November 7, 2022
Disposable vs. Reusable...Why choose disposable?
Once medical cables have been opened, they need to be sterilized before they can be used again, whether or not they ever came in contact with the patient. Steps involved include:- Prolonged soaking, cleaning and rinsing in pH-neutral enzymatic cleansers and sanitizers that are compatible with all device materials
- Testing to measure and/or calculate continuity to verify functionality as well as isolation (cross talk), to detect any breakdown of electrical insulation
- Short circuits are detected by measuring the resistance between each pair of electrodes
According to a study released by Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, medical supply reprocessing, including maintenance, packaging, labor, and high-level disinfection. costs about $0.51 to $0.77 per instrument, with only 13% to 21.9% of opened instruments ultimately used. When reusable pacing wires are opened for a surgical procedure, all wires are exposed and must be decontaminated, re-assembled, and sterilized, regardless of whether the cables were used.
The alternative is disposable cables. Manufacturers can save time by eliminating the need to clean and disinfect wires between patient use. When choosing a disposable connector, the medical industry cannot rely on low-cost, poor-quality connectors. Failure is not an option.
Smiths Interconnect's Hypergrip® Series disposable connectors are designed to meet customer's ergonomic requirements and reduce total system cost by delivering a reliable interconnect solution for single or few uses, ideal for applications that don't require high cycle life but still require a premium disposable connector, mated with a high cycle receptacle.
Connectors designed for Value and Performance
- Modular four-piece design allows customer to purchase only what they need.
- Crimp and poke pins designed for ease of installation and plating optimized for disposable applications
- Support for high volume processes such as overmolding for low cost of ownership
- Utilized existing insertion tool and crimp positioner for assembly
- Maintains electrical performance of HG Series Plugs
- Innovative keying system allows customers to build connectors with 6 different keying options reducing lead time and inventory
- Available in 5 color options for effortless mating recognition
- IPX4 Sealed when mated*
- Flammability: UL94 V-0 rated
- Fingerproof: Meets requirements of IEC 60601-1
- Supports biocompatibility
- Processing Temperatures up to 185oC
Smiths Interconnect HyperGrip® Catalog
Contact our Sales Department for technical assistance and more information.