FYI
From: Smith, Michael C (Health) [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, 17 July 2012 9:38 AM To: Owen Byrnes Cc: Beesley, Jack (Health) Subject: RE: [bmelist] Re: Laproscopic instrument testing with an HiPOT insulation tester Hi there Owen, Interesting question. HiPots are typically kV testers, running at DC, producing about 5 mA at most (some go to 10 mA). (http://www.atecorp.com/categories/hipots/hipot_leakage_above_40kv.asp) For electric shock, current delivered is critical, not voltage. 5 mA DC is just on the threshold of perception. This means that a pregnant woman exposed to the maximum current of a HiPot tester might be only just able to feel it, but would not normally be at risk of pain or injury. What about the current delivered to a fetus? There seems to be nothing in the literature about HiPot tester injuries to mothers or foetuses. Most articles are concerned with regular electric shock to mothers, which while hazardous to mothers, seems not to pose a major risk to a foetus. My conclusion is that the risk of fetal injury from a HiPot tester is similar to or less than other common workplace risks encountered while working in a Biomed workshop or electronics lab. Some other conclusions: "The fetus is much less resistant to electricshock than the mother. Any woman who suffers from an electric shock in pregnancy, however minor, requires prompt fetal monitoring and careful obstetric supervision." http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/073646799390516A "In most cases accidental electric shock occurring during day-to-day life during pregnancy does not pose a major fetal risk." http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937897705696 "Temporary and permanent pacing have been used safely during pregnancy, as has direct current cardioversion" http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000287039590090X regards, Michael Smith. (BE (Elec), MBiomedE) Biomedical Engineering Flinders Medical Centre From: Owen Byrnes [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, 16 July 2012 9:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [bmelist] Re: Laproscopic instrument testing with an HiPOT insulation tester Question 1: What are the risks for a pregnant woman doing testing with a HiPOT insulation tester? Question 2: Should a pregnant woman be performing this type of testing?
