Efficiency is the holy grail for anything that happens in a hospital, including testing critical equipment for safety and quality control. The latest test equipment on the market has become more efficient, with preset testing protocols stored right on the devices and reports that seamlessly flow to the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).

Here’s a look at the latest in test equipment.

BC Group International
BC Group International recently released the ESU-2350, a Bluetooth-compatible device used in the calibration and routine performance verification of electrosurgical generators.

According to the company, the ESU-2350 offers a higher degree of accuracy in the mid-range category than pre¬viously attainable with conventional electrosurgical unit analyzer designs.

It’s designed with a color touch screen and is smaller and lighter than previous models.

The ESU-2350 includes an inter¬nal load bank with a range of 0 to 5500 ohms in 5-ohm increments. The REM/ARM/CQM testing is accomplished via a 500-ohm adjustable load in 1-ohm increments. The ESU-2350 provides automatic and manual-automatic or manual activation of the ESU generator during power load curve tests and is 100% compatible with Covidien/Valleylab ForceTriad, FT10, FX8 and Ligasure generators, as well as generators by many other manufacturers.

“Our competitors have products that may have the same accuracy level, however there are functional differences that favor the ESU-2350 including but not limited to the on-board variable RF load bank of 5500 ohms,” said Tim Welby, national sales and marketing manager for BC Group.

Datrend Systems Inc.
Over the last year, Datrend released a new software application for the vPad platform called vPad-Report, which generates PDF test reports. Features include the ability to use different logos for the report title.

“Users can select different corporate logos stored on the tablet,” said Owen Liu, director of business development for Datrend Systems. “So if this is a third-party service company, where they are contracted out by a hospital, they can generate customized reports based on their needs.”

The test reports will include information on the medical device tested, analyzers used, test data, pass/fail status and graphs and charts where applicable. There is the ability to create live signatures right on the tablet, and if the technician is different than the person approving the test report, the app can allow batch report generation for the manager, too.

The vPad-Report app is available as an upgrade for existing users and will be incorporated into all new vPad products.

In 2022, the vPad platform can integrate with more CMMS systems. The newest integrations added are Nuvolo, Medusa and FSI.

“With all of our CMMS integrations, users can download their asset information, work orders and test procedures directly from the CMMS software onto the tablet using our app,” Liu said. “Once they’re finished doing their tests, all they need to do is select the test reports and upload the data right back on the CMMS. All of this is done right on the vPad tablet itself, so you don't have to go back to your PC and retype all your test results.”

Fluke Biomedical
Fluke Biomedical is planning to update its OneQA cloud-based test and workflow automation software, which automates the test process for electrical safety testing and performance testing of defibrillators and ventilators, from starting the test to capturing and storing results.

Later this year, the software will incorporate Fluke Biomedical’s ProSim 8 patient simulators to accommodate the preventive maintenance of patient monitors.

“That will be big, particularly with children's hospitals, because they are extremely intensive,” said Terry Harris, SaaS software healthcare sales executive for Fluke Biomedical.

OneQA is also expanding its CMMS integrations to be more seamless and work with a wider variety of systems globally.

“The software team has been working hard on the integration side, building software competency as well as building deeper partnerships,” Harris said.

On the hardware side Fluke has expanded the range and accuracy for three anesthetic agents — isoflurane, desflurane and sevoflurane — with its VAPOR Anesthesia Tester.

“We've expanded those ranges and have a stated accuracy to cover a customer request which was to really be able to test all the way up to the highest part of the range,” said Michael Raiche, senior portfolio manager for Fluke Biomedical.

The company has also updated its ULT800 product line to add a TC-ZIF adaptor and a flexible conductivity probe, to keep up with the additional TEE probes that are coming to market.

The company has also added additional intrauterine pressure (IUP) cables that will allow ProSim patient simulators to work with some GE and Philips fetal monitors.

Life Spark Medical
Life Spark Medical Is preparing for the full release of its SmartTank capnometer and anesthesia gas monitor tester.

The released version of the device is slightly smaller than the previous iteration being beta tested by customers, said Darryl Zitting, co-founder of Life Spark Medical.

The company has continued to add more automated test sequences and will also work with biomedical engineers to help them customize the test sequences.

“So as soon as they get the device, it works exactly the way they want,” Zitting said. “They don't have to come up with test sequences themselves. Also, if a customer has a new gas monitor for which we don’t have a test sequence, we will create the test sequence for it and put it in their SmartTank for them or send it by email.”

Pronk Technologies
Pronk Technologies recently released Mobilize, which allows for two-way wireless communications between test equipment and a biomedical engineer’s Apple iOS device via Bluetooth. Mobilize can work with testers — including the Safe-T Sim Mobilize Electrical Safety Analyzer, Mobilize SC-5 SimCube NIBP Simulator, Mobilize OX-2 OxSim Flex SpO2 Simulator and Mobilize FlowTrax IV Pump Analyzer — as well as other manufacturer’s test equipment, including products from Datrend Systems.

Mobilize executes the procedures automatically by scanning a bar code on the device being tested and eliminates manual documentation by automatically transferring results to the CMMS, saving biomedical engineers time.

“The report is being generated as you go,” said Julio Castro, regional sales director of Pronk Technologies. “The concept is to be able to be more efficient and more effective by having these pieces connected together.”

RaySafe
Last year, RaySafe released its RaySafe X2 Volt, used for measuring voltage test points on X-ray machines.

The X2 Volt is designed to be simple to use and replaces a voltmeter and, in many cases, an oscilloscope, said Ed Brand, global business development manager for RaySafe.

“Essentially, this is just like a few tools in one,” Brand said. “In some cases, it makes it easier because oscilloscopes are notoriously difficult to operate.”

The design of the X2 Volt Sensor can reduce the time for the test procedure by as much as 90% over traditional measurement methods, according to the company.

The X2 Volt sensor can also be used for connecting other measurement devices providing a voltage signal between ± 16 V, such as an mAs clamp for noninvasive mAs measurements. An optional cable extends that range to ± 160 V.

RTI Group
RTI Group recently released Ocean Next 2.0, the latest iteration of their world-leading software for X-ray QA that is also integrated with RTI’s new Scatter Probe for the measurement of X-ray scatter and leakage.

The new software has an updated SQLite database that is faster and more secure than prior versions. The software connects to a cloud service, which enables secure storage of measurements and provides access to all relevant documentation, calibration certificates and manuals.

Users can install Ocean Next on a Windows laptop or tablet and the devices connect via Bluetooth. The test results automatically populate in the software while it tracks when the test was performed, the serial number of the device and the results, preventing human error in transcription, said Fredrik Brorson, vice president of Solutions for RTI Group.

“Traceability is a big word in our space,” Brorson said. “It's basically automated to save a lot of time, they don't have to write down results or type into Excel, compute results, or write up their report.”

Customers who already have RTI Group’s Piranha/Cobia solutions and
Scatter Probe can download the new Ocean Next for free and it’s available with new purchases.

Sun Nuclear
Last year, Sun Nuclear expanded the rod set for its Multi-Energy CT Phantom to include 12 new rods, enabling users to test a wider range of iodine and calcium concentrations to gauge consistency of a multi-energy CT scanner. The phantom now includes a total of 27 solid rods and one True Water.

The iodine concentrations can be measured at both lower and higher values, going as low as 0.2 milligrams per milliliter and as high as 20 milligrams per milliliter.

“In the years since the Multi-Energy CT Phantom came out, the ability of CT scanners has continued to improve,” said Ken Ruchala, CT product manager for Sun Nuclear. “With the new rod set, users get a broad spectrum of testing options available.”

The new rods were designed with an eye toward new standards for iodine and calcium concentration.

“There are no published standards on this yet,” Ruchala said. “But we are designing this to come out in front of what we expect to be upcoming standards.”

The Multi-Energy CT Phantom with the new, expanded rod set is for sale, and current customers who have the original phantom can purchase an upgrade kit to get the additional materials.