Equipping an intensive care bed: the complete list

Opening intensive care beds, or upgrading existing ones, means reasoning bed space by bed space. Each bed brings together respiratory support, continuous monitoring and the administration of treatments; other devices, on the other hand, serve the whole unit. Here is a structured list of the equipment for an intensive care bed space, how to size it and what to gather before requesting a combined quote.

Per bed or per unit: the first distinction

An intensive care unit continuously monitors and supports the vital functions of unstable patients. Some equipment stays at the bedside and must be present at every bed space: without it, the bed cannot take a ventilated patient. Other equipment is shared between several beds and is sized at unit level, according to its layout and protocols. Making this distinction from the outset avoids two pitfalls: an incomplete bed space on opening day, or a unit-level device bought twice without need.

The ventilator and its heated humidifier

The ICU ventilator is the central piece of equipment of the bed space. It is chosen according to the patients treated (adults, children, newborns), the ventilation modes requested by the medical team and the installation conditions. For example, the SV300 brochure states a maximum turbine flow of 210 L/min; its integrated turbine allows it to operate without a central medical air supply. The SV600 and SV800 include a neonatal module. The entire intensive care range is presented with its datasheets.

The ventilator does not go without its heated humidifier, which warms and humidifies the gases delivered to the ventilated patient. The Fisher & Paykel MR850 and MR810 humidifiers are part of the same range. When ordering, check compatibility between ventilator, humidifier and patient circuits, and list the associated consumables: they then weigh on the operating budget.

The bedside monitor and the central monitoring station

Each bed receives a bedside patient monitor. The number and type of parameters monitored depend on the patient profile and the department's protocols: ECG, SpO2, blood pressure, temperature, EtCO2, advanced parameters. The BeneVision N22 / N19 and N17 / N15 / N12 monitors can be extended with parameter modules. The patient monitoring range also includes the ePM Series, uMEC and BeneVision N1.

The central monitoring station, for its part, is sized at unit level. Installed at the nurses' station, it gathers data from the bedside monitors and lets the team follow several patients from a single place. At Mindray, this is the role of the TDS central station. Before pricing it, specify the number of beds to connect, the location of the nurses' station and the network available in the department: these data determine the configuration.

Syringe pumps

Syringe pumps deliver continuous treatments precisely: sedation, analgesia, vasoactive drugs. Their number per bed is not a standard: it depends on the department's protocols and the severity of the patients admitted, and it is for the medical team to set it. Also plan spare devices for activity peaks. Upkeep matters too in a department where devices are cleaned often: the SP1 brochure states IP34 protection (water and dust), with cleaning possible with water. The SP3D is also part of the infusion range.

The ceiling pendant, powering the bed space

The ceiling pendant brings medical gas outlets, electrical sockets and device supports together at the bedside, and frees floor space around the bed. It is a per-bed item, but it also involves the building: it is fixed to the ceiling and connected to the gas and electrical networks. It must therefore be studied early, with the facility's technical services. The HyPort B30 and B80 and the other models in the ceiling pendant range differ in their configuration; the type of outlets and the devices to carry are defined according to the equipment planned for the bed space.

The defibrillator and the ECG, unit-level equipment

The defibrillator does not equip every bed: it is shared and sits on the unit's crash cart, close to the bed spaces. Their number depends on the department's layout and the distances to cover. The BeneHeart D3 and D6 combine monitoring, manual defibrillation, AED and cardiac pacing in a single device; the defibrillator range also includes the BeneHeart C series.

The electrocardiograph is also unit-level equipment. It moves from one bed to another to record a tracing, for example on admission or during a cardiac event. The BeneHeart R3 and R12 make up the ECG range.

Summary

• Per bed: ICU ventilator and heated humidifier.
• Per bed: bedside patient monitor, with its parameter modules.
• Per bed: syringe pumps, in a number set by the department's protocols.
• Per bed: ceiling pendant, to be studied with the technical services.
• Per unit: central monitoring station at the nurses' station.
• Per unit: defibrillator on the crash cart, and electrocardiograph.

Preparing a combined quote request

Pricing the complete bed space rather than device by device makes it possible to check the compatibility of the whole set and to compare offers on a consistent basis. For the request to be usable, first gather the following information.

• The number of beds to equip, and whether it is an opening or a replacement.
• The patients treated: adults, children, newborns.
• The parameters to monitor and the ventilation modes requested by the medical team.
• The number of syringe pumps per bed adopted by the department.
• What already exists: medical gases, electrical supply, network, equipment to be kept.
• The accessories and consumables to include in the offer.

In the catalogue, you can select several items of equipment, from different families, to price them together from the quote request page. Datasheets can be downloaded from each product page: they are used to check each value before carrying it over into specifications.