Chameleon

Critical medical support devices including ventilators and patient monitors require a battery, serving either as a primary source of power or as back-up in the event of mains electricity failure. Medical devices are generally characterised as having long development cycles with manufacturers slow to adopt new technologies. Product life cycles tend to be long so manufacturers can recoup high development costs and health authorities cannot afford to renew equipment regularly. Against this backdrop, a large number of medical devices use outdated battery technologies which lack the battery features (such as rapid charging, high discharge capacity, fuel gauging and lightweight) consumers experience with mobile phones, cordless power-tools and laptop computers. The battery chemistries used in the majority of existing medical devices have a negative environmental impact and are restricted by EU legislation.
There are sound economic and social benefits for removing patients from hospital and treating them in their own homes or in community care. The portability of medical equipment is often limited due to the size, weight and output of their battery technology. Medical OEMs are reluctant to make the considerable investment required to design, tool and qualify a customised battery due to their modest production volumes – they therefore use what is available on the open market with the compromises this entails.
We propose to develop a novel battery system utilising the latest high capacity, high rate,
rechargeable cell technology, coupled with state of the art electronic systems allowing safe and efficient charge management along and accurate fuel gauging technology. The system will be configurable both in electrical output and mechanical arrangement to satisfy the needs of multiple medical OEMs who are looking to develop the next generation of medical equipment. The system will be qualified to the latest internal standards required for batteries in medical devices.