Best Practice

The Fennigkoh-Smith Equation (4 Apr 2013)

The basic Fennigkoh-Smith approach, in a variety of modifications, is widespread and in use today, to create a risk-based Planned Preventive Maintenance programme in Biomedical instrumentation. Fennigkoh-Smith approach is not completely satisfactory as it characterizes the risk associated with each type of medical device only according to its sensitivity to planned maintenance.


EM = F+R+MR 

where F is the function where it describes how the device is used, for example, life support like a ventilator or a defibrillator where it saves life.

 
R is the physical risk where it describes what kind of risk the patients would receive if the medical device malfunction, for example, a ventilator may stop ventilating and contribute to patient death, etc.


MR is the maintenance requirements and it specifies if the type of medical device requires extensive or minimal maintenance, for example, an intra-aortic balloon pump due to its nature of support/save life would require extensive maintenance of at least 2 times a year. 




No comments:

Post a Comment