And the beat goes on

Inside the marvelous medical devices that keep hearts going.

The latest ground-breaking medical devices depend on reliable, effective batteries to power them. Many of these products are life-sustaining and life-changing, so consistent power is essential.

Berlin Heart is one of these medical-device makers that needs profoundly reliable batteries. The German company develops and produces VADs (ventricular assist devices), which are vital for patients with end-stage heart failure who may be waiting for a transplant. These devices are either implanted or used externally, and the company even makes a model for children.

Berlin Heart’s devices need batteries that provide autonomous power to support patients for the whole day, so they can walk around and be discharged from hospital to live a close-to-normal life. As Berlin Hearts’ product manager puts it: “Saft batteries are mission-critical for our VADs because they provide reliable mobile power. Mobility is an important feature for our patients; it lets them enjoy an improved quality of life.”

Saft also provides lithium batteries to companies that develop devices to remotely monitor people suffering from a cardiac pathology. Sensors and electrodes placed on the patient’s chest supply data to doctors in real time in the case of arrhythmia. This way medics can respond more quickly to a person’s condition. Clearly, batteries must again operate non-stop. “Quality and reliability are crucial for these critical heart monitoring devices. We simply cannot leave the battery technology to chance, that is why we put our trust in Saft batteries,” explains one of Saft’s customers.

Demand for batteries in medical environments is about as tough as it gets: above all, reliability is essential. Companies come to manufacturers like Saft to create bespoke batteries that fit their needs perfectly, knowing that other factors, such as portability, autonomy and responsiveness, are crucial to their customers as well.

Ecaterina.hauser@saftbatteries.com