Power transformer home » Transformer Articles » Medical Grade Isolation Transformer

Medical Grade Isolation Transformer

Medical Grade Transformers are the types of transformers, as the name indicates, used for medical purposes and in hospitals, biomedical fields and patient care areas.

There are understandably a large number of rigid safety rules and guidelines that apply to the design, construction and testing of these types of transformers. These safety rules enjoin an upper limit on earth leakage current, patient leakage current, enclosure leakage current and patient auxiliary currents. Likewise, minimum levels are prescribed for creepage distance and air clearance. There are also defined maximum temperature rise at load and at over load.

These rules and regulations are found in UL 2601-1, IEC 601-1, CSA C22.2 No. 601 and EN 60601-1 standards. As many of us are aware, the majority of medical grade transformers are isolation transformers.

As many of us are aware, there are basically two types of isolation transformers - one that is based on Safety Ground, and the other that relies on double or reinforced insulation. The first type uses a basic isolation between the primary and the safety shield and shield to secondary. This shield is invariably thick to withstand the required tests in the safety standard. If the isolation breaks, then the electrical path will directly hit the ground to ensure safety.

In a transformer that relies on double or reinforced Insulation there is no safety shield, but the insulation is much thicker. Here you will find that all layers of the insulation pass the thickness and high potential voltage tests required by the standard. If one insulation layer breaks, the next layer will act as a back-up to provide the required safety.

Be it of either design, the construction must still meet the required creepage and clearance requirements. If the transformer includes a static shield for noise reduction, it is important to note that this shield does not provide the transformer with Safety Ground but it working as a functional earth.

As is expected, Tripp Lite's IS250HG Hospital Grade isolation transformer offers line isolation, continuous noise filtering and enhanced common mode surge suppression. Full UL2601-1 medical grade transformer with hospital-grade plug and outlet receptacles makes Hospital Grade transformers eminently suited for the protection of sensitive electronic equipment in patient-care areas.

Additional surge suppression components placed at the line input and output combined with full line isolation offers continuous filtering of a full range of power line noise in all modes. Further, active transformer filtering offers continuous common-mode noise rejection, uniquely designed to reduce surges in the worst of power environments to absolutely safe levels.

Isolation transformer is a transformer, often with symmetrical windings, which is used to decouple two circuits. Isolation transformers with electrostatic shields are used for power supplies for sensitive equipments. Despite all the safety factors, it is inadvisable to play around or tamper with a medical grade transformer. Even if an object near a transformer is to be retrieved, it is prudent to call the electric company. The electricity from the transformer can kill anyone and therefore avoid touching wires in and around the transformer.