CITY TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL SENSORS LIVE 50% LONGER
City technology - world leaders in gas detection - have launched the
6 strong range of MOX Oxygen sensors for medical applications with a life
of 18 months, 50% longer than any other available worldwide.
Research
scientists within City's 50-strong R&D team explored the two principal
factors that affect sensor life: the gaseous context in which they work
and the structure/design of the sensor casing. Oxygen sensors used for
measuring oxygen received by patients tend to be concentrated in three
critical environments: operating theatres; critical care departments and
neonatal critical care areas. Here, sensor reliability is crucial for
patient well being, care delivery and keeping downtime of care facilities
to a minimum.
Sensor failure is most common in operating theatre environments, where they measure oxygen received by patients under anesthesia. Anesthesia gases cause pressure build up inside the sensor, which causes leakage of the electrolyte around the seals, and subsequent sensor failure. City have solved the problem by developing an electrode pressure relieving system, to stabilize pressure within the sensor.
Jonathan Gilby, Associate Director - Medical applications: "Our success in developing this solution is mainly due to being able to tap into the 20 years experience City has in manufacturing sensors for the safety market. The wealth of data on stability we have accumulated over the years has been invaluable to our project teams here. These sensors do not drift or lose output over time."
City's factory at Portsmouth, which manufactures a total of over 1m sensors a year, is divided into specialized production areas. The MOX sensors production processes are performed by a dedicated, 10-person production team and incorporate automatic checks such that each stage cannot be carried out unless the previous stage was 100% correct. Gilby again: "It is by eradicating risk of error during production, and scrupulously testing every sensor prior to despatch, that we have achieved a returns rate of 0.04%. I would challenge any manufacturer worldwide to beat that."
With a highly competitive pricing structure and the ability and willingness to co-develop customized products, City are geared up for a major surge in demand from gas detection OEM's in the coming months. Kevin Breen, City's Managing Director: "It is without doubt our on-going commitment to R&D which keeps us at the forefront of the market, and this cross-fertilization of expertise within City, clearly gives us the edge."
For further information please contact:
| Jonathan Gilby, Associate Director - Medical Applications | +44 23 9232 5511 |
| Sally Davis at The PR Department on | + 44 23 9266 1600. |