Our in-house Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) methods and technologies are designed to repeatedly operate test devices and prototypes, providing crucial data in accelerated time. We utilise robotics and calibrated equipment to accelerate the process without user intervention.
Manufacturers can verify service life claims by simulating years of usage over a short span of time, providing data which can be used in the device’s technical file.
For manufacturers unsure of the service life of the products, or in the process of prototyping new products, we log data throughout testing and can perform interim assessments to track any changes in performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT)?
Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) is generally used as an umbrella term that covers any testing regime that attempts to replicate the total amount stress a device might undergo throughout its service life. This might include the kind of repetitive testing that Ikea is famous for (during which a seat might be compressed 10,000 times to replicate someone sitting on it), or reprocessing life cycle testing (during which a medical device might go through 100 cycles of cleaning, disinfection, and sterilisation).
Can you test the impact of reprocessing (cleaning/disinfection/sterilisation)?
We can certainly include reprocessing in a service life test plan: Test Labs has a wealth of experience in this area. For simpler devices, such as class Ir surgical devices, see Reprocessing Validation For Class 1r Medical Devices.
How do I work out the service life of my medical device?
For manufacturers unsure of the service life of the products (for example, if the medical device is new and there are no equivalents on the market), or in the process of prototyping new products, we can track key functions over the course of a study and perform interim assessments to track any changes in performance. In this way, we can confirm the exact point at which performance drops below acceptable levels.
What are the benefits of interim assessments?
Interim assessments capture data part-way through a study, and can be compared to the initial and final assessments to calculate a trajectory of changes a device has undergone. They can be used to monitor areas of concern or the general performance of the medical device as the study progresses.
When should highly accelerated life test (HALT) be performed in product development?
Highly accelerated life test (HALT) is useful at all stages of development. In the prototyping stage, it can be used to apply stress to areas of concern to confirm whether further design changes are required. At the design freeze stage, HALT can be used to provide data for proof of service life claims.