A microscope slide that shows laser marking
Many things are important to health in hospitals, clinics, medical offices and pharmacies. As well as samples stored in vials, ampoules or tubes, it is important to assign them accurately. Privacy is essential for personal data. Medical instruments should be traceable down to the smallest component. Handwriting must not be out of date to avoid mistakes. The cab is a reliable, intuitive, and adaptable equipment that can be used either as a stand-alone device or in conjunction with an automation system. The use of the equipment will determine whether labels or laser marking is preferred.
Labeling – choose the right method
Thermotransfer printing can be used to produce sharp-edged images, 600 dpi and high contrast images. Even very small prints can be easily verified by either eye or scanners. Print data is resistant to water, solvents, and mechanical influences. Identities as well as dates and expiry can be seen at all times. This includes specific codes and numbers that are also visible during processing and long-term stock. The delays in the development or manufacture of medication and any inquiries are kept to a minimum. Inkjet printing does not require that colors dry before they can be printed. All roll stock can be printed continuously. Thermal printing allows clinics to increase productivity and reliability in the identification of patients.
Labelling – Select the right materials
Sterilizing at vapor pressure, stocking samples at temperatures as low as minus 200 °C in liquid nitrogen, or dyeing can damage a label, turn it void or detach it from a vessel. All resistances are tested on synthetic labels and ribbons that cab recommends for healthcare. These labels’ surfaces are designed for thermal transfer printing. Cores and roll diameters adapt to cab printers. Winding also works with cab printers. Cab consultants can help you from choosing the material to its integration at point of use. The best choice for cryo is Polyolefin, while Polyester is for tamper proof. The resin quality ribbons R11, R71, and R91 are all compatible.
Labeling – choose the right printer
Rapid processing is possible thanks to intelligent firmware, cab JScript programming language design, and a highly efficient CPU. Once a print job is initiated, a proven SQUIX label printer has printed the first line of a label in less that a second. Software can trigger and control the printing of labels. No complicated wiring is required to input or output. You can operate the printer from the unit, or remotely via the web interface on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Cab label printing systems are integrated in automation and robotic solutions.
Examples of operation: Labeling
– Samples are irreplaceable. Their value is high. They are often processed in vials or tubes. These labels are particularly reliable and can be quickly printed on printers which insert vessels manually, or automatically, such as by a robot, and provide an applicationator. AXON 1 by Cab solves these profiles. An AXON 2 applicator, assembled to a SQUIX4 MP printer, also solves them. With both models, it takes less that two seconds to print and then apply a label. Once the label has been applied to the tube, you can either remove it one at a time or place it on a tray. Additional labels can be added to cab by using the circlip system.
– Item carriers: A printer that uses an applicator can accurately label carrier frames in different sizes and shapes. The pad is used to transfer labels. The stroke length of an item is determined by its height, and the pad according to its surface structure. A lifting applicator can apply labels from a cab SQUIX printer to test tube carriers, for example. You can combine a rotary with a lifting tube to label microtiter plates.
– The test cassettes were made public at the most recent corona pandemic. Doctors, pharmacies, and labs still use PCR kits. These kits are packed in fully automated plants, and labeled to comply with pharmaceutical regulations. These self-adhesive labels are applied quickly and accurately by IXOR labeling heads. They can be used in continuous or clocked operations. You can apply up to 2,400 labels per minute synchronized with the product’s speed, depending on the materials used and the size of the label. Flexible data can be added to labels by adding a PXQ print module either before or after the label application. TAG ON, a cab spinoff, provides support and sales, as well technical and sales service.
– Logistics: RFID technology is a good choice for tracking and tracing medical equipment. Radio signals are used to transmit information through an electromagnetic field. RFID labeling is different than standard label printing. The RFID microchip on a label is sent to label printers along with a print job. RFID labels, also known as RFID tags, are self-adhesive labels that provide an RFID chip and an antenna. An RFID reader system requests a tag within the magnetic field. This tag antenna accepts the request, forwards it to the chip, and then finally answers, such as a serial numbers. Software can record and process the response from the reader system. It works the same way as scanning a 2D barcode or code, but has additional benefits. SQUIX series printers can be equipped with cab, an UHF RFID reader/writer and an RFID antenna.
GHS: Anybody who releases potentially dangerous substances into circulation (e.g chemicals) must clearly label them. The Globally harmonized System gives uniform guidelines. The Globally Harmonized System defines warning symbols as black pictograms placed on a white background and framed by a red homobus. The cab printers of XC Q series allow printing two colors on a label in one operation and provide an additional print head to print the spot color. Operators must not provide preprinted label stock for hazardous goods when labeling them. The Hermes C Print and Apply system is the first choice when labels are to be applied automatically on containers that have been printed in two-color.
Automation in the economic sector
Modern healthcare information management is designed to automate processes. For example, lab work involves receiving orders, forming samples, centrifugation, and analysis according to certain parameters. The results are verified, data and samples are recorded and archived. Reports are sent. Automation is becoming more common in LIMS. These systems ensure that quality meets ISO standards. Data transfers are managed in-house to clients and authorities. The automated Laboratory Information Management Systems are constantly processing information and removing or feeding it to systems, employees, and other components. Customers enjoy reduced costs and faster workflows that result in high quality, conformity, productivity, quality, and high consistency. The cloud hosts encrypted raw data and metadata that can be easily exchanged between systems. Cab units serve as a standard for all physical interfaces required to integrate with a network. OPC-UA is a standard for interactions and communication that are independent of platforms. It is possible to exchange control and measuring values in a secure manner. WebDAV transfers protocol allows virtual memories to be linked to cab units over a network. The web memory is accessible from any location.
Laser marking – choose the right laser
Lasers can be used to mark medical instruments with permanent, clear markings that are not easily removed. The item’s mechanical integrity is maintained. It is difficult to determine which laser system is best. Each operation is unique. It could be a single station or a marking in a plant. The surfaces and materials of the items are crucial. Healthcare uses metals and synthetics in large numbers.
Laser marking – The benefits of a fiber laser
Fiber lasers are very efficient and use less energy than CO2 lasers when they are adapted to an operation. While there is a higher initial investment than a label application or printing system, it is amortized with no need for maintenance. There is no need for consumables to be changed. Cab XENO systems include a control unit as well as a scanhead. The scanner connects with the beam source that is integrated into the control unit. Fiber focusing, which is performed by a lens mounted on the scanner head, can achieve the highest beam powers. This allows for the covering of a specific area. This is a general industrial rule that says the smaller the marking field the better the marking resolution.
This technique also has other benefits:
• Focus on smallest spots. High beam quality allows for marking even the smallest spots and uneven surfaces.
• Processing at high speed (as high as 5,000 mm/s with XENO 4 scan heads), as strongly focused light does not have to overcome mechanical resistance
• Pin sharp marking, i.e. Resolutions up to 1.000 dpi
• Proof to smudge, acids or alkalis, solvents, UV radiation, heat and wear
Examples of laser-marking – microscope slides and laboratory instruments
Tweezer, pliers, and scissors are indispensable aids that are often used in healthcare. Unique Device Identification (UDI), at this point, sets guidelines on encoding, marking, such as tamper resistance, quality, and process assurance. The same applies for sterile disposable items like syringes, canulas and prostheses. A permanent laser marking can allow a surgical clamp to be tracked back to its source by assigning a number. Other lot specimens can also be checked using the data stored. Any potential defects, such as complaints, can be eliminated. You can also think of thin microscope slides that are used to record and analyze micro specimens. These may also be marked with a laser using single-colored paint. The compact XENO 1 desktop unit has been especially successful in lab processes. Laser protection class 1A covers the protective chassis that houses the control unit and laser source. The system comes ready to be used.
Laser marking – Highly integratable
Healthcare must also comply with the general requirements of EU, the prevention of hazardous substances and the packaging regulation. You can think of markings and items changing continuously in a company. This is why cab lasers have been designed. They have a Performance Level of d and all safety and communication interfaces. Whether you need XENO4 to mark high quantities in fully-automatic plants, a LM+ solution for marking labels directly from a roll, XENO3 for marking type plates or XENO4, there’s a solution. As a manual workstation, the XENO 4 is capable of operating in a safety housing LSG+100E. An XENO1 desktop unit can be set up “out of the box” to be easily operated. All cab laser system are controlled by matured marking program.
You can find out more by following the link
cab can deliver equipment that fits, speeds up process times, simplifies operations, integrates equipment in information systems precisely, and is available to answer questions. Equipment in healthcare often plays an important role.
Presscontact: Guntram Stadelmann, Marketing / Technical Editing, Phone: +49 721 6626-285, [email protected], cab Produkttechnik GmbH & Co KG, Wilhelm-Schickard-Straße 14, 76131 Karlsruhe / Germany
About: Cab is Europe’s largest manufacturer and supplier of label printing systems. There are solutions to mark individual components, packages, or products with the devices. The company’s goals include sustainable global growth, innovative technologies, products that meet the needs of customers, and competent customer support. The company’s eight locations and over 800 distribution and service partners worldwide are ready to help you reach your goals. https://www.cab.de/en
This release was published by openPR.