Philips Third Party Battery Warranty Info

Facts to consider regarding batteries for your Philips HeartStart AED

Philips HeartStart batteries are manufactured with a high level of quality. Third-party (non-Philips) AED batteries may  not be manufactured to the same level of quality. Before purchasing a third-party AED battery, consider the following: 

Safety Facts  

• The high level of performance demanded of a Philips HeartStart AED battery pack requires every cell to have a balanced electrical capacity. Battery cells inside third-party battery packs could be mismatched resulting in dangerous  electrical stress on the cell during use, possibly leading to fire, explosion, or the inability to perform a rescue.  
• Battery cells inside Philips HeartStart battery packs are carefully aligned, connecting wires are well insulated, and silicone use is kept to a minimum. Battery cells inside third-party battery packs could have misaligned cells that could  cause intermittent connectivity, poor insulation that could pose a fire hazard, or excessive silicone that could block  venting and increase explosive risk.  
• Philips AED batteries contain high-quality welding and a meticulous arrangement of components inside an enclosure that is ultrasoncially welded together, all to ensure that the battery meets vibration, drop, moisture, and thermal  requirements. Third-party AED batteries may not be assembled in a way that ensures performance in the wet, rugged  environments that Philips HeartStart users often work. Without proper welding, for example, water could pass through  the third-party battery and into the AED itself, thereby compromising the integrity of the AED.  

Warranty Facts  

• Using a third-party battery inside a Philips HeartStart AED at any time during the service life of the AED will void the Philips warranty because a third-party battery may compromise the integrity of your Philips AED. Furthermore, if any  patient use occurs with a Philips HeartStart AED that has ever been used with a third-party battery, or while using a  third-party battery, Philips will not be responsible for the AED’s performance. 

Shipping Facts  

• The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) prohibits the shipment of AED batteries by persons untrained in “Dangerous Goods” shipping methods, which include special requirements for labeling boxes that batteries  are shipped in. The US DOT can levy fines against both the shipper and receiver of improperly shipped AED  batteries. It doesn’t matter if the AED battery is depleted or not; the US DOT requires special handling and special  labeling. If you are going to purchase third party batteries that require you to ship AED batteries, you should familiarize  yourself with these rules and regulations.  

FDA Clearance Facts  

• 510(k) clearance from the FDA does not mean that the FDA has endorsed the product or that the FDA has vouched for the safety of the product. The FDA does not endorse any level of product quality, safety, or reliability through the  510(k) process.