1988SB 8-75-ll
SECTION I
GENERAL MEDICAL MATERIEL INFORMATION
1.
AVAILABILITY OF MAINTENANCE SERVICES.
The availability of maintenance services for specific nonstandard equipment and
components from the USAMMA Medical Equipment Maintenance Divisions is identified
at Appendix IV. The appendix identifies supportable nonstandard equipment and
components; non-reparable end items/components and limited support
items/components. The supportable nonstandard equipment and components may be
shipped without prior approval, although prior coordination is encouraged.
2.
ELECTROSTATIC-DISCHARGE PROTECTION.
A. Background
(1) This article is the second in a series that explains how electrostatic-
discharge (ESD) poses a serious problem to anyone using electronic devices. Keep
watching the supply bulletin for the third and final article of this series.
(2) When a medical device functions, it must be repaired. The responsibility
for this task usually belongs to medical maintenance personnel who ironically, may pose
additional problems to the device by inducing ESD damage.
(3) Frequently field support is the weakest link in the ESD control program.
After assessing the scope of the problem encountered, the strategy of minimizing the
ESD damage will be emphasized. Finally, a list of procedures that can be followed by
shop personnel to reduce the risk of ESD and the Ten Myths of Static Damage are
shown in Appendix V-A.
B. Problem
(1) A major ESD problem in the user environment is caused by the variation
of temperature and relative humidity (RH). On occasion, the ambient temperature and
RH create conditions for unusually high levels of electrostatic voltage. Appendix V-B
demonstrates typical voltage potential under these conditions.
(2) The most unpredictable aspects of the user environment are the work
habits of the individual user. They are often improperly educated regarding the
(3) The principal threat to the electronic and medical devices is ESD
damaging components such as transistors, resistors and operational.
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