EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Alaris PCAM

We are having a lot of problems with the patient cord on the Alaris P5000 (PCAM). They are continually breaking, both at the plug end (where I believe that the Rt. angled connector is exposed to knocks and fails ) and at the patient end where the plastic housing breaks up.

Is anyone else having these problems? At £90 a time to replace them, not being able to buy parts of the ass'y, it is becoming expensive.

The weak link in an otherwise good bit of kit, eh Rick? Can only suggest that you hang on to all the faulty lead sets for cannibalization next time around.

Seems to me that “cable management” is becoming more and more of a problem these days. When are we going to see remote controls, IR or “wireless”, Bluetooth and all the rest that abound in commercial electronics, applied to medical equipment?

Anybody got a spare P-5 that I could hack into and have a go? Let’s get rid of the cables! (…lead-less ECG? SpO2? Remember, folks, where you heard it first)!

To get replacement plugs contact

LEMO (UK) LTD
12 NORTH STREET
WORTHING
WEST SUSSEX
BN11 1DU
TEL 01903 234543
FAX 01903 206231

Plug part number FHG.1B.304.CLAD62Z

Cant help with the plastic except Araldite

Click on http://www.applegate.co.uk/elec/company/co_4367.htm

or http://www.lemo.com/index.html

Try ordering "Spare upgrade kit handset" from Alaris part number5000sp00051
This is basically the plug, and as it is supplied by Alaris it falls under a genuine original part.

I will try and dig out the handle case part number.

Thanks for your help. I assume from the response that we are all suffering the same problem even though Alaris say we are the only ones.

Geoff,
Remote controls and wireless links are a very good idea. But they would have to be tied to the equipment with strong cords to stop the nurses loosing them.
Robert

I’ve already thought of that, Robert! My design would include a SARBE beacon transmitter built-in to each handset, which could be activated by “the management” to set off a homing signal (plus a beeper, flashing indicator, or what-have-you). Just working now to get the cost down a little …

Anyone wondering a SARBE is might like to take a look at http://www.armyradio.com/arsc/customer/product.php?productid=1538&cat=72&page=1

I can honestly say we have replaced 2 handsets in 3 years out of 35 Alaris Pcams!
The nurses and porters are so well trained here!!
:~}

No,no this can't be right, WE'RE the only ones with handset problems.

Upper Case 5000ME00087 £1.75
Lower Case 5000ME00086 £1.75

I don't know if you'll still be able to get them as the last I heard they weren't going to supply any more to us.