I was wondering what sort of equipment modifications are made. For example adding quick connects inside the hydraulics for pressure measurements where there was non previous to this. Secondly, what items would you source rather than go directly through the manufacturer. Some items I know are not standard parts that you can easily get, but items like solenoid valves, motors, pumps, etc., you can sometimes find a supplier for the exact part or find a similar yet compatible replacement.

Thanks for the feedback.

The closest thing to a mod that we have done is move the UF filter house so you don't have to pull the whole block during a quarterly PM. And I was told to do that at Fresenius training.

quote:

Originally posted by Winona BioMed:
The closest thing to a mod that we have done is move the UF filter house so you don't have to pull the whole block during a quarterly PM. And I was told to do that at Fresenius training.

What do you mean? Did you just move it up closer to the UF inlet?

quote:

Originally posted by Canada Tech:
I was wondering what sort of equipment modifications are made. For example adding quick connects inside the hydraulics for pressure measurements where there was non previous to this. Secondly, what items would you source rather than go directly through the manufacturer. Some items I know are not standard parts that you can easily get, but items like solenoid valves, motors, pumps, etc., you can sometimes find a supplier for the exact part or find a similar yet compatible replacement.

Thanks for the feedback.

I thought about QDs for pressures, but opted not to because it's just one more site for colonies and pressure leaks. Then there's the whole "modification of a medical device" thingy. I'm severely allergic to liability.

I improved life by making a pressure gauge panel that I can connect to all desire sites at once (degas, flow, loading, incoming h20). That eliminates all the start-stop nonsense.

BTW, I'd love to get one of the new Mesa meters with multiple digital parameters. Do it all with one hookup. Woo hoo! (Budget says NO)

What you do is extend the tubing coming to the UF pump off the filter housing. Then you reroute so it runs on the panel side of the hydraulics. It ususally runs just to the right of the balancing chamber. This way during your quarterly PM you don't have to remove the Hydraulics unless you have a problem

Cool idea. It would'nt help in my situation, but I can see how it can be a big help to those that need to do quarterlies.

I don't know how it works in Canada but in the US, if you make mods to a machine that is not 510k approved, then you now have changed the machine and anything that happens (kills someone) you are responcible for. That is a chance I don't want to take. If you put a quick connect on somewhere and it is able to pull air, well, if you have been in the business long enough you know what can happen. I wouldn't do it but I am not in Canada.

Moving the UF filter to the other side of the panel only helps you out if you are not changing the check valves. Our procedure requires us to change the CV's on every PM, so we have to remove the whole hydraulic drawer anyway. And I think that pulling the drawer and inspecting the reed switches for cracks and cleanliness is a good idea anyway. Usually we find that acid, bicarb and sometimes blood has dribbled down around the rinse ports and the inside of the case of the machine.

Amen Ktech amen, cut your throat to spite your face.

To Biomed dude. Here in Canada it is pretty much the same as it is in the US when it comes to equipment modifications. It is strictly forbidden unless you have wriiten approval from the manufacturer and the manufacturer agrees to accept liability, which as you can guess never happens.

A couple of years ago, I received two new K machines that each had an acid rinse port installed after the inlet pressure regulator. It made checking the inlet water pressure a snap - just plug in your loading pressure gauge. It came from the factory like that, so it must be OK right? Ummmm....NO.
A year later I had a trainer in-center conducting a Level I class who lost his mind when he looked into the hydraulics and saw my add-on. By this time, I had installed a rinse port in all 30 of my in-center machines & also in my 6 home program machines. The next thing I know, I'm talking to a VP in Walnut Creek and making arrangements for two of his field techs to come in with a whole spool of silastic tubing and assist me in removing every last one of those things due to the possibility of either bacteria or disinfectant being trapped inside the tubing to the rinse port. Fun fun. The only thing that saved my job was the fact that I did what I did because the new machines had the modification when I received them. Apparently, this mod is used in the factory, but is supposed to be removed prior to being shipped. The factory missed it, and so did the field tech who set up the machine for me. Luckily, I didn't have to take the fall.
Personally, I think moving the UF prefilter assembly around to the other side of the hydraulics defeats the purpose of a PM. Part of what you're doing is visually checking and observing. By moving the UF prefilter, you are ignoring most of the hydraulics. I learned that in my Fresenius training. Better safe than sorry.
Nuff said...