Is the MultiFlow Stretcher compliant with the ISO 60601-2-52 standard?
What is 60601-2-52?
60601-2-52 is the standard that applies specifically to medical beds and addresses health hazards for manufacturers to ensure their equipment meets the required safety and performance requirements.
The standard provides criteria on numerous safety elements and specifies dimensions for manufacturers to comply with, with the intention of:
- Reducing the risk of entrapment
- Ensuring lateral stability
- Stipulating a safe side rail height
Is the MultiFlow Stretcher compliant with 60601-2-52?
Yes, the MultiFlow Ultra Low Stretcher has been designed to comply with the 60601-2-52 standard.
The MultiFlow’s flush-fold side rails with horizontal bars meet the restrictions to reduce the risk of entrapment and meet the height guidelines.
Does 60601-2-52 even apply to patient stretchers & trolleys?
The standard explicitly states in section 201.3.212 Note 2 that excluded under the definition of ‘medical bed’ are “devices for which the intended use is mainly for examination or transportation under medical supervision (e.g. stretcher, examination table).”
Despite this, the industry now more commonly associates 60601-2-52 with patient stretchers as well as beds, which is understandable, due to:
- A lack of a recognised international standard applying specifically to patient stretchers and trolleys*
- A recent National Patient Safety Alert (NatPSA/2023/010/MHRA) suggested certain side rail requirements of 60601-2-52 applied to trolleys, as well as beds, in the absence of up-to-date guidance specifically for trolleys.
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