Medical Isolation Transformer Enables Safe Blood Sampling in NHS Clinical Research

Application

Medical research equipment | Patient-connected devices | NHS clinical environment

Products Used

REOMED® Medical Isolation Transformer (600 VA)

Background

Medical research equipment used in NHS environments must comply with strict electrical safety standards to protect both patients and clinical staff. In many cases, particularly with bespoke or legacy equipment, achieving compliance can be challenging without redesigning the entire system. REO UK was approached by a UK NHS clinical research facility seeking to improve the electrical safety of a specialist blood sampling device used in metabolic and endocrine studies.

The Challenge: Electrical Safety & Compliance in Patient-Connected Equipment

The device in question was a heated hand blood sampling system, used to obtain arterialised-venous blood samples. This method is widely recognised as a less invasive alternative to arterial sampling and is commonly used in clinical research.

A detailed technical description of this type of hand-heating enclosure and its clinical rationale is available in a University of Oxford technical note on the subject: A hand heating enclosure for clinical applications (PDF)

However, during routine checks, the hospital’s Medical Physics and EBME teams found that the device provided only basic insulation and grounding. Before it could continue to be used in a patient-connected environment, the system needed to meet the requirements of EN 60601-1, the internationally recognised standard for medical electrical equipment. Key concerns included:

• Patient leakage current limits
• Adequate electrical isolation from the mains supply
• Electrical safety during prolonged patient contact

Without a compliant solution, the equipment risked being removed from service.

The REO Solution: REOMED Medical Isolation Transformer

REO UK engineers conducted an on-site assessment to understand the device’s electrical characteristics and its operational environment. Based on this analysis, a REOMED 600 VA Medical Isolation Transformer was specified and installed. The REOMED transformer provides:

• Galvanic isolation between the mains supply and patient-connected equipment
• Reduced leakage currents, helping meet EN 60601-1 requirements
• A compact, medical-grade solution suitable for integration into existing systems

Crucially, the solution enabled compliance without redesigning or replacing the original equipment.

Results & Benefits

✔ EN 60601-1 Compliance Achieved

Following installation, the upgraded system passed internal EBME electrical safety checks, allowing the device to remain in clinical use.

✔ Continued Use of Specialist Research Equipment

The NHS trust avoided unnecessary replacement costs and disruption to ongoing research programmes.

✔ Improved Safety for Patients and Staff

Enhanced electrical isolation reduced risk during patient contact, increasing confidence for clinicians and researchers alike.

Why REOMED Medical Isolation Transformers?

REOMED transformers are specifically designed for medical and healthcare applications, including:

• Patient-connected devices
• Clinical research equipment
• Diagnostic and laboratory systems

They offer a practical route to compliance for both new designs and existing equipment, making them ideal for hospitals, OEMs, and medical device manufacturers.

“The REOMED upgrade provided electrical compliance to EN 60601. Installation was straightforward, and the system passed EBME checks with flying colours.” – EBME Engineer, NHS Trust

Conclusion

Electrical safety and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable in medical environments. By specifying a REOMED Medical Isolation Transformer, this NHS clinical research facility enhanced patient safety, met EN 60601-1 requirements, and continued using valuable specialist equipment with confidence