Posted by Daryl Anderson, 4/7/2009 8:36:25 AM

Although I have had experience in the past with design and modification of OEM equipment, it is now frowned upon due to the liability issues should there be a patient Sentinel Event. In one instance we had several patients end up in Critical Care due to blood acidosis during dialysis. The nurse had pressed against a hidden key selecting Acetate mode, therefore no Bicarb was drawn into the dialysate mix. Until the equipment could be replaced (the manufacturer had no plans to modify their equipment in the field to eliminate Acetate selection) I designed an external flashing warning light if Bicarb was not being drawn into the dialysis machine. Without changing the design or function of the original equipment I simply used the loss of the 12vdc that ran the Bicarb pump to trigger the Red Alert Light. The dialysis machines had pH warning indicators, but they had a low and high limit window that allowed the brittle patients pH to drop to an unsafe level.

Posted by JRS Medical Supplies, 5/2/2009 9:35:32 PM

We give the medical equipment vendors feedback based on what consumers complain about during our phone calls & e-mails but that's it.  Of course we will never attempt to modify a medical product before we send it out to a customer, that would cause all manner of lawsuits.

I think if medical vendors would establish an open dialogue with their clients they could easily modify the next line of products to better resolve the issues.  Heck, imagine a medical equipment vendor having a twitter account to listed to their customers and respond (like Zappos).  I don't think anyone has done this in the medical equipment industry yet.

Leslie