The evaluation of an auditory alarm for a new medical device

As new products for the operating room and intensive care unit come to market, it is imperative that auditory warning for such devices observe suggested taxonomies for sound level and frequency. Unfortunately, there are many low priority alarms in the operating room and intensive care unit which mask high priority alarms. The objective of this study was to evaluate an alarm for a new medical device and redesign it for use in operating rooms and intensive care units. The sound level and spectrum were evaluated. In addition, the sound levels and spectrums of 8 alarms at a large Midwest hospital were recorded for comparison with research data. Results indicated that the auditory alarms in operating rooms were indistinguishable from each other; This problem was further compounded when it was determined that similar equipment, manufactured by different companies, produced alarms of different sound levels and spectrums. Nonetheless, recommendations for the new device were made to be in accordance with proposed standards.