Category: Product Review of NIHON KOHDEN Life Scope VS (Venus) series bedside monitors and related. The Life Scope VS series consists of BSM-3521, BSM-3552, BSM-3562, BSM-3572, BSM-3733, BSM-3753, BSM-3763 and BSM-3773.
Launched
in early 2011, the configured LIFE SCOPE VS (BSM-3500 and BSM-3700) series patient monitors
targets mid-acuity sites with the configured BSM-3500 series using a 12.1 inch
touchscreen display while the configured BSM-3700 series uses a 15-inch touchscreen display. (The BSM-3500 series was belatedly launched in the USA market in 2016).
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Configured Life Scope VS (BSM-3000) series models |
There are four models for the 12.1-inch configured BSM-3500 series, namely
a. Life Scope BSM-3532 bedside monitor
b. Life Scope BSM-3552 bedside monitor
c. Life Scope BSM-3562 bedside monitor
d. Life Scope BSM-3572 bedside monitor
The difference among the monitors is the SpO2 algorithm; the latest international version is refrained from use in the USA market for undisclosed reasons.
Another four models
are for the 15-inch configured BSM-3700 series, namely
a. Life Scope BSM-3753 bedside monitor
b. Life Scope BSM-3755 bedside monitor
c. Life Scope BSM-3763 bedside monitor
d. Life Scope BSM-3773 bedside monitor
The prominent feature of Life Scope VS bedside monitors is the utilization of flexible MULTI-parameter sockets that are colored in yellow. These yellow MULTI sockets do not accept ordinary measurement cables but only measurement cables that have NIHON KOHDEN parameter codes embedded in their plugs (which are also colored in yellow). The end result of using these flexible connector sockets means a good amount of needed connector sockets are removed from the monitor, which is undesirable. In reality, there is zero benefit from socket flexibility since the shortage of connector sockets will lead to serious inflexibility for users!
The Concept of a MULTI-PARAMETER UNIT (MPU) |
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NIHON
KOHDEN does not explain to the market how they could make sockets that
are flexible for five types of internal hardware, as well as accepting a
number of self-contained serial kit sets with processed digital output
data. Almost all sales and marketing people employed in Japan Head Office
have no engineering background.
Here are the relevant facts. Back in the 1990s, NIHON KHODEN identified five types of analog hardware that can be linked from the inside onto the flexible MULTI-parameter sockets and to make use of these hardware, a cable with the correct digital code on its plug must be inserted into one of the MULTI-parameter sockets. These cables with coded plugs are collectively cited as Smart Cables by the manufacturer and the codes are also known as parameter codes. Each
MULTI-parameter socket selects only one channel of the hardware, except
for Temperature allowing two channels of hardware to be selected.
To reiterate, the hardware mentioned here (Temperature, IBP, Cardiac Output, Thermistor Respiration and FiO2) are linked to the yellow flexible socket internally, and not from the outside |
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A measurement cable with a correct digital code in its plug can make use of any of the internally configured hardware shown here |