What Flexible Heaters Are Used in Respiratory Therapy?

What Flexible Heaters Are Used in Respiratory Therapy?

People are paying more attention to their personal health thanks to the advancement in living standards. The focus of the researcher is shifting to new devices. The physical and environmental conditions of the human body can be tracked by innovative solutions. They act effectively, following the requirements of the human body, thus raising people’s standard of living.

Flexible heaters are one such example. The usage of flexible heaters is necessary for a variety of medical devices. There are minor differences between the machines used in respiratory therapy to fit in the small gaps between the equipment’s designs.

Flexible film heaters are thus available in various design styles and applications. It can be employed based on the machine’s usage. Materials, heat-up times, resistance, designs, and features vary from one custom heater to another.

What Are Custom Flexible Heaters?

Flexible heaters are surface heaters that are flexible and lightweight. They are designed to precisely heat solid objects. They are made of wire-wound pieces and flexible substances like silicone or Kapton foil. Flexible heaters offer many advantages for a variety of industrial applications since they are reliable and function precisely. 

Custom flexible heaters are coated, screened, printed, and chemically etched. They can be changed in some ways by twisting to match the shapes of the surfaces that will be heated. Flexible heaters are cheap, durable, efficient, and safe. Additionally, they are flexible, lightweight, and water- and chemical-resistant.

These heating elements perform effectively in challenging conditions and vacuum applications. Custom-made heating elements are the best option if your industrial application demands:

• low thermal density

• complicated shapes

• lightweight design or minimal thickness

Top 4 Types of Flexible Heaters Used in Respiratory Therapy

Numerous industries can benefit from the use of flexible heaters. For instance, it can be applied to the clothing, automobile, aviation, food service, and healthcare industries. Flexible printed heaters might have been found in particular garment items. For instance, gloves or a thick jacket. 

Using flexible printed heaters, you can stay warm while working outdoors in chilly weather. In the field of medicine, they also have therapeutic uses. A heated back or neck brace is a healthcare device that most uses flexible printed heaters.

Heat therapy aids in physical healing and muscle relaxation. Additionally, they can be found in medical devices, including hydrotherapy pools, scanners, and blood respiratory therapy units. The following types of flexible heaters are used in respiratory therapy.

1. Silicone Rubber Heaters

Silicone rubber heaters come in wire-wound or etched foil forms. It comprises a resistance wire coiled around a fiberglass cable for protection and stability. Custom heaters with etched foil are constructed from a thin metal foil. This metal functions as the element of resistance.

Before starting large-scale production processes with etched foil, a wire wound is advised and preferable for small to medium-sized heaters and medium- to large heaters.  It is utilized to build prototypes to test the design requirements. 

It offers effective heat transfer and resistance. It does it by using its flexibility due to its structure and shape. The silicone rubber, silicone, and aluminum make it look similar to the etched foil design. However, it increases its wear resistance. It is, therefore, often used in moist areas.

2. Kapton Heaters

Kapton heaters and polyimide heaters are similar terms. Kapton is the material used to make it. Polyimide heaters are the thinnest, most flexible heaters available. The foil is covered with the CAD-designed resistance pattern that will be etched.

It is adhered to the insulating layer by lamination. The element is next given an acid spray for processing. This aids in creating the correct resistance pattern. After that, the top layer is added and laminated.

The heater is completed by adding lead wires and sealing them with epoxy cement. It has excellent tensile strength and perfect heat dispersion. They function effectively in hot temperatures or small areas.

3. Polyester heaters

Polyester heaters are made of two insulating polyester carrier layers and electrically conductive ink. They have a maximum dimension of 600 × 1000 mm and a minimum average height of 0.2 mm. 

These polyester heating coils can be applied to flat or slightly curved surfaces to evenly heat vast areas. Heaters can be created and constructed in a wide variety of configurations. This is done to match your application’s size and shape specifications. 

Polyester foil heaters can withstand temperatures in the stable range of up to 90 °C. In most cases, it is impossible to anticipate what degree a polyester heating element will reach during use. It distributes heat evenly over the entire heating surface.

4. Foil Heaters

Foil heaters are constructed using a high-temperature silicone resistance base. They are protected by an outer foil jacket. The average working power per inch of the resistor core is 4.5W. Foil heaters are typically utilized for warming situations where a cost-effective surface warmer is required. 

The highest temperature limit is 325 °F. Usually, the maximum watt density is 5 W/in2, although it can be greater depending on the application. An aluminum foil heater comprises two thin sheets of aluminum sandwiching a cable with a resistive heating element. 

Rectangular foil heaters are the most common shape. However, any custom design with holes and cuts can be manufactured. For added control, inbuilt thermostats and thermal fuses are available for heaters. Medical heaters are used widely because of their adaptability to meet a variety of applications and affordable prices.

In Summary

It takes a lot of different parts to build medical equipment. Flexible or custom heaters are among the essential components. They come in different shapes and sizes. It enables the manufacturer to choose the best materials for specific medical equipment. 

Respiratory therapy is necessary for the treatment of respiratory conditions like lung disease. Some of these treatments may last a long time, while others may finish quickly. Some of the equipment needed for respiratory therapy is built using custom heaters.

Flexible heaters and tools support the treatment of respiratory illnesses at home, in healthcare facilities, and in hospitals. Custom heaters can be utilized in various equipment shapes because of their condition and adaptability. Flexible heaters are not only economical but also beneficial for patients.

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