When it comes to finding the right wheels for a medical supply cart, it is important the decision is not taken lightly. After all, in a medical environment, any kind of equipment failure can be fatal.
Patients and healthcare workers depend on highly sensitive equipment being transported over different departments, floor types and distances every day, so selecting the right type of castor for every medical equipment cart is important.
Medical Applications for Castors
In hospitals and other medical clinics, castors are used for a variety of different purposes. The specific purpose will have an impact on the type of castor that is selected. For example, when installing castors for patient beds, a silent, smooth operating castor must be chosen.
Here is a list of potential uses for castors in the medical environment:
- Patient beds
- Medical computer carts
- Medical storage carts for cleaning equipment
- Carts for storing and transporting medication
- Wheelchairs
- Laboratory equipment carts
- IV drip supports
- Office furniture
What Makes a Good Castor for a Medical Cart?
In order to select the right castor, you need to be aware of what it is that makes for a good castor. Here are the most important factors to consider when selecting castors for a medical supply cart and other medical uses.
1.Wheel material
The material plays a crucial role in how smoothly the castor will run on different floor types. It also affects the amount of noise it will make. As a result, a shock absorbent material like nylon or neoprene is a good choice since they produce low levels of vibration.
2. Floor type
The type of floor needs to be a consideration. Often, a hospital cart will be used to travel over different floor types so a castor capable of high performance on multiple floors may be needed in these cases.
3.Operation environment
Aside from the floor, the external environment where the castor will be used is going to alter your decision. As an example, rolling medical supply carts that are used in an operating theatre need to be washed down and sterilized regularly. Therefore, corrosion-proof material like stainless-steel will be the best choice.
4.Wheel size
Your castor’s wheel needs to be large enough in diameter to navigate over and ridges or bumps in the floor they’re being used on.
5.Capacity
Of course, carrying heavier loads means a more robust set of castors is needed. As a general rule for a 4-castor medical cart, every single castor fitted to it should have the capacity to carry a third of the total load. This will give you a good margin of safety.
6. Expected usage-life
The more often you need to replace a castor, the more money it costs you. Selecting a castor with a high durability rating may be more expensive initially but will save money on replacement costs.
Medical Castor Manufacturing Standards
Another key aspect of selecting the right castor for medical equipment is to ensure it has been designed and built with durability and integrity. The original manufacturer of the castors you choose should design them to uphold strict specifications.
In 2018, the Institute of Castor and Wheel Manufacturers collaborated with the American National Standards Institute to come up with a document known called the ANSI ICWM: 2018 The ICWM Performance Standard for Casters and Wheels. The intention of this document is to provide medical cart manufacturers and users with a basis for judging the structural integrity and safety of castors and wheels.
The International Organization for Standards also has a set of specifications that should be applied to castors being used for medical purposes:
- ISO 22881: Requirement for use on manually propelled equipment for institution applications
- ISO 22882: Requirements for castors for hospital beds
- ISO 22883: Requirement for applications up to 4 km/h
- ISO 22884: Requirement for applications over 16 km/h
- IEC 60601: Technical standard for the safety and effectiveness of medical equipment
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right castors for your medical equipment can impact a variety of areas from ergonomics, efficiency, productivity and even the lifespan of the equipment.
