Hi all,
Geoff Harbach,
Special Controls
Oak Tree Lane Centre
Birmingham
The user manual that we now give out with our sipp/puff systems details cleaning instructions that care staff must follow.
User and cleaning instructions are a requirement of the Medical Devices Directive! Failure to comply with properly supplied cleaning instructions could leave a care establishment open to prosecution in the event of an incident.
Another risk with these systems is that of having the pressure set to low. If a globule of saliva blocks the tube, it can cause the switch to maintain contact. Myself and one of our DWS Rehab Engineers have had experience of this. I think we are going to recommend a minimum pressure level (maximum sensitivity) when we have decided what it should be, (possibly 15mbar or there abouts).
Geoff Harbach I.Eng MIED IIPEM
Special Controls Service Manager
Rehabilitation Engineering Department
Oak Tree Lane Centre
Birmingham
Tel 0121 627 1627 Ext. 53238
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Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001 10:36 AM
To: p=NHS NATIONAL INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ASSISTECH(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK;
Subject: Suck/Blow switches
Dear all,
Does any one out there know of any particular maintainence standards for Suck/Blow switches? These devices seem ideal for very quickly building up microbial activity. Obviously, this is a tremendous hazard when it comes to switch users who are susceptible to upper respiratory infections but for whom this sort of switch may be the best option. Alternatively, does anyone out there have experience of adapting the hardware slightly (or considerably) in order to reduce the risk?
Thank you.
Regards,
Aejaz Zahid
Clinical Scientist
SYC-HAZ Clinical Engineering Service
Department of Medical Physics
Barnsley DGH NHS Trust
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