I've not met this particular problem before, but we had the same problem in
operating theatres many years ago. Unless trolleys used in the theatres
were equipped with anti static castors there was a possibility of explosion
from anaesthetic agents (in gaseous form) pooling on the floor. The
simple solution was to use castors which had antistatic rubber (usually a
high carbon content) so that the static could leak away quite naturallly to
the floor. You might try contacting hospital trolley manufacturers.
Regards
Colin Roberts
At 14:32 23/01/01 , you wrote:
>Dear All
>
>I'm writing in the hope that some of you might be able to provide some
advice reg. a problem which has been reported recently.
>
>One of our patients is experiencing a static electricity problem when
driving her powered wheelchair. She receives a static electricity shock
when she touches the joystick. Also carers are receiving a shock when they
touch the powered wheelchair. This problem occurs when the patient is
driving her powered wheelchair in her school and in her local shopping
centre so it depends upon the surface that the powered wheelchair is being
driven over.
>
>I wondered if any of you had come upon this problem and, if so, what steps
did you take to solve the problem? We've discussed fitting conductive
rubber strip to the back of the powered wheelchair but we would have to
ensure that there was good conduction between all parts of the powered
wheelchair structure. I'm not sure how practical this would be.
>
>The patient is using a DX remote joystick mounted on the powered
wheelchair tray. The powered wheelchair is a Remploy Power Rider.
>
>Thanks
>
>Colin Geggie
>Clinical Bioengineer
>Bioengineering Centre
>Rehabilitation Engineering Services
>PMR Hospital
>Edinburgh
>EH10 7ED
>
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