trouble with the reliability of its medical systems equipment, immediate action was required. This company’s leadership position was jeopardized when it began to experience customer complaints regarding the frequent failure of its infusion pump units. Upon examining the failed units, the company determined the root of the problem to be data corruption and error correction limitations resulting from power fluctuations. However, properly and completely diagnosing the failures was complicated because the company did not receive adequate technical support from its existing storage provider.
The problem was further compounded by the normal use of the infusion pumps. During everyday usage, operators of the equipment would tend to switch the machines on and off abruptly rather than waiting for them to power up or power down. This had an effect that was similar to power fluctuations from a power spike or brownout power disturbance. Both the operational and everyday power fluctuations caused data to be written to improper locations on the storage system. Upon subsequent startup, the infusion pumps would experience drive corruption and fail.
Solution: Advanced storage with the ability to prevent data corruption caused by power disturbances or failures
This leading medical systems equipment supplier selected SiliconSystems’ SiliconDrive advanced storage technology with patented PowerArmor as a replacement for its previous storage solution. PowerArmor technology is field proven to eliminate drive corruption in the event of an ungraceful power-down, brownout, power spike or unstable voltage level. To eliminate the number one cause of storage system field failures, PowerArmor protects critical data files by latching address lines to ensure that data is written to the proper location. PowerArmor also helps reduce revenue loss from field failures by decreasing maintenance, warranty and other costs associated with unscheduled downtime.
For enhanced reliability and endurance, SiliconDrive also incorporates superior 6-bit Error Correction Code (ECC) and patented wear-leveling algorithms to prevent drive wear-out and greatly extend product life.
The medical provider tested evaluation units of SiliconDrive in its infusion pump units and carefully monitored them for a period of eight months. SiliconDrive proved to have no failures within this time frame. The testing demonstrated that critical data files were protected by ensuring data was written to the proper location even if the infusion pump was powered on or off suddenly.
Benefit: Improved resistance to power fluctuations and toleration of frequent on/off operation among infusion pumps.
With SiliconDrive as its new advanced storage solution, the company was able to eliminate storage system data corruption caused by power disturbances and operator issues that lead to frequent infusion pump failures. Additionally, the company maintained vital customer goodwill and its corporate reputation.
Had the problem gone undetected, the potential sale of some 15,000 units would have been at risk.
The company also credited the support and technical assistance that was received from SiliconSystems as instrumental in the quick resolution of its field failure issues. As an added benefit, SiliconSystems helped the company find new ways to decrease maintenance, warranty and other costs associated with unscheduled downtime. The continued support from SiliconSystems provides additional peace-of-mind as this leading medical systems provider looks forward to accomplishing its sales goals over the three years and beyond.
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