As discussed in our previous blog, devices on medical carts are getting progressively smaller. Meanwhile, medical carts themselves remain the same size. Aesthetically speaking, small and compact carts are more appealing; however, small medical carts run the risk of failing important IEC 60601 tests – particularly those that address tipping and instability resulting from horizontal and vertical forces.
A smaller cart may be a liability unless necessary precautions are taken to ensure safety. If your medical cart is under 25 kilograms (55 pounds), it’s exempt from the instability from horizontal and vertical forces test although skipping the test may not be the best course of action for safety. For example, you may make the medical cart base heavier you enhance stability, but without testing you will not know if the issue is completely resolved.
The test you need to prepare for when designing a smaller medical cart is the instability from horizontal and vertical forces test, which measures the stability of your medical cart when something or someone leans against it. Keep in mind that FMEA risk management action may be a possibility, and you can learn more about it and how it applies to medical carts here. Risk management with 60601 assesses the safety of a certain product, its level of compliance with 60601 and aids in identifying issues via FMEA-based processes.
So, what’s the point of designing a smaller medical cart? Think about the end user. Who will be using it the most? Where will it be used? Whatever medical facility your product is destined for, take time to consider the economy of space. Project engineer Mark Collins asks himself: “How many of these [medical carts] can I fit in an elevator? How much space am I saving? How will this enhance the lives of medical professionals on a daily basis?”
Looking to make your medical cart smaller? Contact us today to get your project underway.
