There is a difference.
Caring for your most fragile patients is when Nellcor™ remanufactured sensors matter most.
Nellcor™ remanufactured sensors
100%
of Nellcor ™ remanufactured sensors
Restored to factory settings and comparable to brand-new sensors
Met the same process and performance requirements as brand new sensors
Are only remanufactured one time to ensure quality
Sensor reprocessing by third parties varies across reprocessors according to their limited product knowledge and the set target performance level.‡
Not affiliated with or supported by Medtronic‡
No knowledge of Nellcor™ proprietary manufacturing procedures‡
Reprocessing of a single sensor may be performed multiple times; in this case, performance levels might not be comparable to new devices‡
In the Medtronic remanufacturing process, a sensor is assembled the same way as a new sensor. Optical testing is used to confirm sensors meet quality and calibration specications.§
Deep knowledge of the Nellcor™ products and their manufacturing processes§
Designed to provide sensors equivalent to new terms of compliance to original product specifcations§,1
Each used sensor meeting the criteria for remanufacturing goes through 50 proprietary procedures and specification checks and can only be remanufactured once, to ensure performance is not affected.§
Key takeaway
At the visual inspection rate seen in this analysis, a hospital would have to purchase up to 20% more Stryker sensors to compensate for quality issues.
Stryker reprocessed sensors may not meet the needs in challenging conditions when an accurate and timely pulse oximetry reading is needed the most.
A stronger peel force is problematic for neonatal, frail, and compromised patients as this may lead to discomfort and skin damage.
Extra layers on several reprocessed sensors require more force to bend, which can lead to poor sensor adherence.
An extra bandage layer can cause greater thickness between optical components adversely affecting signal strength, resulting in more dropouts and alarms.
| Peeling force | Bending force | Thickness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stryker A compared to MAXAR | No significant difference | 49.5% more force | 0.85 mm thicker |
| Stryker N compared to MAXNR | 49% stronger | 26.4% more force | 0.23 mm thicker |
Key takeaway
Stryker reprocessed sensors were found to be less agile, less flexible, and less likely to conform to the application site, which may result in poor performance — more dropouts, more alarms, and reduced sensor life — and could lead to more waste.
The Nellcor™ pulse oximetry monitoring system should not be used as the sole basis for diagnosis or therapy and is intended only as an adjunct in patient assessment.
† Data from a bench study comparing Medtronic remanufactured versus third-party reprocessed pulse oximetry sensors: a comparison of performance and process quality.
‡ Third party reprocessed sensors
§ Nellcor™ remanufactured sensors
◊ Based on the results collected on the tested sensors. Bench data may not be indicative of clinical outcomes.
