Manufacturers' approaches in the development of intelligent multilevel safety systems to assist perfusionists during cardiopulmonary bypass.

How safe is safe? The design intent of perfusion safety systems is to offer maximum flexibility, low-cost and failsafe features. While easily said, these requirements are difficult to deliver in a perfusion world where standardization is uncommon. This paper reviews the challenges all manufacturers face as they strive to offer the ultimate in safety, keeping the price affordable for the technology deployed and the usability common sense for the perfusionist using the equipment. As microprocessors are able to assist designers in providing intelligent, multilevel safety systems, care must be taken during the design process to balance technological ability with intuitive use. In the final analysis, however, it is the perfusionist who is the primary safety system, and the technology is his or her backup.