8. Oct 2004 15:34 16. Nov 2010 09:56

Pneumatic Tube System - The Sample Subway

The pneumatic tube system is a transport system below the hospital - really 'the tube'. But the passengers in this system are medicines, samples and blood bags.

8. Oct 2004 15:34 8. Oct 2004 18:22

Three tracks, numerous trains and hundreds of stations. That is our Tube - as efficient and reliable as London's more famous variant!

	QUICK ANSWERS: Section manager Per Hepsø demonstrates the system at the Department of Medical Biochemistry, a unit with long experience in testing various pneumatic tube systems.

- The tube system is an automatic transportation system for blood products, medicines and samples to and from users. There will be stations at all ward courtyards and in the outpatient clinics. This is Value Transport in its strictest sense, and it is literally a life and death question whether the system works or not, explains Anne Mari Kvam, center coordinator for the Laboratory Centre. She is a vital link in the cooperation between hospital, university and builders.

- Using the new system, the Laboratory Centre can accept most samples. There will be training in using the system. Anybody may send a sample, but to open it an ID card and a PIN-code is required.

- The new, digitized hospital means almost no paper transportation. Transport of paper may reduce capacity and delay critical samples, Kvam says. She has been a bio engineer at the department of medical biochemistry for 18 years, and brings tremendous practical experience to her important position. 

FACTS:

• The penumatic tube system runs on air. Fans create suction or pressure to send the carriers through the tubes.
• The speed of the carrier is 8 meters per second, or 30 km (20 miles) per hour.
• The tubes run for 8 km (5 miles).
• Maximum transportation time is normally 10 minutes. High priority medication uses 5 minutes, while priority blood or samples reach their goal within 2.5 minutes.
• There will be 190 tube stations in the entire hopital
• There will be stations in all bed courtyards, operation areas, blood bank, chemistry and support departments.
• The tubes are slowed down at either end, so as not to deform samples
• The system is delivered by Swisslog

What is sent where?

• Blood and blood products from the blood bank in the Laboratory centre to OR areas in clinical centers.
• Frozen tissue samples from ORs to the Laboratory Centre 
• Test samples (blood, urine, cells, etc ) from clinical centers to the Laboratory Centre
• Medication from the Chemistry to all wards and outpatient clinics
• Mother's milk
• Paper and documents not yet digitized (temporary)
• Ataraxia