The Role of Load Cells in Medicine

Many medical facilities use load cells in their applications. Some are used in laboratories or pharmacies for compounding medications, while others use it for therapy equipment and infant incubators.

Load cells offer accuracy, efficiency and reliability in many medical, clinical and pharmaceutical applications. In most cases, medical load cells are lightweight and portable, especially when they should be attached directly to the patient.

So, what makes load cells important in the medical industry?

The Role of Load Cells in Medicine

●      Biomedical Research

All biomedical researches often use delicate and sensitive components. This is where the accuracy and reliability of load cells come in. Load cells allow scientists and researchers to monitor the force applied and the weight of specimens.

Biomaterial testing requires a high-level degree of accuracy and precision for measurement feedback. Even a gram of the specimen can alter the results necessary for the research, hence, quality and efficient load cells are required.

One of the best load cell options for biomedical research is a miniature load cell. This type of load cell is designed for measuring fastener clamping forces and thru-hole load applications which are perfect for scientific testing.

●      Therapeutic Equipment

The evolving technological needs in the medical industry is continuously growing. Most types of equipment for therapeutic exercise require precision and efficiency. A state-of-the-art personal care mobility device typically uses a customised single point load cell for its weighing system.

●      Hospital Appliances

Many hospitals use portable load cells that they can attach to hospital beds, devices and hoists. In some instances, load cells are directly attached to patients, especially during therapy sessions or as the medical procedure necessitates.

Let’s say that there is a need to get the weight of an injured patient in a ceiling hoist or raising aid. This situation will then require a shear beam load cell to ensure accurate and reliable full-scale output.

●      Kidney Dialysis Systems

Another important role of load cells in the medical field is for kidney dialysis systems. Ideally, it uses at least one load cell to ensure that the filtration system involves accurate timing and balance. The system includes removing and cleaning contaminated blood and recirculating clean reoxygenated blood. Any miscalculation in the system can render disastrous results for the patient.

Kidney dialysis systems typically use inline or s-beam load cells. The load cell is attached to a bag connected to the dialysis machine and to a computer where the rated output is monitored.

●      Plasma Separation Machine

One of the many innovations in the medical and cosmetic industry is the use of platelet-rich plasma or PRP. This process involves the separation of the three components of blood which are the platelets, red blood and white blood cells. After the separation process, an exact amount of platelet is needed for the medical or cosmetic procedure.

Two bending beam load cells are generally used for plasma separation machines to ensure that the right amount of plasma is produced for the reinjection procedure. In most cases, the load cell is calibrated per person. Accuracy and precision play an important role in ensuring the health and safety of the patients during a PRP treatment.

●      Stent Material Testing

Similarly, stent material testing requires a high level of precision, durability and reliability. This is because the implanted stent may be used by the patient for the rest of his or her life.

Large testing rigs used for stent and heart valve evaluation uses about a dozen of load cells. It is, then, extremely important that each of these load cells is efficiently installed to ensure the safety of the patient.

●      Weight Monitoring

One of the most common applications of load cells in the medical or clinical industry is weight monitoring. Even decades ago, weight monitoring has been part of the many duties of nurses and even doctors.

To help medical practitioners in their monitoring duties, hospital managements connect load cells to the bed and a handheld indicator for an accurate reading. This does not only offer precision but also reliability and accessibility to data.

Load cells provide a wide range of applications in almost all industries. It particularly plays a very important role in the medical world because it can affect the health and safety of people who rely on the accuracy and precision of load cells.

Whether for a routine weight check or sensitive biomedical research, it is important to use reliable, durable and efficient load cells.