EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Spare Parts Philips M4735* defibrillator batteries

We currently support a fleet of these defibs within the Trust, and had risk assessed,increased our test/replacement frequency, and use the Panasonic mainstream pack from Euro energy.
Our fleet is little more than 3 years old

We have just been advised that Panasonic (who manufacture packs both under licence to Philips, and to the wider market), are ceasing manufacure of this type.
Euro energy have dropped this pack from their catalogue as a result, and we can find no other battery manufacturer producing this pack. Yet Philips say they will continue to supply as necessary (at a cost/cell of £70+ as opposed to £28)?

This has significant implications for our maintenance programme, and so before we undertake a major transition;

Does anyone else on the forum support these defibs?
How do you deal with the question of battery management?

I would be grateful for your views/experiences

Best regards

What is going on, with battery Manufactory? This is very similar to previous link in the Mac 6 ECG Machine:

https://www.ebme.co.uk/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/9/336.html#000002

Are these just very old machines or another way to force into buying new equipment every five years?

Again, Try Combat Alexander they have always been good with batteries.

AM

If Panasonic are not manufacturing the batteries any more and Philips will still supply them, how old are the batteries Philips are going to be selling us in a few years time? I presume they will buy up all the Panasonic stock so they can fulfill their requirement to supply parts under their PPQ agreements.
What is their policy on battery replacement? Put new ones in every two or three years to make sure they are in good condition? But what if the "new" ones have been in the Philips stockpile for the past three years?
Robert

Normally the maintenance free - rechargeable battaries will give 2 -3 years life time, provided we maintain the charging and dischaging cycles properly.
In India, a number of local manufacturers started to make the equivalent to imported one, but they didn't give guaranty(even though these battaries gives same size, ampere -hour etc)

M4735 are the current defibrillator. I would say that Philips have another supplier.

Can someone who has bought one of these recently pull the Philips label back and read the who the manufacturer is please. The we can approach them ourselves to buy the batteries.
Oooooh sneaky.
Robert

I had same problem when ordering a new battery for a heartstream M3500B defib. I noticed that the battery spec number supplied by euroenergy was different from the ordered battery. After a few phone calls it was discovered that original battery(panasonic) had been discontinued and euroenergy had supplied an equivalent ie. volt rating/capacity etc. However the difference was the new panasonic battery did not have a "dimple". After a bit more digging the significance of the dimple became clear. The heartstream has a microswitch fitted within the battery compartment. If a battery without a dimple is fitted this microswitch is activated/de-avtivated? which then causes the defib to fail the defib test (battery power at 200J). With a charged battery the time it takes the defib to charge to 200J should be less than 3sec's. If using a battery without a dimple this time I have found is greater that 3 sec's. I believe the purpose of the microswitch was to stop users buying third party batteries although there is no mention in service manual of this switch.???

When I was first shown this defib by a rep (Who will remain nameless as I think he wants to keep his job) he pointed this dimple out and said that he was sure I could carefully apply a drill to the case of a generic battery. He intimated that they were just ordinary ones that Philips had had modified.
He said that the purpose of the microswitch was exactly as ME2005 has stated, to get us to buy "genuine" batteries.
Robert

We use a third party battery supplier.
The drill marks are evident in the battery case where the 'dimple' is. i.e it is not moulded at manufacture.

The battery is identical in size and shape to a battery 'without a dimple' but cost £10 more!!

Yes col i agree the dimple is drilled not moulded however this has been done by the manufacturer ie panasonic. The point I was trying to make is that when I purchased the replacement battery from euroenergy they supplied a battery that caused the defib to fail an important test without informing me of any change. Yes the battery could be modified to suit but you are then not only deciding to use a third party battery but a third party battery that has then been modified by yourself. If any problems are caused by using a third party battery you always have the insurance that the battery supplier should supply like for like. If you modify a third party battery and there is a problem who's to blame?.