hye..

i want to ask about this machine. Actually this machine was used in physiotherapy. the user complain that there is a eletrical leakage on the surface of the probe when they use to the patient. I sent the probe to the vendor, and they confirmed that the probe is ok, nothing leakage when they test it.

I sent back the probe to the patient and they test it, its ok. after about 2 weeks, they complaint, the same problems happened.

how to i settle this problems. is anyone use this machine with this model.

Besides that, the vendor told me the machine was an obsolete model. I ask them to give a letter, but they told that they can't. Because the initial vendor to this machine was gone, and they can't got it from Bosch. Is anyone used this machine can give the obsolete letter from vendor and can give a copy of the service manual.

thank you so much

I recall these as being quality units. What results do your own electrical safety tests give, mammad? I can't help but wonder if the sensation the patient is experiencing is not just the normal output from the head of the probe!

And, lastly, what does "obsolete" mean (in this context)? As long as the unit is in good condition, is safe, and continues to give good results, what's the problem?

Mr, Geoff, obsolete means the spare parts for this machine was not available anymore or the machine cannot be repaired due to new model coming. In my place, when this happened, we usually proposed the machine to be BER (Beyond economic repair), so when something happened to this machine, we can proposed it to be disposed and advice user to brought new one. So that is why the obsolete letter from manf so important.

I doing the safety test using my safety test anaylzer, QA-St Metron As. And the test was pass. Now i m so headache, what are the things i should do now. I test to my hands, nothing. When the user used it, they complaint the same things happened.

Plz helps me....

BER is a (good) term adopted from Armed Forces technical services. I am encouraged to hear that you are thinking in these terms, mammad. Many don't, unfortunately, but it is simply part of good equipment management.

"Beyond Economic Repair" (says it all, really) indicates a point in the life of an asset when further maintenance expenditure would not be justifiable due to the cost of repair approaching, or likely to exceed, the cost of replacement (ie, "it would be cheaper to buy a new machine"). Well-organized technical services may use the accumulated life-time maintenance cost to make this assessment. It has nothing to do with the availability (or otherwise) of a new model, or else equipment would become BER every year! And because parts have become hard to find does not necessarily render the equipment BER. Just "unrepairable", perhaps!

Just because a piece of equipment is no longer required by clinical staff, or has become clinically obsolete, does not make it BER. I have found over the years that users like to take the "easy option" in urging the biomed to condemn equipment which they themselves (ie, the users) can't "find the time" to condemn. Of course, I personally have always resisted such overtures and (assuming that there was nothing wrong with the unit), inform them to follow their own condemnation procedures (...what procedures, I hear you ask)!

It sounds like the place you're at needs to get some proper equipment management procedures in place, Mate!

So, my recommendation in this case, mammad, is to speak to the user. If they don't like the equipment, for whatever reason, suggest that they remove it from use themselves! Frankly, it sounds to me like they've set their sights on a new machine, and are wasting your time in coming up with "imagined" reasons why you should condemn the old one! Resist, brother, resist!

Dear mammad
Assalam-o-alaikum
Geoff is right. I had same problem some years back. Have to discard good working EK-10, just because operators want to buy new machine & i was correcting the faults on all occassions.
Finally complaint was it is not charging or giving garbage.
In last they are enjoying new chineese machine, (last reports that they are having some problems but not complaining till this date guess why :-)
Take care.

I should imagine that we've all had experiences like that, Laiq. I think I may have mentioned before the other tactic "they" often try:- emotional blackmail! (that's another one that doesn't work very well with me, though, I'll have to admit). Man, they'll try anything!

My usual recourse is to introduce them to the concept of (what I like to call) "basic equipment management". Explain to them the meaning of "clinical obsolete", and all the other non-technical reasons why equipment may not be the "flavour of the month" (in their eyes at least)! Then it's up to them to make the case for replacement (in my opinion). The bottom line here must be:- let them do their own dirty work!

Bounce the "headache" back to them, mammad.