What Are The Major Components Of A Pneumatic Tube System And What Are These Systems Used For?

Pneumatic tube systems are rudimentary inventory in hospitals with more than 200 beds. Because they are the best solution when long distances need to be covered and when seconds count, for example during surgery, when a blood product or a sample result is needed urgently. Whether blood-, tissue, urine samples or medication – when speed is vital, the hospital tube system will transport items fast, safe and shock-free.

Patient registration and the ER, laboratory, surgery, blood bank or care wards, nurses’ rooms and the hospital’s pharmacy – the different areas in a hospital can all be connected to the pneumatic tube system with our choice of space-saving stations in modern designs.
We know that transporting samples requires special care. We developed leak-proof protective carriers and individually adjustable transport velocity especially for hospitals’ needs. Blood samples, for example, can be transported gently at a reduced speed.

The medical sector has to be profit-oriented and cost efficient just as any other industry. Hospitals often suffer from staff shortages. Our pneumatic tube systems increase your efficiency by saving money and time and by increasing productivity of your employees. And our systems offer a return on investment with an amortization of one to two years. Hospital employees will be relieved of time-consuming tasks. Instead of running errands they can concentrate on what is really important: Their patients.

Pneumatic tube systems are used to transport materials safely and efficiently between two or more points. They are used in many industries and have a rich history.
Carriers are the capsules that actually travel through tubes. As their name suggests, they carry the material to be transported from point A to point B. Carriers come in varying sizes to accommodate different systems and industries. Leak-resistant and leak-proof carriers are ideal for hospitals and labs that need to transport sensitive liquid materials. Carriers are made of durable, transparent material and have secure but easy-to-operate closure flaps. The cushioned skirts on either end of the carrier allow it to move smoothly through tube systems and arrive at their destination safely.

Stations are the ports that send and receive carriers. They include docks to insert carriers and user interface panels to send them to the desired end-station. There are different types of stations depending on the needs of the system. A pneumatic system might have two stations, or it may have diverging paths that lead to several stations.
A diverter is used to create branching paths in a tube system. When a complex system requires multiple paths to and from a given station, a diverter is used at the intersection of those branching paths. The diverter changes the direction of the carriers as they pass through. The animation below shows how the diverter changes the direction of the carrier.

Blowers are the fans that cause the carriers to move through the pneumatic tubes. By creating a difference in air pressure between two ends of the system, the blower effectively

Sucks the carrier through the tubes. Carriers move through the system at speeds of around 25 feet per second. Blowers are powered by motors that switch on and off as needed to direct the tubes through the system.

Steps for Using a Pneumatic Tube System

1. Place the material into a carrier
2. Insert the carrier into a station
3. Use the station’s user interface to select a destination and send the carrier
4. A blower activates, creating pressure that pulls the carrier through the tube system at speeds of 25 feet per second
5. A computerized system activates diverters as necessary, which direct the carrier on the proper path throughout the system
6. The carrier arrives at the destination station and is received