Blog Hospital Caster Wheels And What To Look For | Caster City

Hospital Caster Wheels And What To Look For | Caster City

Casters are indispensable in many industries, and they play an important role in the medical environment as well, as they are used in equipment such as wheelchairs, stretchers, or mobile X-ray machines. From stretchers to bed, mobility is; always required, and for hospital and health care departments, the importance of the caster wheels is unconditional.

Considering the busy nature of the healthcare industry, it is important to choose the right casters that are made for the job. Caster wheels are almost necessary for every hospital bed and stretcher. This is a matter of human life.

Contents

What Features Do You Need To Have In The Caster Wheels?

Below we summed up the important features to look for when it comes to hospital casters. 

Hospital beds and stretchers are all having these wheels. Hence these wheels are not only installed under the bed to look good, but it also has basic functions. These wheels are increasing patient mobility and patient security.

Caster Wheels use

Here are some of the qualities which you must have in your caster wheels. 

1. Wheel Material 

The most appropriate choice when it comes to caster wheels used for medical applications is Neoprene and Urethane due to their shock absorbent and non-marking characteristics. 

Other benefits of these wheel materials are noise reduction, less damage caused to the floor, and ease of moving around. For large caster wheels, the materials are very important. 

These caster wheels are engineered to carry more weight. If the wheel cannot carry the weight, it will go to break. A broken wheel is a serious condition where the whole bed will be in the dysfunctional stage. 

Not only do the wheels have to bear the patient’s weight. It also has to bear the instruments’ weight. Always check the bearing of the wheels, and you will understand the actual weight-bearing potential of the wheels.

2. Good Locking Mechanism 

There are different types of brakes when it comes to industrial casters: total lock brakes,ideal-stop brakes, and the ones with tech lock brake mechanisms.

Total lock brakes are highly recommended in medical equipment, as they lock both the swivel and wheel rotation. A good locking mechanism is important as this will keep anesthesia carts or IV poles in place, avoiding any uncontrolled movements. 

The first thing you should always remember is ‘that this is not a car. So you do not have to install the caster wheels which do not have the locking features. Yes, the locking features will give you a better advantage. 

Some of the patient stretchers and beds have wheels that can lock within seconds. So transportation is becoming better and safe with these types of stretchers and beds.

3. Durability 

The durability of the industrial caster wheels is all determined by the material of construction. In the medical environment, this becomes a key feature, as a piece of medical equipment is expected to travel a huge distance each day.

When it comes to the material of construction, wheels, brakes, and forks, need to be considered- mostly, the wheels are made of a different material than the rest of the caster. 

Industrial caster manufacturers use metal, rubber, or plastic wheels, and in the healthcare industry, materials like rubber or polyurethane are the ones recommended. 

For the other parts of the caster, like plates, stems, or forks, the material used is generally steel, plastic, or cast iron, as they provide the structural strength needed. 

4. Rolling Potential And Swivel Resistance

The rolling potentials of the caster wheels are another great feature. In the caser wheel, actually, people do not want to have a wheel that can roll any time from anywhere. The locking caster wheels are better for hospital use. 

The resistance force is the first thing that caster wheels require. With this force, the wheels convert the static force into dynamic status. During purchasing the wheel, you have to check the rolling resistance factors and measure up the friction of the materials.

Here are some measurements that will help you know the work efficiency.

  • Wheel diameter and weight 
  • Load bearing capacity
  • Floor-type
  • Bearing and resistance
  • Tread measurement

Conclusion

Medical casters are used for multiple types of equipment, including crash carts, medication carts, hospital beds, and stretchers. Due to the nature of the healthcare industry, it is important to take into consideration some features when it comes to choosing the right caster wheels: the wheel material, good locking mechanism, or the being made from stainless steel/nylon-bonded.

To ensure that you choose the right casters for the intended application, you should get advice from Industrial caster manufacturers- specialists will give you more information about the casters’ design, material, or durability.

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