Nexans, a worldwide expert in the cable industry, has launched its Newsense brand of medical micro and composite power and data cables at Medtec Europe.

The new brand brings together Nexans’ well-established cables for medical imaging and invasive applications within a single coherent range of customised solutions developed to enable OEMs to build more convenience and intelligence into their investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.

The Newsense cables for medical imaging applications, such as radiography, MRI, computer tomography and nuclear cameras/scanners, include flexible composite cables incorporating various solutions, from micro-coax to a complete set of plastic fibre-optic cables, twisted pairs and tubes.

For invasive applications, such as diagnostic cardiac catheters, sensors and pacemakers, Newsense cables offer high durability when subjected to mechanical loads such as tension, torsion and bending.

“Nexans has developed the Newsense range to provide cost-effective cable solutions that enable OEMs to meet the toughest safety and reliability requirements of medical applications, where failure is not an option,” said Guillaume Eymery of Nexans’ medical cable division. “Newsense combines an extensive knowhow of the most demanding OEM markets (such as aerospace) with long-term experience in the medical sector to create powerful solutions that deliver exceptional service across the complete value chain.”

Newsense imaging cables offer a wide range of microcable and composite cable solutions with full biocompatibility, ease of sterilisation and flexibility for various devices used in obstetrics, gynaecology, cardiology, dentistry, endoscopy and the veterinary sciences. They provide high data capacity and multi-constructions in miniaturised format with electro magnetic shielding for safe clinical operation and surgery, and comply fully with EU and other international directives.

Nexans places a major emphasis on design capability for its Newsense imaging cables. This includes the capability to work in close cooperation with OEMs on fast-track research and development and prototyping of customised cost-effective solutions for specific applications.

Nexans also has the in-house facilities to test electrical performance, bending, flexibility and other critical medical parameters.

Newsense cables have been developed to offer the state of the art for invasive applications and include miniaturised mono and multi-wire constructions. They feature biocompatible, antimicrobial materials for patient safety as well as offering cosmetic adaptability for maximum patient comfort.

Catheters feature various types of conductors – gauges AWG 28 to 48 – with up to 14 conductors laid up in pairs. Smaller cross-section cables can be developed to suit specific requirements. Pacemaker cables feature wire or coaxial cable, AWG 28 to 34, with a stainless steel conductor.

To ensure quality and conformity with the strictest standards for its Newsense invasive cables, Nexans operates a separate contamination-free manufacturing unit that uses dedicated micro-equipment to extrude screened and insulated cables with extremely small diameters.

Invasive cables are tested extensively according to customer specifications. Tests carried out include: electrical performance, bending and flexibility (to match user movement), salt-water tests to simulate behavior in blood environments, neutrality and biocompatibility, ability to support extreme temperatures and shock during transportation and storage and insulation resistance to certain chemicals.

Nexans offers an extensive range of cables and cabling systems and is a global player in the infrastructure, industry, building and local area network (LAN)markets. Nexans addresses a series of market segments, from energy, transport and telecom networks to shipbuilding, oil and gas, nuclear power, automotives, electronics, aeronautics, material handling and automation.  With a presence in 40 countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 24,500 people and had sales in 2011 of 7 billion euros.

Nexans was founded in 2000 and immediately afterwards decided to create a more collaborative approach to manage research and cevelopment (R&D) across the organisation. The first Nexans Research Centre (NRC) opened in Lyon in 2002. Another three research centres were created since then in Nuremberg (Germany), Lens (France), and Jincheon (Korea). This year it is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lyon NRC.