EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Defib Life span

Trying to find out any guidelines etc. which would offer guidance on how long a defibrillator's expected life span should be. I understand the until spares are no longer available, I have been using MDB 98/01 as a guide. I can't find an updated version. Any ideas?

Finally is anyone still using hard shock paddles on their defibs as apposed to the multifunction electrodes

We replace within 7 years. Sometimes sooner - as when the resus guidlines change to recommending biphasics.

Gedi
We are in the process of changing all of our Codemaster defibs. (monophasic with hard paddles) to Heartstart XL (biphasic with multifunction electrodes). The Codemasters are between 6 and 13 years old.

Thanks Guys,
Is there any national published guidelines, I've got DB98/01 but nothing more recent am I missing something?
Kawazaki,we're upgrading our codemasters as well-if we have the funds lol.
Does anyone use a lease for their defibs, if we continue the rolling replacement program we are always going to be behind interms of technology any suggestions

Hi Folks,

Class 1/2 High Risk medical equipment are good for 5 - 7 years of optimal use. Class 2 Medium Risk medical equipment are worthing using between 7 - 10 years of optimal use. Other categories may be used between 10 - 15 years depending on applications. We could only estimate or guesstimate the life span of the medical equipment but reality lies on how extensively any medical equipment has been and under what context and condition.

Hope this helps

Regards
Sen

We all know that defibs are one of the major life-saving medical device. If there is a budget, it is better to upgrade it to the latest technology available (e.g. AED mode).

I have often heard that Manufacturers are supposed to support equipment for 7 years from the final date of sale for a particular product. Is this defined/laid down anywhere or is it only a generally accepted timescale.

One of the advantages of a PPQ form is that companies have to write down the period that a product will be supported once production has stopped. We generally look for a minimum of 7 years.
Lee