EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Valleylabs OptiMumm Smoke Evacuator

Hi all,

Anyone had experience of these? I have just made a temporary repair on a carbonised brush holder; can't seem to get spares, but haven't tried UK yet! The motor runs VERY hot, as it is encased in sound insulating foam to reduce the jet engine type sound of the motor! These units are apparently made by Cardinal, with whom Valleylabs are allegedly no longer dealing!

Anyone recommend another make?

Tony
As far as I'm aware, Covidien (formerly Tyco, formerly Valleylab) still service these. Their service dept is at
COVIDIEN (UK) COMMERCIAL LTD
UNIT 2 TALISMAN BUSINESSS CENTRE
LONDON ROAD
BICESTER
OX26 6HR
Tel 01869 328000
Fax 01869 327585

Hi Tony

Do you possess the service manual, parts list and set up procedure from Covidien for this medical device?
Covidien are no too helpful on this product, did the PPQ form state the service manual availabliity and content in question 5?

There is a large amount of potentiometers in this unit will will require set-up, again do you have the necessary details, etc?

Hello from Chester Graham, how are you up there in the cold north?

Regards.

Jim

I think you'll find that Tony is sweating it out on the coast of West Africa, Jim (not many PPQ's there).

Hi Jim,

Geoff is correct, I am in West Africa these days, happily without the ever increasing paperwork of the NHS! I can however make a small comment re service manual. I do have one, and, frankly, it's almost a total waste of space! There's a vague block diagram, and a wiring diagram that gives as much info as taking the lid off and looking for about 5 seconds! The rest is basically a duplication of the user manual. I don't think that there's too much need to make adjustments to the pots etc, I suspect that they would adjust things like the threshold for the filter replacement indicator, and the idle and other motor speeds.

Oh, thanks for asking how I am..it's raining and a cool 28C here today! Back in the UK I would have the central heating set to around 22C (maybe less, the price of gas being what it now is), now if I find some air-conditioned room that is 25C I almost start shivering!!!

We've several of these - given to us as part of a diathermy purchase package. The last time we checked no spares are available in the UK. Every time a repair requiring parts is needed it has to shipped back to the USA. Motors seem like something from a vacuum cleaner and only seem to last a couple of years.
Graham

Hi Graham. I've done a bit more detective work, and the OEM is CArdinal Health in the US. They actually market their own evacs now, which is probably why Valleylabs can't supply parts..they aren't talking to each other any more??!!

The motor is apparently a Panasonic Industrial Corperation (US) device.

I'll let you know if I find I can get spares direct or whatever.

No chance of modifying a vacuum cleaner (or using bits from one), then, Tony? They're cheaply available almost everywhere!

Hi There
We have modified one of our optiMumm smoke evacuators. we replaced the faulty motor with one from a Hoover Junior upright. We replaced the specialised optimumm filter with the dust bag from the hoover, this was secured using general purpose silicon sealant.We did receive initial complaints from the surgeons due to the dustbag getting in their way.However they seem quite pleased with the aroma from the shake and Vac we filled the unit with.All components are available from your local carboot sale. Any queries don't call us we will call you.



Regards


Bodge it and Scarper

P.s. Our optimumm now beats as it sweeps as it cleans

I was thinking more of Dyson components, for an altogether higher quality repair. Also has the added advantage of no loss of suction however many patients are on the list! Come to think of it, with that lifetime HEPA filter, I'll just wheel a DC08 straight in to the theatre and not bother fixing the Optimumm. The only question is, yellow, green, purple or silver?!

Om a similar subject, a long time ago I really did see a Hoover Twintub washing machine in a theatre. It had been modified by a Scandinavian company to calculate blood loss. All the swabs that had been used during surgery were thrown in and the blood extracted, presumably with a known volume of water The machine then used simple coloremetry to assess the volume of blood lost. Only ever saw the one..not suprised really!