Medical Equipment Operations Flashcards

Which parameter is most critical to verify before connecting a patient to a mechanical ventilator?

Answer: Tidal volume setting

Tidal volume must be verified before use to ensure the patient receives the appropriate breath size and avoid barotrauma or hypoventilation.

An infusion pump alarms 'upstream occlusion.' What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Kinked IV tubing above the pump

An upstream occlusion alarm typically indicates a blockage or kink in the tubing between the fluid bag and the pump, preventing fluid from reaching the pump.

What does the term 'duty cycle' refer to in electrosurgical units (ESU)?

Answer: The ratio of on-time to total period of the RF waveform

Duty cycle is the ratio of active (on) time to total cycle time in the RF waveform, which determines whether the ESU operates in cut or coagulation mode.

A pulse oximeter reads SpO2 of 98% but the patient appears cyanotic. Which condition could cause this discrepancy?

Answer: Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide binds hemoglobin similarly to oxygen, causing standard pulse oximeters to read falsely high SpO2 even when actual oxygen saturation is dangerously low.

Which international standard specifically governs the safety requirements for medical electrical equipment?

Answer: IEC 60601-1

IEC 60601-1 is the primary international standard establishing general safety and essential performance requirements for medical electrical equipment.

During a defibrillator self-test, the energy readback shows 195 J when 200 J was selected. What is the acceptable tolerance per most standards?

Answer: ±15%

Most defibrillator standards, including AAMI DF80, allow a ±15% tolerance on delivered energy compared to the selected energy setting.

A hemodialysis machine's conductivity alarm activates during treatment. What is the immediate corrective action?

Answer: Take the patient off bypass and return blood

A conductivity alarm indicates an unsafe dialysate concentration; the patient should immediately be taken off bypass and blood returned to prevent electrolyte imbalance.