Don’t Damage Your Forceps with Bipolar Insulation Testing
Sterile Processing Department (SPD) professionals play a vital role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of medical procedures. One essential aspect of their responsibility is the proper care and maintenance of medical instruments. In this blog article, we will discuss the significance of insulation testing, especially for bipolar forceps, and how doing it wrong could negatively affect the quality and longevity of your instruments with the wrong testers in your hand.
Insulation Testing: The Hidden Threat to Your Medical Instruments
While sterile processing professionals are well-versed in the rigorous standards and procedures that govern their work, some crucial details can easily be overlooked. Correct insulation testing is one that can make a significant difference in instrument safety and longevity. Incorrect insulation testing which has been widespread recently on the market, does much greater harm and damages to your instruments than you could imagine:
- It not only voids your manufacturing warranties, but also could potentially put yourself into legal troubles to be accountable and liable for damaging your hospital or clinic’s properties through negligence.
- Certainly, it is not worth any of these risks for yourself to carried out the insulation testing in the wrong way, or wrongly use the incorrect insulation tester such as some of the Bipolar insulation testing devices on the market today, for whatever the “shortcut” the salesman sold you on or asked your to be associated with.
The Importance of Reading Medical Device Manufacturer’s Instruction For Use (IFU)
Have you ever wondered how many of your colleagues thoroughly check the manufacturer’s Instructions for Use (IFU) for the allowed and safe voltage ratings on their bipolar forceps, before they carry out bipolar insulation testing? At ACE Medical Co, we can’t stress enough that it is critical to ensure any testing you subject these instruments to falls within the manufacturer’s stated tolerance such as the limit boundaries on voltage.
Purchase High Quality Bipolar Instruments: The ACE Medical Co Way
At ACE Medical Co, we go the extra mile to guarantee the safety and reliability of our bipolar forceps. Our instruments undergo stringent quality control processes, and are tested for insulation integrity at a scientific engineering level. We follow the highest global standards to ensure that your bipolar forceps are safe for use in medical procedures. We also have the IFU clearly written for your guidance.
The low quality disposable Bipolar instruments are not made using the same scientific engineered quality materials and precision, and they don’t work well during surgery. The inferior products often times make the surgeons furious with unnecessary added stress, and negatively impact patient safety along with other negative domino effects. We are aware that there are various outlets on the market mass selling these low quality disposable instruments, which rack up much greater overall costs for any hospital or clinic, at multiple times compared to purchasing durable high quality Bipolars such as these made by ACE Medical Co. These disposable instruments’ extremely high overall costs of ownership are passed onto consumers, thereby resulting in sky-high medical bills we have today.
A Cautionary Tale: Damaged Instruments Due to Bipolar Insulation Testing Misuse
Recently, we received a brand new Bipolar Forceps from a customer that did not pass their “insulation test” designed by a third party company. The damage to the insulation was evident and alarming. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that these systems were being tested at a staggering 2800 Volts, while they are only rated for use at 500 Volts. This is almost six times of the rated load the instruments are manufactured and validated for, and the wrongly carried out insulation testing is undoubtedly causing harm and damages to these Bipolar Forceps.
Have you ever travelled to Europe and accidentally plugged your 110Volts electronic toothbrush, hair dryer or curler into the 220Volts outlet? Did you see any sparkle and smoke coming out of the outlet? Hope you didn’t have to pay for the large damage bill to repair the outlet after burning your own prized electronic device.
What’s more, these salesman who sold you the incorrect insulation tester are then shoving their low quality Bipolars into your hand. What a coincidence that the Bipolar insulation testing providers also sell their branded low-quality disposable Bipolars which are NOT subject to insulation testing and are NEVER tested in the same way?! Why would you think the low-quality disposable Bipolars manufactured WITHOUT being subject to the same tests can work better for patient safety and for surgeons? – The truth is very much the opposite, and they don’t! Medical instruments such as these disposable Bipolars are inferior in quality, and hinder the surgery procedure, patient safety and surgery outcomes!
The Dangers of Misleading Information
The incident serves as a reminder that we should always read the Instructions for Use (IFU) from any manufacturer. It is essential not to be misled by companies or sales representatives claiming their technology can surpass the limits set by the manufacturer.
Educate SPD Professionals: Protect Your Instruments
Education is the key to prevent such mishaps. All SPD professionals must be well-informed about the safe usage of these devices. Choosing the best quality instruments such as the Bipolar Forceps provided by ACE Medical Co is crucial, and it’s important not to fall for lower-quality alternatives which look cheap but actually cost many times more over time that may also compromise your hospital or clinic’s integrity and patient safety.
- Do you know that cheaper disposable Bipolar instruments actually end up being many times more expensive than purchasing high-quality durable reusable Bipolars such as the Bipolar Forceps provided by ACE Medical Co?
Conclusion: Prioritize Safety and Quality – Upgrade Your Medical Instruments, Not Your Overall Budget
In the world of sterile processing, safety and quality should always be paramount. Correct Bipolar insulation testing plays a significant role in ensuring the surgery procedures, outcomes and patient safety goes according to plan. Always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines, and do not compromise on the quality of your instruments. Educate yourself and your team on best practices to protect both your patients and your valuable medical instruments.
Level Up from Your Legacy Low-Quality Instruments to The Highest-Quality by Global Standard, and Actually Save Money! Please do not hesitate to contact us and learn more!
By staying informed and making sound decisions, you can continue to excel in the field of sterile processing, providing the highest level of care and safety for your medical instruments and ensuring successful and stress-free surgeries.
