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Models Covered
Ferno iNX Integrated Patient Transport & Loading System configurations covered by the applicable iNX instructions for use. Confirm the product/UDI label, serial number, battery, charger or Integrated Charging System (ICS), iNLINE fastening system, restraints, options, and current manual before service. Do not apply this procedure to a POWER X1/X2, PRO 28Z, or another Ferno cot.
Manual Reference
Ferno iNX Integrated Patient Transport & Loading System Instructions for Use, Pub. No. 234-3622-09, December 2022. The current Ferno product-page resource controls if it supersedes this reviewed publication.
Manufacturer Recommendation / AEM Status
Ferno states that the cot requires regular maintenance and that its schedule gives minimum intervals. Perform daily operator duties and disinfecting each use or daily. Inspect the cot each use/daily, as needed, and monthly. Check the manual back-up cable each use/daily and as needed. Check the backrest cable as needed and monthly. Clean, pressure-wash, and lubricate only as needed and exactly as the manual permits.
Keep maintenance records and increase attention for high-volume service, extreme temperature, high humidity, harsh environments, or adverse maintenance history. A changed interval or omitted OEM activity belongs under the facility's approved AEM process and risk assessment.
What This PM Procedure Covers
- Identification, configuration, UDI/serial label, service history, and applicable OEM schedule
- Frame, metal fatigue, hardware, legs, telescoping frame, moving parts, safety bars, wheels, locks, mattress, restraints, and accessories
- Power switch, extend/retract controls, display, position lights, stops, battery, charger/ICS, cables, and powered motion
- Manual mode handles and cables, backrest cable, loading/unloading, safety-hook engagement, and iNLINE fastener interface
- Manual-approved cleaning, battery protection, and exact lubrication/no-lubrication points
- Final function, removal-from-service criteria, corrective action, and CMMS documentation
Required Tools and Equipment
- Current Ferno iNX instructions for use plus manuals for the fitted battery charger and iNLINE/ICS system
- Approved disinfectant, mild detergent, warm/clear water, soft cloths, clean dry terminal cloth, towels, PPE, and facility infection-control supplies
- Plastic bag and tie or rubber band for watertight battery-cable-plug protection if manual-approved washing is performed
- Verified ambulance/iNLINE fastener or approved functional-test setup and enough trained operators for empty-cot loading/unloading
- Charged approved 36 VDC lithium-iron-phosphate battery and compatible charger/ICS
- WRL-191S E-Z-1 light oil and PTFE dry-film spray lubricant only when the exact as-needed lubrication point requires them
- Basic hand tools and current Ferno service instructions for authorized adjustment; do not improvise repair criteria
Step-by-Step PM Procedure
1. Verify Identity, Configuration, and Due Activities
Action: Record asset tag, iNX model designation, UDI/serial number, department, battery, charger/ICS, iNLINE fastener, restraints, accessories, last maintenance, service volume, complaints, and applicable manual publication. Identify all daily, as-needed, and monthly activities due.
Expected outcome: The device and its maintenance requirements are positively identified. Stop if the exact configuration or documentation cannot be established.
2. Review History and Remove From Patient Use
Action: Review collision, drop, tip, loading, fastener, unexpected leg movement, powered-motion, stopping-height, battery, display, cable, wheel, lock, restraint, or manual-mode complaints. Remove the cot from service, remove the patient and unsecured equipment, and use trained operators throughout.
Expected outcome: Known risks are captured and testing can proceed without a patient, uncontrolled load, pinch, crush, or lifting hazard.
3. Disinfect, Clean, and Protect the Battery Interface
Action: Remove restraints, mattress, and accessories as directed. Disinfect using the product's application/contact-time instructions. For hand cleaning, turn power off, remove the battery, protect the battery cable plug from water, and use warm water with mild detergent. Rinse and fully dry. Do not immerse battery or metal restraint hardware; do not use phenolic/iodine cleaners, abrasives, or leave bleach residue.
Expected outcome: Cot, mattress, and restraints are clean, fully dry, residue-free, and undamaged, with dry restraints reinstalled correctly and no moisture in electrical connections.
4. Apply Pressure-Washing Limits Only When Used
Action: If pressure-washing is facility-approved and needed, follow section 6.7 exactly: place the cot at recommended transport height, use Direct Power to fold the loading-end legs, turn power off, engage locks, remove the battery, and seal the cable plug. Keep pressure at or below 3000 psi and 4 gal/min, use a 25- or 40-degree fan, remain at least 18 in away, and never direct spray into the control panel, wiring, cable openings, or battery. Dry before restoration.
Expected outcome: Cleaning does not introduce water, corrosion, electrical damage, or degraded motion. Any uncertainty about fluid entry is a failure pending evaluation.
5. Inspect Frame, Hardware, Legs, and Moving Parts
Action: Inspect all components, including frame areas beneath the removed battery/cover, for metal fatigue, cracks, bending, corrosion, impact damage, excessive wear, missing parts, loose hardware, or unauthorized modification. Cycle telescoping handles/frame, legs, backrest, sidearm, shock frame, patient surface, and other fitted mechanisms.
Expected outcome: Structure and hardware are complete and secure; all moving parts operate smoothly without looseness, binding, or damage.
6. Inspect Mattress, Restraints, and Accessories
Action: Inspect the mattress for rips, punctures, fluid intrusion, or other damage. Confirm restraints are correctly installed; inspect webbing for cuts/fraying and buckles/slide bars for damage and proper operation. Inspect the oxygen holder, accessory rail, surface extender, IV pole, equipment mounts, and all other fitted accessories for secure, interference-free operation.
Expected outcome: Patient-support and retention components are intact, cleanable, correctly installed, and fully functional.
7. Inspect Wheels, Casters, and Wheel Locks
Action: Remove debris and inspect wheels, sealed bearings, treads, axles, caster forks, and lock mechanisms. Roll the empty cot toward the control and loading ends and rotate it in a circle. Verify each caster remains level and perpendicular to the floor through 360 degrees and throughout leg motion. Engage each wheel lock and verify it stops wheel rotation.
Expected outcome: Cot rolls smoothly; wheels/casters have no excessive wear or damage; and locks engage and release correctly.
8. Inspect Battery, Charger/ICS, Display, and Cables
Action: Inspect the battery case, terminals, retention, battery cover, cable plug, charger/ICS, controller case, display, cords, connectors, and cables for cracks, contamination, heat, moisture, cuts, fraying, pinching, looseness, or exposed conductors. Wipe dirty/wet battery terminals with a clean dry cloth. Replace a cracked/damaged battery and recycle a battery that can no longer maintain charge.
Expected outcome: Battery attaches securely, charger/ICS components show no visible damage, and all wiring/cables are intact, dry, and correctly routed.
9. Verify Power, Controls, Display, Lights, and Alarms
Action: Install a charged approved battery. Verify the power switch, extend/retract buttons, mode-select control, display, battery indication, position lights, general lighting, status indicators, and audible alarms. Confirm controls respond predictably and do not stick or command motion after release.
Expected outcome: Power, controls, display, indications, lighting, and alarms operate as described with no intermittent or unintended behavior.
10. Test Powered Motion and Programmed Stops
Action: With trained operators controlling both ends and no patient, cycle the powered system smoothly through its full permitted range. Verify extend/retract motion, transport-height stop, user-set loading-height stop, fully extended position, fully lowered position, chair/shock positioning when fitted, and Direct Power modes. Observe for binding, excessive noise, asymmetry, hesitation, or uncontrolled movement.
Expected outcome: Powered motion is smooth and controlled, both ends remain stable, and the controller stops at every required position.
11. Test Manual Back-Up and Backrest Cables
Action: Inspect both manual mode handles, cables, mounts, locking clips, and routing. With enough trained operators supporting and controlling the empty cot, verify non-powered extension/retraction at each end and confirm releasing each handle locks the legs. Inspect and functionally verify the backrest control cable/handles. Adjust only under the current Ferno procedure.
Expected outcome: Manual handles/cables release and relock correctly, remain clear of the cot/fastener during loading, and the backrest responds and holds normally.
12. Verify Safety Bars, Hook, Loading, and iNLINE Fastener
Action: Confirm the ambulance is properly prepared with the compatible iNLINE system. Using enough trained operators and an empty cot, verify both safety bars engage the safety hook at the appropriate stages, the cot loads/unloads correctly, the fastener securely retains/releases the cot, in-fastener shutoff works when fitted, and ICS charging indication is present when equipped.
Expected outcome: Safety hook engages each bar, loading/unloading remains controlled, the cot is securely retained, and no handle, cable, accessory, or equipment interferes.
13. Lubricate Only the Approved Points as Needed
Action: Disinfect and clean before lubrication. If needed, apply one or two drops of WRL-191S E-Z-1 light oil to each safety-bar pivot slot and a light coating of PTFE dry-film spray to clean slider rails at both sides/both ends; wipe off excess. Do not lubricate the sealed wheel bearings, legs, patient surface, or any point carrying the no-lubrication symbol.
Expected outcome: Only approved points receive the correct minimal lubricant, motion is smooth, and no excess remains to collect dirt.
14. Correct Defects Under Authorized Instructions
Action: Remove the cot from service when damage or excessive wear is found. Use current Ferno service information, approved parts, trained personnel, and required post-repair checks. Do not modify the cot, substitute an incompatible battery/fastener, bypass a safety device, or improvise cable/actuator adjustments.
Expected outcome: Repairs preserve the approved configuration and every affected inspection/function check is repeated successfully.
15. Complete Final Operational Verification
Action: Recheck structure, hardware, mattress, restraints, wheels/locks, accessories, battery retention, power/controls, full powered range, stops, lights/display/alarms, manual back-up, backrest, safety bars/hook, fastener retention, and charger/ICS indication. Confirm all covers and connections are restored.
Expected outcome: The complete cot operates normally with no unresolved damage, wear, binding, interference, unintended motion, or missed maintenance item.
16. Restore and Document
Action: Clean and dry the cot, reinstall verified accessories and charged battery, record manual publication, schedule, findings, parts, lubricant, adjustments, functional results, technician/date, and disposition. Apply the PM label and return to service only after every failure is resolved.
Expected outcome: The iNX is clean, complete, traceable, and either safely returned to service or clearly quarantined.
Electrical Safety Testing
The iNX cot operates from a removable 36 VDC battery, and the reviewed OEM maintenance checklist specifies functional electrical inspection rather than routine cot leakage-current or protective-earth measurements. Document N/A - removable-battery cot unless the exact configuration, local policy, or current Ferno documentation requires otherwise. Inspect/test a mains-powered battery charger or ICS under its own manual and facility electrical-safety program; do not report that accessory result as a cot electrical-safety measurement.
Pass / Fail Criteria
Pass
- Identity, UDI/serial, battery, charger/ICS, fastener, accessories, manual publication, and due schedule are documented
- Frame, battery-covered areas, hardware, legs, moving parts, mattress, restraints, wheels, casters, locks, safety bars, and accessories pass inspection
- Battery, cover, controller, display, switches, lights, alarms, cords, connectors, and cables are intact and function correctly
- Powered motion is smooth through the full range and stops correctly at transport, loading, fully extended, and fully lowered positions
- Manual mode/backrest cables, loading/unloading, safety-hook engagement, iNLINE retention/release, and installed ICS indication pass
- Cleaning and any lubrication follow the exact OEM limits, all defects are resolved, and final verification is documented
Remove From Service
- Applicable documentation/configuration, required schedule, battery/charger compatibility, or fastener compatibility cannot be established
- Metal fatigue, crack, bend, impact damage, excessive wear, loose/missing hardware, damaged mattress/restraint, unsafe wheel/lock, or accessory interference exists
- Powered motion binds, is noisy/asymmetric, moves unexpectedly, or fails a required programmed stop
- Power, display, indicator, light, alarm, battery retention, cord/cable, manual back-up, backrest, safety bar/hook, loading, or fastener function fails
- Fluid intrusion, battery damage, unauthorized modification, incomplete repair, or missed post-repair verification remains
Copy/Paste CMMS Work Order Procedure
Follow the current Ferno documentation for the exact iNX, battery, charger/ICS, and iNLINE configuration. Never test with a patient, use untrained helpers, release manual mode without supporting the cot, bypass the safety hook or fastener, lubricate a prohibited point, pressure-wash the battery, or return a cot with structural damage, excessive wear, failed restraints, unsafe motion, cable damage, or unreliable retention.