Standard rails and accessories: Load-bearing elements in the medical sector

No operating theater, hospital or nursing home could do without them these days. Operating theaters would resemble chaotic junk rooms, patient beds would be walled off from shelves and tables and at least ten more hands would be needed for medical procedures. We are talking about standard rails and the corresponding accessories. They are particularly important for attaching medical equipment and materials in the immediate vicinity of the patient. The more intensive the patient needs to be cared for and the more bodily functions are supported by machines, the more devices, instruments and waste take up the limited space around the patient couch. Various pumps, suction units, monitors, infusions and ventilation equipment are used in intensive care units in particular. But standard rails are also essential in other areas of healthcare. They are an integral part of every medical ceiling and wall supply unit as well as in anesthesia. Anesthetists often work in parallel with infusions, several simultaneously operating perfusors (syringe pumps), anesthetic gases and ventilation systems. In addition, all monitors must be in the field of vision of everyone working at all times. This often poses a major challenge for planning and organizing staff. Placement and structure must always be determined before the devices are needed, as every second often counts in the middle of an operation. The standard rail is also indispensable in rescue services or other ambulance services. The emergency services carry out diagnostic procedures in parallel with the initiation of therapeutic measures. This is why every standard rail or medical equipment rail is urgently needed on transport tables and trolley equipment.

Definition and function of standard rails

A standard rail, which is sometimes also referred to as a medical device rail, or more rarely as a DIN rail or mounting rail, is a horizontally or vertically mounted guide and holding rail for fastening and mounting all kinds of medical devices and accessories. Standard rails can be attached to the wall as well as to transport tables, beds, stands and tripods. Many shelves that can be mounted on standard rails also have additional attached standard rails to extend the space for work equipment on the same level. As the name suggests, standard rails are standardized, in this case according to DIN EN ISO 19054, which prevents each manufacturer from offering its own size and forcing the buyer to purchase only the matching products from the same manufacturer. The purchaser can be sure that all his existing equipment and products will also fit on newly purchased standard rails and, conversely, that purchased extensions will also fit on an existing medical equipment rail. Quality requirements, such as the strength of the surface, are also defined by the standard.

A standard rail enables accessories to be attached safely - for patients and staff - in hospitals, clinics, doctors' surgeries, the care sector and outpatient treatment. The wall brackets of standard rails usually have a spacing of 400 millimetres, allowing them to bear loads of up to 100 kilograms per meter. Different lengths are available, but the dimensions of the rail cross-section are always 25 x 10 millimetres. The ends of the medical device rail are sealed with plastic caps. As standard rails conduct electricity, equipotential bonding on the wall bracket or directly on the equipment rail ensures the necessary earthing to protect against electric shocks.

Optimum arrangement and use of standard rails

When it comes to standard rails, the saying "less is more" does not apply. It is always better to have free standard rails in reserve instead of not knowing later, for example in an unexpected emergency situation, where an additional device or accessory should be attached. Small elements such as cable hooks are often neglected, but they make working with many different devices and hose guides much easier. A cable holder ensures the necessary order and safety when routing cables and hoses. Also consider a cable cover for each equipotential bonding cable. Furthermore, at least one separate hose holder should be attached to all changes of direction of each hose guide so that the route remains clear. Different pump circuits should each have their own hose holder to avoid confusion when reconnecting. If gas cylinders are used, a support device with an additional standard rail is recommended, which enables the attachment of other elements, such as a secretion container. Not all patients and people in need of care are bedridden. The use of standard rail claws and the appropriate clamp also makes it possible to attach a support tube to a wheelchair. Appropriate holders for infusion bags and short horizontal standard rails for holding other required supply units can then be attached to it. The appropriate cross-section for the clamp must be selected for the tube attachment, unless a universal clamp is used. In general, products that are moved frequently should also be installed as quickly and easily as possible. This can be achieved in hectic everyday life with the help of a quick-release clamp. The quick-release clamp or quick-release claw enables accessories to be attached to standard rails in a flash - without tools, of course. 
For the less frequently used vertically installed standard rails, for example, a swivel bracket with tube holder is recommended. This allows a support tube or infusion stand to be attached to a standard rail and still remain movable. The rotating and swiveling version is particularly popular in hospitals.

Buschmeier Medizintechnik: The perfect standard rails with accessories for any equipment