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MDA/2005/061 - Footswitches for use with all models of ConMed or Valleylab electrosurgical units (ESUs), including footswitches manufactured by third parties

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Document details:

Type: Medical Device Alert
Series No: MDA/2005/061
Audience: Healthcare professionals
Published:
Format:
Size: A4
Pages: 3
Price: free
ISBN/ISSN:
Author:
Copyright: Crown
   

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Page 1

Ref. MDA/2005/061
Issued: 04 November 2005

IMMEDIATE ACTION Tick mark
ACTION  
UPDATE  
INFORMATION REQUEST  


  Further Information
DEVICE:
Footswitches for use with all models of ConMed or Valleylab electrosurgical units (ESUs), including footswitches manufactured by third parties.		  
PROBLEM:
ConMed and Valleylab ESUs share the same type of footswitch connector but are wired differently. If the footswitches intended for one type of ESU are used with the other, the ESU will deliver 'cut' waveforms when the 'coagulate' footswitch is depressed, or 'coagulate' waveforms when the 'cut' footswitch is depressed.		  
ACTION BY:
  • Theatre staff.
  • Staff responsible for routine testing and maintenance of ESUs (e.g. electrical and biomedical engineering / clinical engineering / medical physics / estates departments).
  
ACTION:
  • Theatre staff should check, before use, that footswitches operate cut and coagulate outputs correctly as advised in the manufacturer's instructions for use.
  • Maintenance staff should ensure that all footswitches are labeled for use with the appropriate ESU.
  

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DISTRIBUTED to:

NHS Trusts (England) - Chief Executives*
Healthcare Commission (CHAI) - Headquarters
Primary Care Trusts (England) - Chief Executives*

* via CE Bulletin

  

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CONTACTS:
Details of manufacturers' contacts, MHRA contacts for technical and clinical aspects.
Change of address or removal from address list for Healthcare Commission.		  

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Page last modified: 07 February 2008