Differences Between Regular Adapters and Medical Adapters

The main differences between regular power supplies and medical power supplies lie in the requirements for isolation, leakage current, and residual voltage. Medical power supplies have very strict electrical requirements because medical equipment is generally used in specialized environments. For example, they must comply with the IEC 60601-1 safety standards for isolation and leakage current, or related standards such as EN 60601-1, UL 60601-1, and CSA 22.2 No. 601.1 M90. In contrast, regular power supplies do not have such stringent standards, although they also have corresponding certification requirements.

Additionally, electromagnetic radiation and electromagnetic protection are crucial parameters for medical power supplies. This includes requirements for surge and transient current strength, electrostatic discharge (ESD) levels, and radio frequency interference (RFI) protection. Many medical applications involve RF therapy devices or non-invasive electronic surgical instruments, so the power supply must be able to withstand interference without being affected.

More Specific Comparisons

1. Waveform Requirements:For inverter power supplies, medical power supplies have stricter waveform requirements, making them closer to a pure sine wave.

2. Interference Prevention:Medical power supplies may use purified circuits for AC input to prevent interference.

3. Precision and Stability:Power supplies for precision medical equipment require more accurate and stable voltage regulation.

4. Reliability:Medical power supplies have better reliability and lower failure rates.

5. Cost:Medical power supplies are generally more expensive than regular power supplies and are required in smaller quantities.

In today’s world, with the continuous advancement of technology, a growing number of modern medical devices have been rapidly developed. This is especially true for electronic instruments that are in direct contact with the human body. In addition to the increasingly high-performance requirements for these instruments, safety for the human body has also become a significant concern.

For example, devices such as cardiac puncture monitors, ultrasound machines, maternal and infant monitors, infant incubators, and life monitors must ensure that patients are not exposed to risks of electric shock or other hazards when using the equipment.

Unlike consumer electronics and other low-cost products targeting the mass market, medical electronics must adhere to far more rules and standards. For engineers responsible for system power design, the first question to consider regarding power supply is whether to purchase or manufacture the necessary solutions.

Since the production volume of medical electronics is generally relatively low, engineers must weigh the options between buying and self-manufacturing. Medical electronics designers rarely consider designing offline power supplies themselves because the investment required for such specialized design and testing is disproportionate to the final production scale. As a result, it is more cost-effective for manufacturers to purchase power supplies directly from companies with the appropriate professional design and testing capabilities.