entries eliminates the laborious task of threading fibre optic cables through the closure bottom plate. This product from R&M dispenses with time-consuming sealing using shrink tubes. Instead, integrated blocks made from the company’s own SYNO gel seal the splice closure.
With the new SYNO dome closure, the fibre optic cables are inserted laterally, doing away with the need to thread them through the closure bottom plate. The cable entries can be opened, closed, changed, and retrofitted in just a few simple steps. The cable bays and individual cables remain freely accessible, implying that the dome closure can be modified or fitted with additional fibre optic cables even during network operations.
The SYNO gel technology developed by R&M is an innovation for mechanical cold sealing. When the cable entry is sealed, gel surrounds each cable, preventing dust and moisture from getting in. Fluctuating temperatures, mechanical loads, or water pressure cannot damage the dome-end splice in any way.
Key takeaways
- Clinics have to ensure that operation of medical, administrative, multimedia applications is clearly separated
- Medical devices and data networks have to be galvanically isolated at such places of use to protect patients from any possible overvoltage
- Materials used for outlets and patch cords feature additives which are harmless for patients and prevent bacteria and germs from settling on them
- R&MhealthLine range is the first complete and consistent cabling solution comprising all components that can be touched by the patient
- With mechanical locks for LAN connectors the highest level of security system prevents misuse or errors when cables are unplugged or plugged
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