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I was recent contacted by Euroenergy that they had been informed by Yuasa that " GS Yuasa Coroporation cannot support any any applications for VRLA products in life-critical applications". In addition Yuasa NP2-12 batteries will in future carry the text "Not for any medical applications"

VRLA stands for Valve Regulated Lead Acid i.e. the most common type of battery commonly used in our equipment.

Browsing around, National Panasonic also state on their product literature ( Precautions for handling VRLA batteries)that their VRLA products should "... only be used for
non life critical medical equipment .... ".

I certainly wasn't aware of this. Surely the responsibility lies with the device manufacturer to ensure the components are fit for purpose and has designers and purchase teams in place in order to do just that. Do we then make the short jump to concluding the transformer, IC, capacitor manufacturers are also going to issue such discliamers?

A medical device manufactuer's view would be welcome on this.

We use both Yuasa and Panasonic batteries and have done for many years without complaint - how the users treat them is another matter!

In this increasingly litigious environment it leaves me wondering what is next.

Brian

Heres some further details guys,

Important Euro Energy Update

Yuasa NP2-12 Batteries


18th June 2008





Dear Sir/Madam,





GS Yuasa Corporation has recently issued the following statement;

'GS Yuasa Corporation cannot support any applications for VRLA products in life-critical applications'

This is a statement which is mirrored by other major global manufacturers including Enersys and Panasonic, to absolve them from any possible future litigation in the event of a catastrophic failure. However, these batteries have been 'designed in', so were subject to risk assessments by the medical equipment manufacturer from inception.

In addition, Yuasa NP2-12 batteries will in future carry the text 'Not for any medical applications'. No change has been made to the battery other than the addition of this text. The reason for this change has not been stated by Yuasa.

This battery has been OEM specified for many years and Euro Energy have no evidence to suggest that it is inferior in these applications to the manufacturer's alternatives - In many cases our (And your own) evidence would suggest otherwise.

Due to the strength of the wording, Euro Energy can no longer support the text of our current catalogue where it suggests the Yuasa NP2-12 is correct for any medical application, irrespective of whether it was OEM specified. It's performance in these applications is however well tested by our Customers. In these cases, a decision to continue with the product must be based on your own risk assessments.

As an alternative, we are now able to offer Enersys NP2-12 for non-life critical medical applications, retaining our part reference 04133. We will only supply Yuasa NP2-12 batteries where specifically requested by the Customer.



Best regards,




Euro Energy Technical Team

Brian,
Weve also been contacted by Euro Energy.
A pump manufacturer also uses the exact same battery.
Apparently they are awaiting resonse from USA on whats to do.

Sounds like the battery manufacturers are protecting themselves against litigation, but if the manufacturers are happy to use the batteries, the best solution is to get a concession note from them saying exactly that.

If enough of us contact them - i can't see it being a problem.

Watch out for "special pricing" on medical equipment batteries real soon!

Meanwhile, I'm getting some "OK For Use With Medical Equipment" stickers printed up. And yes, I've already claimed the Copyright on that phrase, but I'll offer a special discount for regular contributors to this forum!

Never mind VRLA. How about CYA?

Define "life critical". It's a meaningless phrase, in my opinion (probably deliberately contrived for that very reason). Even my old friend the Roberts Pump could be regarded as "life critical" if some smart-ass lawyer chooses to make a Big Deal about it. Luckily, however, the Roberts Pump takes us back to the days before it was "essential" that every piece of medical equipment had battery back-up.

Sorry Geoff I think a few manufactures have already beat you to it. I haven't noticed it on life critical items but quite a few manufactures just cover up the Yuasa details and put their own label on and copy the details claiming the battery as their own. Ohmedia springs to mind. Failing that it just gets wrapped in black plastic so no one ever see's the notice.

So where do the equipment manufacturers get their "magic" batteries from? Is there a special manufacturing plant that makes batteries that are safe for medical devices?
Or is it just that the corporate lawyers are earning their keep in this risk adverse society?
Robert

Well, I guess they hide the factory away...after all I suppose it must make batteries that have an infinite MTTF to be 'OK for use...', and if the General Public found out about a battery that never 'went wrong', then everyone would want one, wouldn't they?!

sorry, me bieng thick again.....
VRLA batteries? The sort that are re chargable such as in portable equipment which we put on charge with a little green light?? The sort that are specific to the device? That come with the device?
OR batteries, the ones that we use in our larygascope handles, that you would use in every day house hold objects?

In cases like these, I feel it would be better to pay the OEM the extra and source batteries from them. It is a small price to pay. Let them source and provide the battery and we can get on with the job we are paid to do and not worry about the risk.