[Maintenance and obsolescence of medical devices]

Maintenance of medical devices is either curative, in case of a failure of the device, or preventive. Preventive maintenance (PM) is undertaken either at constant time intervals or when a given parameter crosses a specified limit. The aim of PM is to amend wear from intensive use as well as from ageing. Normally, the modalities of PM are defined by the manufacturer who must anticipate the possible deficiencies of the device. Some manufacturers tend to recommend exaggerated maintenance procedures. Obsolescence of a medical device is defined by one of the following criteria: a) loss of its initial performances; b) development of medical techniques requiring a wider spectrum of performances; c) presence of new devices with improved securities.