ApexPro (telemetric system)

2019: Warning of defects

In the middle of November, 2019 GE Healthcare issued the express notice about security concerning defects of the telemetric ApexPro system because of which doctors can not obtain important data.

It is supposed that ApexPro provides the vital information on the patient in medical institutions. But when the telemetric ApexPro transmitter is out of an area of coverage of wireless communication, its battery was discharged or there was a failure of communication between the server and the transmitter, there is a condition "there is no transfer". This status of the transmitter, along with "lack of a signal of the ECG", change of system time and restart of a system, is connected with potential security concerns as after a fault repair data are not transferred repeatedly.

GE Healthcare issued the express notice about security concerning defects of the telemetric ApexPro system because of which doctors can not obtain important data

For example, doctors can not obtain information on failure of a warm rhythm that can lead to a delay of treatment of potentially life-threatening arrhythmia. The signal of other status requiring the emergency help can be in the same way delayed: at decrease in SpO2 patients can receive the warning signal, however it will not reach the station. It can delay therapy of a potential hypoxia and lead to adverse effects. Meanwhile messages about injuries and defeats in connection with similar failures did not arrive.

GE Healthcare provided specific instructions on the solution of each problem and announced that it will replace all rejected systems. The company urged users to stop use of the previous versions of software of ApexPro and to destroy the carriers containing not upgraded versions of software.

GE Healthcare reported that violations are connected with Carescape Central Station, the central station used with monitoring systems of Carescape B850/650/450, Dash 3000/4000/5000 or Solar 8000M.^[1]

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