Tue Mar 26 2024

Cycle count, Purge Process

RE: TROPHON EPR N100010

I am trying to prepare two generation I machines (2012, 2014) for resale and require the cycle count so that the buyer will be able to predict the next PM.  I assume the cycles should be info that can be viewed using sequenced keying on bootup, but there are no directions in the user manual and nothing I have tried has worked so far.  The boot up initial display shows only S/N and software info.   Both machines pass their self texts and proceed into the purge cycle where they continue unless powered down.  Both seem to complete an initial stage of purging after about 15 minutes and then shift into something pretty much the same after a couple of seconds of what sounds like electronic switching.

What I would like is:

* directions for the cycle recall sequence or whatever process is required to find the cycle count;

* an indication of what the normal purging process is and how it might be controlled or prompted to complete while the device is dry and self testing


Thanks

Bruce Raynor


Equipment: TROPHON EPR


   RE: Washer/Decontaminator Report Post
Wed Mar 27 2024Reply from Raynorshine Enterprises
avatar placemark

So after some more searching here is what I found:

The device was designed so that the cycle count is only visible when a cartridge is in place.  With servicing / PM software the count can also be seen. This software is only available from the Trophon distributors and the manufacturer and is expensive.  There is a way of fooling the system by putting liquid on the port used by the cartridge, sealing it with tape, installing an empty cartridge and turning the machine on (I did not try this), but this is a finicky process and may not work.   GE Healthcare does have a S/N based record of authorized of service performed and cycle counts which they will share with registered owners, but not others.

Purging can take as long as 80 minutes, particularly after one of these sterilizers has been unpowered for several weeks.  When a purge is stopped by turning the machine off, it is not suspended, but terminated and a new purge must be started. My machines took about 45 minutes to purge.  One of them had been unpowered for over a year

The new Trophon model reportedly uses the same disinfection process as the original model and has a similar appearance and size.  The main functional differences appear to be a somewhat faster sterilization process and much fast purge process.  While these are a probably a great steps forward for those requiring high throughput, there are some other system changes which might suggest low volume user closely consider replacing their first generation machines.  On the surface these mainly software advances have been made to assist in tracking machine and consumable use and control who uses the Trophon, all features which are good from safety and supply chain perspectives.  What may be of concern is that by requiring user soft keys, product barcodes and restricting the usability of consumables that may not conform to GE Heathcare's profile of the user, end users will be more dependent on GE than previously.  This suggests to me that the motivation behind the new product's development may have been as much about profiting from creating additional customer dependency as it was about increasing speed and efficiency.   If you are a low volume user and your machine works, you might want to give a lot of thought to upgrading.



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