Filter life Braun IQ

[Garry]

Hi, any users of Braun IQ experienced reduced life of ultrafilters? We only use at one unit and every machine has failed with df/hdf filter blocked message with inlet press to filters at >700mmhg with each machine showing around 40-50 treatments left and around 400 hours.  Water quality good at 0cfu/ml.  As we're new to the IQ unsure if this is an issue others have come across with the equipment now monitoring ultrafilter pressure.  Possible a bad batch of diacaps but can't be sure until Braun investigate or next replacement window comes around.  As it mainly occurred mid treatment I'd rather get is resolved before then. Cheers

[David Topham]

Good afternoon Gary, we are also new to the iQ as well and as yet haven't experienced any filter issues however we have carried out extensive testing on the Dialog+ ultrafilter and found it able to run to double the number of hours/treatments without failing on testing. I had asked Braun on several occasions as to how they came to the 150 treatments or 900 hours lifespan or whichever comes first they won't share the data on how they came to this figure, one size doesn't fit all on water quality as we all know.
As you are relatively new to the iQ have you had any issues with the blood side test failure or any of the MSATA boards failing as we have had 11 fail so far here at Canterbury.
We would welcome any comments on any issues relating to the iQ
 

[Garry]

Hi David, thanks for the response.  Braun are currently looking into the issue for us.  We currently run at 800ml/min dialysate flow for HDF and this may turn out to be contributing to the prefilter pressure hitting the alarm point.   Unless you also run at that flow rate without issue?  I’d heard the filters could run way past the recommendation, but as per my post, falling around a third short.  We’d only follow the manufacturers guidance but good information to have
.
We only have 24 IQs.  I’m aware of a few unexplained bloodside test fails though most of these have passed on subsequent checks.  On the few times I’ve seen the issue as it is happening, adjusting the pods seems to have got it through, though may have been coincidence.  Again, only in use for just over 6 months.

Have had two mSATA fails, one after around 300 hours the other at just over 2000 hours.

[David Topham]

Hello Garry,

This is interesting regarding the MSATA boards as we have been assured that this is only happening with us?
I have looked in more detail regarding the number of blood side test failures and on further inspection I can see that the luer lock manometer line from the small compliance pod isn't very well made compared to the Dialog + lines.

If you look closely there are three thread turns compared to the one or one and half so when lining you have to ensure that they are really tight which seems easy to understand but not always carried out, this would only need a slight improvement in the design. This may contribute to the number of blood side test fails around 10 minutes into testing.

I would be interested to hear from you or anyone else who has experienced this.