So I take it you'd never use EuroEnergy or Medgraphics even if as often in the case of Smart Batteries the original battery manufactures lable with part number was printed on it, since you couldn't guarantee country of origin?
As I've stated, based on experience, the country of origin might actually make a difference in some cases. Also the OEM pack smart functions may actually be reprogrammed. Some more expensive packs may consist of matched cells, etc.
The fact that battery manufacturers actually work with OEM medical device manufcturers and get involved with "customising" the SoC, SoH indicators and charging algorithms in "standard" packs is a reason why we should be cautious.
I don't have to guarantee anything - the supplier does, to my satisfaction, if I'm the purchaser and I'm going to take on any liability by fitting a non-recommended battery pack in a medical device.
Personally speaking I'd be prepared to use any 3rd party company that supplies batteries, including the two you name, but only if it supplies batteries that are proven to have the same specification/performance and be fully compatible as the OEM supplied battery.
The application would not be safety-critical medical either, i.e. not ambulatory therapy, portable monitoring, portable suction, ventilation, etc, etc, because the use of 3rd parties batteries has to be considered carefully in these sort of applications and there is some additional risk when considering a non-recommended battery/supplier.
Cost comes into it but it's not the main consideration if there are no guarantees and the battery supplier is not liable for any outcome involving the medical device the battery is fitted to. The individual deciding to fit non-OEM recommended batteries might become liable if there were issues.
This means that I'd be looking for evidence that the battery is produced by the same manufacturer to the same specifications but I'd need some proof of this from the supplier. Looking at other threads this has not always worked out successfully despite efforts to gain these assurances. As you said yourself, earlier:
Sounds more like they didn't if you read it fully, first they claimed they were EXACT equivalent then had to put out an an URGENT recall when they found they weren't. Are they fully equivalent or is there something else they don't know? Probably best to go with the MHRA guidance.
For safety-critical applications my preference would be to buy direct from the OEM device manufacturer, from another supplier only if it was recommended by the OEM device manufacturer, or, as a last resort, from a 3rd party if they could
guarantee that the battery was
identical. This shouldn't be a problem for the supplier if they are, in fact, identical.
The inability to source the battery from elsewhere, not necessarily cost, would be a "last resort" for example.
