The Challenges
A multinational medical technology company needed a robust battery solution that would improve cycle life of the battery and provide all-day, high-power performance for elevating and transporting patients on abulatory cots. In addition, the customer wanted the same battery pack to be used on future product line extensions and applications.
The Solutions
Working first with the customer to understand the application needs, Eastek as the Tier 1 manufacturer, then collaborated with our design and supply chain partners to select the correct battery chemistry; in this case Lithium Iron Phosphate becasue of its high discharge performance, long cycle life, safety, and reduced environmental impact. After battery chemistry selection, high performance battery cells and the Battery Management System (BMS) were integrated into the injection molded housing design. Finally, we also collaborated on the deisgn, development, and manufacturing of the battery charging station.
The Results
The customer tested the Eastek solution against several other designs and chose to award Eastek the project because of the test performance, manufacturing experience in battery packs/chargers, and the ongoing technical support Eastek and our partners could provide. In addition to using the battery pack on ambulatory cots, the customer has deployed the same battery pack/charger system on a powered stair chair and robotic surgery equipment. The application utilizes Eastek’s experience and knowledge in sourcing, battery engineering, safety design, battery deep-sleep storage/transport, tooling, molding, stamping, welding and assembly.
“Eastek was able to educate and guide us on what the best battery technology would be for our applications. They were an essential part of making sure multiple products functioned with the same battery.”
Chief Technology Officer