Technical Feasibility Testing of Medical Materiel: Evaluation of Drawover Vaporizers

Abstract : To satisfy the need in field medicine for a small, safe, reliable inhalational anesthesia apparatus that does not require compressed gases for operation, two commercially available drawover anesthesia machines are being considered. In the present study, the durability of these machines was evaluated by studying the effects on vaporizer performance of high and low storage temperatures, shock, and vibration, in accordance with procedures in MIL-STD- 810D, Environmental Test Methods and Engineering Guidelines. The results indicated that all parts of both vaporizers remained fully functional following exposure to these stresses. Bench tests revealed that the vaporizers' output was within manufacturer's specifications for the operating conditions studied. The absence of damage following exposure to field-simulated environmental stresses indicates that both vaporizers should be sufficiently durable for deployment by field medical units.