3M VOLITION FIBRE OPTIC NETWORKS HELP HOSPITALS PROVIDE BETTER PATIENT CARE

In hospitals and other health care establishments throughout Europe and the UK, fibre optic data networks are helping to transform the way health specialists work.

Freed from the constraints and limitations of traditional copper cable based communications networks, consultants, doctors, nurses and administrative support workers are being enabled to deliver higher levels of patient care through quicker, easier and more convenient transmission of information.

As more and more patient care functions become automated - via patient data management systems (PDMS), for example - the capacity of traditional networks installed throughout hospitals to cope with the extra demand can be compromised.

Fibre optic data networks, however, not only deliver the capacity needed to handle the increased current requirements, but also offer the bandwidth necessary to easily accommodate emerging and future facilities.

These include, for instance, the electronic delivery of patient information - including X-rays and scans - to the bed space in order that consultants and their health colleagues can be still better prepared to deliver the highest levels of patient care.

As images, X-rays and scans are notoriously large files, and rapidly increasing numbers of X-ray departments are specifying fibre optic data networks as the network of choice.

In addition to increased bandwidth, fibre optic networks - LAN or WAN - offer many other benefits over copper networks including longer run lengths, eliminating communications rooms and so freeing up vital extra space; as well as improved reliability and immunity to interference. Fibre optic networks have also been shown to cost up to 20 per cent less than copper networks.

Compared with copper, optical fibre allows longer cable run lengths without the need for additional 'active' (electrical) components. Typically, while copper cable run lengths are restricted to up to 100m, fibre optic cable runs of around 400m are easily achievable.

Longer run lengths improve performance and reduce costs, both by port utilisation of the active core and the removal of the secondary active. Costs are further reduced by eliminating the space required for communications rooms for the traditional copper backbone.

Interference to communications networks caused by electromagnetic radiation can be a problem in any situation. Unlike copper networks, optical fibre is immune to radiation, and at the same time will also not itself radiate any form of interference. In many environments, including hospitals, defence installations and manufacturing, this could be a critical consideration since even in a normal office, photocopiers, vending machines or cooling fans cause interference which will corrupt data carried by copper cable if they are positioned too close.

Due to its resistance to electromagnetic radiation, and the increased bandwidth offered by fibre, optical fibre networks are significantly more reliable in their ability to transfer data. Fibre networks are, therefore, far less likely to suffer from inadequate or incomplete transfer of data.

3M Telecom Systems Division is a global leader in providing the materials, components, products and services for the assembly and maintenance of high-grade communications network systems and equipment.

Vol 900

Within the 3M Telecom Systems Division, the Volition Network Solutions offering consists of all the products needed to install - or evolve towards - a complete fibre optic LAN, providing a total fibre-to-the-desk (or fibre-to-the-bed space) solution.

The complete line of fibre-based networking products makes 3M the only company in the market to offer end-to-end fibre networking solutions from passive cabling infrastructure to active equipment, including desktop and server based NICs (running at 10 Meg, 100 Meg, full duplex Gigabit and dual ported Gigabit, for resilience), media converters, modular workgroups and core switches.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, 3M introduced the Volition VF-45 fibre connector that is very quick to install, terminates two fibres at once, brings high bandwidth to the desk or bed space, and that alone contributed hugely to a massive reduction in fibre equipment costs. As a result, it brought the cost of fibre optic communications networks below those of copper networks.

The Volition system is available in the UK and throughout Europe through systems integrators and distributors.

3M is a $16 billion technology company with leading positions in health care, electronics, telecommunications, industrial, consumer and office, safety and other markets. It has operations in more than 60 countries and serves customers in nearly 200 countries.

For more information about 3M Volition Network Solutions, contact

Ian Hobbs
UK Business Manager
3M Telecom Systems
Customer Technical Centre
3M UK plc
Easthampstead Road
Bracknell
Berkshire RG12 1JE.

Email: ihobbs@mmm.com.
Or visit the website at www.3M.com/volition.

 

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