Preventive Maintenance and Calibration Flashcards

When using a electrical safety analyzer to perform a leakage current test on a Class I medical device, what is the maximum allowable chassis leakage current under normal conditions per NFPA 99?

Answer: 100 µA

NFPA 99 and AAMI ES60601-1 limit chassis (enclosure) leakage current for Class I devices to 100 µA under normal conditions.

A biomedical technician is calibrating a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) module. Which instrument is required to verify cuff pressure accuracy?

Answer: A certified digital manometer or pressure calibrator

A calibrated digital manometer or pressure calibrator directly measures the pneumatic pressure applied to the cuff, providing a traceable reference for NIBP calibration.

Which PM task is unique to laser surgical equipment compared to conventional electrosurgical units?

Answer: Verifying beam alignment, output power, and protective eyewear integrity

Laser PM includes optical alignment verification, measured output power against rated specifications, and inspection of safety interlocks and wavelength-appropriate eyewear.

During PM on a physiological monitor, the technician observes that the ECG trace has a 60 Hz artifact that persists after replacing lead wires. The next troubleshooting step is:

Answer: Verify the device chassis ground continuity and check the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR)

Persistent 60 Hz artifact after lead replacement typically indicates a grounding deficiency or degraded CMRR in the amplifier, both assessed during PM.

A PM procedure requires lubricating the drive mechanism of an OR table. Which lubricant is contraindicated in this environment?

Answer: Petroleum-based grease where O-rings or oxygen lines are nearby

Petroleum-based lubricants can degrade rubber O-rings and create fire or explosion hazards in oxygen-enriched surgical environments.

A hospital's PM program is evaluated during a Joint Commission survey. The surveyor asks for evidence that PM completion rates meet the required threshold. What is that threshold?

Answer: 100% for life-support equipment; ≥90% overall

The Joint Commission requires 100% PM completion for life-support devices and generally accepts ≥90% completion for non-life-support equipment in the overall program.

Which concept describes the practice of adjusting PM frequency based on a device's historical failure rate and clinical risk level?

Answer: Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM)

Reliability-centered maintenance uses failure history and risk analysis to optimize PM intervals, reducing unnecessary maintenance while protecting patient safety.