General Instructions And Rules For Using The Optional Akupak - Primedic DefiMonitor XD Series Operating Manual

Operating Manual
A5
72
General Instructions And Rules For Using The Optional
AkuPak
A nickel cadmium accumulator (NiCd accumulator) has been selected for the opera-
tion of PRIMEDIC™ DefiMonitor because in practice, this type of an accumulator has
more advantages compared to other types.
The NiCd accumulator has a higher energy density, that is, the PRIMEDIC™ AkuPak
of the same size is able to give a considerably higher number of defibrillations and /
or has a longer operational ability than, for example, a comparable lead accumulator.
Using a NiCd accumulator is next to unproblematic. Due to a modern, microprocessor
controlled charging connection, like the one used in the PRIMEDIC™ AkuPak, the
charging time required is very short and the life of the battery can also be prolonged.
If the NiCd accumulator is recharged without discharging it fully over a long period of
time, a typical phenomenon called the 'Memory Effect' occurs. Owing to the 'Mem-
ory Effect', inspite of having an ostensibly large capacity, the accumulator functions
as if it were a smaller accumulator with a smaller capacity.
An example for clarification
An accumulator has a capacity of approx. 60 defibrillations. The device is used for five
defibrillations, after which the accumulator is charged again. If this method of opera-
tion continues over a long period of time, the 'memory effect' can set in. It means
that the capacity of the accumulator has reduced to five or six defibrillations because
the accumulator was 'trained' for five defibrillations'.
Reversing the 'Memory Effect' can be very expensive. So, the accumulator cannot be
used properly if its 'residual capacity' remains below a practicable value.
Preventing the 'Memory Effect'
In order to prevent the 'Memory Effect', the accumulator must be discharged fully
from time to time, so that in the meantime, a complete charging cycle can be carried
out. In practice, this can be done in a number of ways:
– Do not recharge the accumulator immediately if it was discharged only fraction-
ally. Most of the times, there is still enough energy to continue using the device
with the remaining energy at a later time. The PRIMEDIC™ AkuPak does not al-
ways recharge an accumulator immediately. The accumulator is charged only after
a certain threshold value has been crossed.
– Before recharging the accumulator, the remaining capacity should be used up, for
example, through several defibrillations. This is not required each time the accu-
mulator is charged, but only from time to time (weekly or monthly, depending
upon how often it is used).
– The optimal care for an accumulator is a fully automatic charging and discharging
device, whereby a specific amount of discharging takes place each time the accu-
mulator is charged. For reasons of safety, this method of charging is not used in
case of accumulators that are loaded in the defibrillator directly. Otherwise, this
can lead to an unfavourable scenario where the defibrillator is required at just the
time when the accumulator has been completely discharged.
The fully-automatic discharge / charge device is realised as a care function in the
charge console of the PRIMEDIC DefiMonitor. A second PRIMEDIC™ battery pack
can be charged with this option (can also be retrofitted) with which the "memory"
effect can be effectively avoided with the care function.
DefiMonitor XD
21324 / 09.05 / 02 / GB