ID 1254

Mathematical modeling used for biomedical technology management

Débora Rubio1, Sergio Ponce1, Marcelo Lencina1 and Nicolás Lescoulie1

1 UTN, F. R. San Nicolás, GADIB/LEDIB, San Nicolás, Argentina.

drubio@frsn.utn.edu.ar
Objective

The main objective of this research work is the development of mathematical models used for
program maintenances, especially in life support equipment.

Using mathematical models we can guarantee some more efficient maintenance strategies,
taking into account the correct functioning of medical equipment and of course the safety of
patients and users.
Introduction

Medical equipment manufacturers provide information related to the preventive maintenance

intervals , but sometime some devices that appear to be very similar in function and design
present different recommendations.

To find a more efficient maintenance program for each type of equipment, a set of ventilators
of the same brand, model and similar age was selected.
Materials and methods

The equipment historical maintenance data were obtained

from the databases of Clinical Engineering departments in
15 Argentine´s Hospitals.

The maintenance records were analyzed taking into account

the following variables; time of use, failure rate,
accumulated failures rate (which indicates the functional
behavior of equipment), useful life of critical components and
preventive maintenance frequency.
Materials and methods

The inspection periods were established with greater frequency, in order to record the life of
critical components and find evidence of possible future failures.

The methodology used was based on the statistical analysis of failures rates, survival and
reliability function of the selected equipment, in order to determine the mathematical and
statistics tools for the analysis of appropriate models.
Materials and methods

Descriptive statistics techniques were used to carry out the adjustment process of different
models (exponential, Weibull, gamma distribution, normal and lognormal distribution) and later
the function of empirical distribution of data was estimated graphically .
Results & discussion

To implement a graphical distribution method of data, it was proved that they respond to
a straight line, so we choose Weibull model to perform the reliability analysis to the
ventilators .
−(⋋𝑡) 𝛽
𝑆 𝑡 = 𝑒

Finding β values we can obteined a graphical representation of survival curve S (t) for the
equipment .
Results & discussion

Analyzing the survival probability curve of the

equipment, we can observe the probability of
survival for different hours of use, in order to
visualize the probability of failure at a certain
moment, which allows us to decide the exact
moment in which the equipment should be
reviewed .
Conclusion

We can conclude that scheduled maintenance , can be extended beyond what was
suggested by the medical equipment manufacturer.

In this way we can make "objective" decisions about the frequency of maintenance in these
equipment.

From our study we were able to propose a maintenance model that is not only effective but
also efficient, being able to optimize the resources of Clinical Engineering Departments.
References

 Jamshidi A, Rahimi A S, Ait-Kadi D (2014) Medical devices in-spection and maintenance;

A literature review, Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference.

 Dhillon, B.S. 2011, “Medical Equipment Reliability: A Review, Analysis, and Improvement
Strategies¨, International Jornal of Reliability Quality, and Safety Engineering, 18(4), 391-
403.

 Khalaf A, Djouani K, Hamam Y, Alayli Y (2010), International Conference on Electronic

Devices, Systems and Applications. 978-1-4244-6632-0. IEEE.
Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest

Acknowledgement