EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Battery operated AED Defibs.

Hi,

Does anyone carry out electrical safety tests on Battery operated AED Defibs? I was told that we should be doing patient auxilliary current tests between the outputs. Looking at the safety tests in 60601 only the normal condition applies to this device (can't reverse mains or lift neutral or earth). Is it worhwhile measuring the aux. current in normal condition?

It's a defib. It's meant to provide an "electric shock" to the patient!

It's also an ECG monitor!

It's also battery powered!

What intrigues me more here is where this is coming from. As in, who is telling you that the test you mention is needed? The "management" ... the manufacturer?

Is the requirement "evidence based" (have these things been known to "fail" on patient auxilliary current)?

Or, put another way, which way are we looking at things:-

1) If it ain't bloke, don't fix it.

... or:-

2) If it ain't bloke, you're not trying hard enough!

One of my colleagues has just retired and I've taken on his workload (on top of my own!). He did the leakage tests, didn't really explain who told him to do them. I'm of the opinion that it is unnecessary, but just wanted to see if anyone else did it.

If you are looking for failures, then thats not preventive maint it's just corrective.

I have done EST on battery powered defibs. If you want zero harm from an equipment, you might as well do it. It's a high risk equipment; can cause big damamge if it fails.

Fair enough (except that I don't really follow what you're saying at your first line).

Which tests do you carry out?

(we're talking about AED's here)

The only test we can do is "Patient Auxilliary Current" under "Normal" conditions.

Yes. But let's hear more from Mr. Tejas.

If you need a hand Bill, I can make myself available.

My rates are very reasonable. "Dross"* work, and out-of-hours working are specialities! Just find me somewhere to kip (hint:- it doesn't have to be at the back of the workshop).

And it would be nice passing by old haunts in nearby Rotherham! Many of my chav mates are there.

Meanwhile, and by the way, which battery-powered AED's are we talking about? You know, manufacturer, model? I'm only asking in case I need to do a bit of research and/or if I come across one I can take a look at.

Having looked through a couple of manuals at random recently, I have yet to see any reference to the test you mention. One mentions "Leakage current checks to IEC 60601-2-4" (surely a catch-all ... and no mention about how such checks are to be carried out). Whilst another makes no mention of any periodic tests beyond the "Self Test".

* You know, the stuff that everyone else is always too busy to get around to doing.