What is the role of an isolation transformer in biomedical equipment?

An isolation transformer plays a critical role in enhancing patient safety by providing a barrier against electrical faults and isolating biomedical equipment from the power supply. This isolation helps to prevent ground loops and reduce the risk of electrical shock to patients by ensuring that electrical currents do not take unintended paths through the patient’s body. The transformer achieves this by creating a separation between the electrical supply and the connected equipment, which is essential in medical settings where patients may be highly vulnerable to electrical hazards.

Furthermore, this type of transformer helps in minimizing interference from other electrical devices, ensuring that the signals received from diagnostic equipment (like ECG machines) are not affected by noise from the power supply or other electronic devices. It is an important safety feature that supports the proper and safe operation of medical equipment, particularly in environments where patients are in close proximity to electrical devices.