PDF Guidelines For Failure Modes and Effects Analysis For Medical Devices 1st Edition Edition Dyadem Press Download
PDF Guidelines For Failure Modes and Effects Analysis For Medical Devices 1st Edition Edition Dyadem Press Download
PDF Guidelines For Failure Modes and Effects Analysis For Medical Devices 1st Edition Edition Dyadem Press Download
com
https://ebookname.com/product/guidelines-for-failure-modes-
and-effects-analysis-for-medical-devices-1st-edition-
edition-dyadem-press/
OR CLICK BUTTON
DOWLOAD NOW
https://ebookname.com/product/handbook-of-materials-for-medical-
devices-asm-international/
https://ebookname.com/product/practical-design-control-
implementation-for-medical-devices-1st-edition-jose-justiniano/
https://ebookname.com/product/medical-device-materials-
proceedings-from-the-materials-processes-for-medical-devices-
conference-1st-edition-sanjay-shrivastava/
https://ebookname.com/product/guidelines-for-the-avoidance-of-
vibration-induced-fatigue-failure-in-process-pipework-2nd-
edition-energy-institute/
ISTFA 2002 proceedings of the 28th International
Symposium for Testing and Failure Analysis 1st Edition
Asm International
https://ebookname.com/product/istfa-2002-proceedings-of-the-28th-
international-symposium-for-testing-and-failure-analysis-1st-
edition-asm-international/
https://ebookname.com/product/radiation-effects-in-
semiconductors-devices-circuits-and-systems-1st-edition-
krzysztof-iniewski/
https://ebookname.com/product/istfa-2010-conference-proceedings-
from-the-36th-international-symposium-for-testing-and-failure-
analysis-1st-edition-asm-international/
https://ebookname.com/product/candidacy-for-implantable-hearing-
devices-candidacy-for-implantable-hearing-devices-audiology-and-
neuro-otology-1st-edition-g-f-smoorenburg/
https://ebookname.com/product/nonparametric-regression-methods-
for-longitudinal-data-analysis-mixed-effects-modeling-
approaches-1st-edition-hulin-wu/
Guidelines for Failure Mode and Effects
Analysis for Medical Devices
IMPORTANT! CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER BEFORE READING OR OTHERWISE USING
THESE GUIDELINES. BY USING THESE GUIDELINES, YOU, AS THE END USER, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU
HAVE READ THIS DISCALIMER, UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND THAT
YOU INTEND TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THEM. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS
DISCLAIMER, DO NOT READ OR OTHERWISE USE THESE GUIDELINES AND RETURN IT WITH TO THE PLACE
OF PURCHASE WITHIN 15 DAYS OF DELIVERY FOR A FULL REFUND.
DISCLAIMER
The information and material here within has been prepared in part by Dyadem Engineering Corporation (hitherto known
as “DEC”) for the Dyadem Press (hitherto known as “DP”) and CRC Press is intended, in good faith, to assist you with
identification of hazards and risk issues throughout a product’s life cycle as a part of the quality system. It remains your
responsibility to determine its application, specific suitability and the manner in which such intended applications should be
executed. It is furthermore assumed that you or your appointed personnel or appointed representatives shall be appropriately
qualified for its interpretation and applicability. These guidelines are solely to assist you in the methodologies and techniques
here within presented and are not to be relied upon or intended as a substitute for your own specific decision making requirements,
your own specific hazards and risk analyses requirements, including, but not limited to, such techniques as, Failure Mode and
Effects Analysis (FMEA), Design FMEA, Process FMEA, Service FMEA, Application FMEA, Hardware FMEA, Software
FMEA, Failure Modes and Effects Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP), and Fault Tree
Analysis, and so forth, or as a substitute for professional advice associated with the aforementioned. These guidelines cannot
and do not replace a qualified engineering analysis, other professional analysis and advice in the field of hazards
identification, risk assessment, risk reduction, the management of risk, Risk Management Planning (RMP), Advanced Quality
Planning (AQP), Product Quality Control Plans, Dynamic Control Plans, and so forth either in general or in part. It is
incumbent upon you to perform your own assessment and analysis and to obtain professional advice. While every attempt has
been made to present the material as accurately as possible, it does not preclude the possibility of error, either factual,
typographical, contextual, interpretative, nor of you nor your personnel nor representatives making interpretation(s)
unintended by DEC, CRC Press or DP. Furthermore, you are reminded that these guidelines are not intended to replace
analyses performed by qualified professional personnel. The entire risk as to the data or information supplied, use,
calculations, performance results and/or consequences of these guidelines and risk analysis is with you. You assume full
responsibility for compliance with rules, regulations and statutes, and for environmental, quality control, quality assurance
liability, statutory or otherwise, risks, and risk assessments. You acknowledge and understand that no regulatory body or
association endorses or otherwise approves these guidelines.
The examples presented as part of these guidelines do not contain information about any specific known plant, process,
company or individual. In addition, these guidelines do not reflect the policies of any known specific company. The subject
matter is considered to be pertinent at the time of publication. However, it does not preclude the possibility of partial or total
invalidation that may result from later legislation, methodologies, standards and so forth.
In particular, in relation to the subject matter contained within, you are reminded that attempts to predict and guard against
potential hazards can never be guaranteed, since risk can never be totally eliminated, however diligent the efforts may be.
Neither DEC, DP nor Dyadem International Ltd. (hitherto known as “DIL”) shall be held liable for special or consequential
damages arising directly or indirectly from the use or misuse of the information and material here within contained or
referenced. In no event will DEC, DP, CRC Press DIL, the distributors or agents be liable for any damages, howsoever
caused, including but not limited to, any lost profits or revenue, loss of market share, lost savings, loss of use or lack of
availability or corruption of facilities including without limitation computer resources, information and stored data, indirect,
special, incidental, punitive, exemplary, aggravated, economic or consequential damages, adverse outcomes, personal injury or
death, contribution or indemnity, arising out of the use, or inability to use these guidelines, or for claim by any other party,
even if DEC, DP, CRC Press, DIL or any of its lawful agents, distributors or employees have been advised of the possibility of
such damages or claim. In no case will DEC, DP, CRC Press, DIL distributors or agents be liable in total, whether in contract,
tort or otherwise and your exclusive remedy shall be regardless of the number of claims, for no more than the amount paid by
you for these guidelines. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of implied warranties or limitation of liability
for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. The foregoing paragraphs
on warranty disclaimer and limitations on liability shall survive any transfer of ownership or any form of reallocation.
By using these guidelines you acknowledge and understand that any dispute that arises shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of Ontario and federal laws of Canada applicable therein and shall be treated, in all respects, as an
Ontario contract. The Parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario. The Parties hereby
expressly exclude the application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and the
Sale of Goods Act (Ontario) as amended, replaced or re-enacted from time to time.
COPYRIGHT: All applicable copyright laws governing United States, Canadian and international copyright and intellectual
property laws and treaties protect these guidelines. You agree that these guidelines (except for any publicly available data
iii
contained therein) are confidential to and rights to or embodied in this manual is owned by the DP. DP retains all rights not
expressly granted. Copyright © 2003 Dyadem Press
Guidelines for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for Medical Devices
Copyright © 2003 by Dyadem Press
ISBN 0849319102
Co-Published and distributed by CRC Press
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
For information, write to:
Dyadem Press,
9050 Yonge Street, Suite 401
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Canada
L4C 9S6
Phone: 905–882–5055
Fax: 905–882–5057
CRC PRESSBoca Raton London New York Washington, D.C.
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Catalog record is available from the Library of Congress
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and
sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information,
but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use.
Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, microþlming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from
the publisher.
The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale.
Speciþc permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying.
Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identiþcation and
explanation, without intent to infringe.
Visit the CRC Press Web site at www.crcpress.com
© 2003 by CRC Press LLC
No claim to original U.S. Government works
Dyadem Engineering Corporation focuses on controlling the risks associated with major hazards in the automotive,
aerospace, process, medical device and general manufacturing industries, delivering a wide spectrum of services in the fields
of process design, risk management, incident investigation and risk study facilitation.
We offer professional training services for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Process Hazards Analysis, Job Safety
Analysis and Ergonomics. Dyadem has also become a respected publisher of engineering manuals. Our successful Guidelines
series also includes Guidelines for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for Automotive and General Manufacturing Industries
and the popular Guidelines for Process Hazards Analysis, Hazards Identification & Risk Analysis.
Table of Contents
Glossary xi
CHAPTER 1 Introduction 1
CHAPTER 2 Regulations & Standards Governing Medical Device Manufacturing 3
Background. 3
United States Regulations 3
European Union Regulations 4
International Standards 5
EU/EC EN (European Norm) Standards 7
CHAPTER 3 Risk Management of Medical Devices 8
Risk Management 8
CHAPTER 4 Risk Analysis Methodologies 12
Hazard And Operability Analysis (HAZOP) 12
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) 13
CHAPTER 5 Overview of FMEA 15
Overview 15
Limitations of FMEA 17
CHAPTER 6 FMEA Procedures 18
Introduction 18
FMEA Terminology 18
FMEA Steps 21
Preliminary Consideration of FMEA 23
Preparation Before FMEA Sessions 23
Conducting FMEA Sessions 25
Follow-Up of FMEA 26
CHAPTER 7 FMEA Team 27
Introduction 27
Team Size 27
Team Membership 27
Team Leader (Facilitator) 27
CHAPTER 8 Pitfalls with FMEA 28
CHAPTER 9 Common Tools Used with FMEA 30
ix
References 73
Glossary
Acceptable Quality Level (AQL): For the purposes of sampling inspection, AQL is the maximum percent defective that can
be considered satisfactory as a process average.
Average Outgoing Quality Limit (AOQL): For a given sampling plan, it is the maximum average quality of outgoing product
after 100% screening of rejected lots.
Characteristics: Distinguishing features of a process or its output on which variables or attributes data can be collected.
Design Defect: An imperfection that causes a product to inadequately protect against risks of injury, fail to perform intended
functions safely, inadequately safeguard against a specific danger, create unreasonably dangerous side effects, or fail to
minimize avoidable consequences in the event of an accident.
Detection: The probability of the failure being detected before the impact of the effect is realized.
Facilitator: An expert who ideally has no vested interest in the process under investigation, but who has the knowledge and
ability to guide the project leader and the team through the various process improvement steps. The facilitator will work with
the client to identify the opportunity, develop a structure for the project, and contract for the boundaries of the project and
timing issues. He or she should be aware of sources for information, expert advice and practical assistance.
Failure Mode: A symptom, condition or fashion in which hardware fails. A failure mode might be identified as loss of function,
premature function (function without demand), an out-of-tolerance condition, or a simple physical characteristic such as a
leak observed during inspection.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA): A systematic, tabular method for evaluating and documenting the causes and
effects of known types of component failures.
Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA): A variation of FMEA that includes a quantitative estimate of the
significance of the consequences of a failure mode.
Fault Tree: A logic model that graphically portrays the combinations of failures that can lead to specific main failure or accident.
Hazard: Any situation with the potential for causing damage to life, property or the environment.
Human Error: Any human action (or lack thereof) that exceeds some limit of acceptability (i.e., an out-of-tolerance action)
where the limits of human performance are defined by the system. Human errors include actions by designers, operators or
managers that may contribute to or result in accidents.
Likelihood: A measure of the expected probability or frequency of an event’s occurrence.
Manufacturing Defect: An imperfection that causes a product to fail to meet the manufacturer’s own specifications.
Manufacturing defects occur when the raw materials or components used in making the product contain unacceptable flaws,
or there are assembly mistakes.
Occurrence: The probability or frequency of the failure occurring.
Process Capability Index (CpK): A measure of both process dispersion and its centering about the average.
Quality System: The organization, structure, responsibilities, procedures, processes and resources for implementing quality
management. It is a method of maintaining consistent quality for producing products or providing services that consistently
meet or exceed the customer’s implied or stated needs.
Quantitative Risk Analysis: The systematic development of numerical estimates of the expected frequency and/or consequence
of potential accidents associated with a facility or operation based on engineering evaluation and mathematical techniques.
Residual Risk: Risk remaining after protective measures have been taken.
Risk: A measure of the consequence of a hazard and the frequency with which it is likely to occur.
Risk Analysis: Systematic use of available information to identify hazards and to estimate the risk.
Risk Assessment: Overall process of risk analysis and risk evaluation.
Risk Evaluation: Judgment based on the risk analysis to determine whether the risk is acceptable given the context and the
current values of society.
Risk Management: The systematic application of management policies, procedures and practices to the tasks of analyzing,
assessing and controlling risk in order to protect employees, the general public, the environment and company assets.
Safety: A judgment of the acceptability of risk. An activity is deemed as “safe” if its risks are judged to be acceptable when
compared with other common daily activities. No activity is totally free from risk. Provided the activity is undertaken, risk
can never be totally eliminated. However, it can usually be reduced to acceptable levels with the use of adequate safeguarding.
Statistical Process Control (SPC): Use of statistical techniques to analyze a process or its output in order to take appropriate
actions to achieve and maintain a state of statistical control and to improve the capability of the process.
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Medical device manufacturers face tremendous challenges today, including stringent regulations, vigorous competition,
consumer advocate groups, product liability lawsuits and their implications. In order to face such challenges, manufacturers must
create safe, reliable and cost-effective products. One of the key elements to success is to manage and reduce risk effectively
throughout the product’s life cycle. This requires delicate balance between risk, cost and performance. Risk management
provides the required decision framework centered on understanding risks and evaluating their acceptability by weighting
technical and economic practicability against risk/benefits. It manages the residue risk, as risk cannot be completely
eliminated.
To reduce risk, it is essential to identify hazards, evaluate the associated potential consequences and their likelihood, and
then estimate the risk. A number of analysis techniques, including top-down and bottom-up approaches, can be used. These
techniques include Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) and Fault Tree
Analysis (FTA).
As suggested by its title, these Guidelines focus on FMEA and its application throughout the medical device’s life cycle.
Other topics include regulatory requirements relating to manufacturing of medical devices, risk management, Failure Mode,
Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) and Control Plans.
The following list describes the organization of the manual:
This chapter gives an overview of tools commonly used with FMEA, including process flowcharts, block diagrams and
Pareto charts.
This chapter outlines the major standards and regulations in the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (E.U.) relating
to medical device manufacturing. The intent of this chapter is to provide the readers with a general overview of the regulatory
requirements and standards related to risk management of medical devices in these two regions. This is not an attempt to
exhaust the topic, nor to offer legal advice.
Background
In the U.S. and E.U., there are regulatory requirements applied to manufacturers of medical devices intended for commercial
distribution. The major objectives of the regulations are to ensure that a medical device company produces a safe product and
that it is able to provide quality assurance that it can manufacture this safe product consistently. These objectives are tied into
the quality management system.
In the U.S., the quality management system requirements are covered under the Quality System (QS) regulation (Current
Good Manufacturing Practice for Medical Devices, 21 CFR Parts 808, 812, and 820). For the E.U., they are covered by
Directive 93/42/EEC— Medical Device Directive. In both regions, manufacturers are required to provide technique
documentation for regulation conformity assessment. Risk analysis is part of the required documentation. These regulatory
requirements are supported by the well-known international standards of quality system, ISO 9000 series together with ISO
13485/88 and EN 46001/2/3, which are the international and European standards, respectively, for medical devices quality
system. Risk analysis related standards include ISO 14971, EN 1441. The following sections give brief descriptions of related
regulations and standards.
The general controls are the baseline requirements of the FD&C Act that apply to all medical devices, Class I, II and III.
The requirements of general controls include submitting a premarket notification 510(k) to the FDA and designing and
producing devices under good manufacturing practices (GMP).
evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Class III devices that are not exempted by regulations. The FDA defines a device as
substantially equivalent if, in comparison to a legally marketed device, it:
or
US FDA 21 CFR Parts 808, 812, and 820—Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Final
Rule; Quality System (QS) Regulation
Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) refer to the quality systems for FDA-regulated products (food, drugs, biologics
and devices). The CGMP specifically for medical devices is known as the Quality System (QS) regulation. It is in Part 820 of
Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). They require that domestic or foreign manufacturers have a quality system
for the design and production of medical devices intended for commercial distribution in the United States.
The QS regulation is harmonized with ISO 13485:1996 Quality Systems—Medical Devices—Particular Requirements for
the Application of ISO 9001, which is based on ISO 9001:1994. It includes requirements related to the methods used in, and
the facilities and controls used for, designing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, storing, installing and servicing medical
devices intended for human use.
Risk analysis is one of the quality system requirements. The FDA has recommended Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
(FMEA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) as tools for conducting risk analysis. For
guidance on risk analysis, the FDA makes references to EN 1441 Medical devices—Risk management and ISO 14971
Medical devices—Application of risk management to medical devices.
Due to the newly published ISO 9001:2000, ISO 13485 is under the process of revision and QS regulation is not aligned
with ISO 9001:2000. The FDA is currently working closely with the revisions to ISO 13485. These revisions are expected to
be completed by late 2002 or early 2003. For further information, consult the FDA Web site at www.fda.gov.
Class IIb Medium (generally refer to devices that are partially or totally implantable Hemodialyzers, Blood cell separation systems
within human body and may modify the biological or chemical composition
of body fluids)
Class III High (generally refer to devices affecting the functioning of vital organs and/ Cardiovascular catheters
or life support systems)
Manufacturers of all classes of medical devices must provide technical documentation that demonstrates their products’
conformity with MDD requirements. Class I (Sterile and Measuring), Class IIa, IIb and III require the intervention of a
Notified Body that will be responsible for auditing the manufacturer’s quality system in accordance with the ISO 9001, EN
46000 and ISO 13485 standards. The Notified Body will also determine whether or not the product conforms to the
requirements of the MDD.
One of the essential requirements of the MDD is that the manufacturer is obliged to conduct a risk assessment. The
principles that can be used to evaluate risks can be found in EN 1441 Medical Devices—Risk Analysis, which is one of the
Harmonized Standards that support European legislation.
International Standards
■ ISO 9000 contains guidelines for selection and use of suitable models;
■ ISO 9001 covers design, manufacturing, installation and servicing systems;
■ ISO 9002 covers production and installation (excluding design and development);
■ ISO 9003 covers only final product inspection and testing;
■ ISO 9004 provides guidelines for internal use by a producer developing its own quality system to meet business
requirements.
The 2000 version integrates ISO 9001, ISO 9002 and ISO 9003 into a new standard called ISO 9001:2000. This new standard
specifies the requirements for a quality management system for any organization that strives to consistently provide products
that meet customer satisfaction and regulatory requirements. ISO 9004:2000 contains guidelines for implementing a quality
management system to effectively meet business goals.
The latest version of ISO 9000 Series standard includes these standards:
■ ISO 9000:2000 describes fundamentals of quality management systems and specifies the terminology for quality
management systems;
■ ISO 9001:2000 specifies requirements for a quality management system where an organization needs to demonstrate its
ability to provide products that fulfill customer and applicable regulatory requirements and aims to enhance customer
satisfaction;
■ ISO 9004:2000 provides guidelines that consider both the effectiveness and efficiency of the quality management system.
The aim of this standard is improvement of the performance of the organization and satisfaction of customers and other
interested parties.
6 REGULATIONS & STANDARDS GOVERNING MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURING
The ISO 9000 Series includes the following key issues relating to medical devices:
■ Risks;
■ Problems analysis;
■ Health and safety;
■ Complaints;
■ Problems prevention;
■ Corrective actions;
■ Incorporation of new technologies;
■ Unintended use and misuse;
■ Regulatory requirements;
■ Documentation;
■ Record keeping;
■ Reporting.
This chapter describes the essence of risk management of medical devices, as outlined in ISO 14971. For more details, refer to
the international standard.
Risk Management
The focus of risk management is to identify the hazards associated with medical devices and their accessories, estimate and
evaluate the risks, control these risks and monitor the effectiveness of the control.
The foundation of effective risk management is a clear commitment from corporate management. There are three key
commitments that must be made in order to build the necessary infrastructure for a cost-effective risk management program:
• Organize and maintain the knowledge and information on the design, development and manufacturing of the medical
device and ensure this data is up-to-date and accurate. This process is essential as the quality of the risk management
program depends directly on this information.
• Provide knowledgeable and competent personnel throughout the organization to manage the risk management process and
to participate in risk assessment and other work activities.
• Create a system that not only documents and maintains risk management files, but also records management’s response to
these studies and enforces an audit system to ensure that all approved risk reduction actions are implemented in a timely
manner.
The risk management process adapted from ISO 14971 includes the following elements:
• Using product-specific standards. If standards are properly implemented and the product is tested, it should result in an
acceptable level of risk.
• Comparing with levels of risk evident from other similar devices on the market. It should consider similarities and
differences in:
○ Intended use;
○ Hazards;
RISK MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES 9
○ Risk;
○ Safety features;
○ Historical data.
• Following appropriate guidance. For example, the single-fault philosophy detailed in IEC 60513 implies that medical
electrical equipment has two means of defense against any one hazard, so that a single fault cannot result in the hazard.
In order to answer the above questions, it is essential to understand the intended use or purpose, including any foreseeable
misuse, of the medical device and to identify the device characteristics that could impact on safety. Table 3-1 at the end of this
chapter provides a list of questions adopted from ISO 14971, which although not exhaustive, can be used to identify such
characteristics.
The next step is to identify hazards associated with the device and determine the related causes and consequences, and
ultimately estimate the risk.
Some potential hazards (if applicable) that should be evaluated include these factors:
The risk analysis is not only restricted to the design of the product, it should also be done for the manufacturing process (e.g.
assembly process, packaging) and the process of delivering the device to its intended location. For devices that involve
materials that are sensitive to the environment (e.g., heat, humidity, cold or light), storage and transportation methods need to
be reviewed. If problems are identified, appropriate changes should be made in packaging or warnings on storage or
packaging containers.
The software used to control or monitor a medical device also needs to be reviewed. The consequences of software errors
can be unpredictable, particularly those that involve data corruption or false alarms. In such cases, the device should have a
means of detecting software errors or the consequences. For example, consider installing separate redundant alarms or
interlocks on critical aspects of the device.
Depending on the complexity of the device, one or a combination of risk analysis techniques can be used to identify
hazards. Some common techniques include Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Hazard and Operability Analysis
(HAZOP) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). The FMEA methodology and its application through the entire lifecycle of the
device are addressed later in this manual. The other two techniques are described in the next chapter.
Once the risk estimation for all hazards is completed, the acceptability of risk is determined based on the company’s risk-
acceptability criteria (based on what was established in the risk management plan) and, if it is too high, the risk needs to be
mitigated.
Risk Control
Risk reduction should focus on reducing the hazard severity, the probability of occurrence, or both. The following are
examples of risk control:
• Protective design measures (e.g. incorporating alarms and interlocks into the design to mitigate risks that cannot be
eliminated);
• Protective manufacturing measures, with improved process or test capabilities;
• Safety information (labeling, instructions for use, training, etc.).
The technical and economic practicality of implementing the options should be evaluated. Once the risk reduction decisions
are made, the associated risk reduction actions should be implemented and monitored throughout the product’s life cycle.
Post-Production Information
Throughout the device’s lifetime, new information obtained during postmarketing vigilance regarding a new
hazard or risk must be assessed and recorded in the risk management file. Hence, risk analysis and management is
an ongoing process throughout a device’s lifetime and it is the continuous responsibility of the manufacturer to
ensure the device safety.
Risk management should start at the early design stage to establish the highest level of inherent safety. This can significantly
offset the cost of implementing risk-mitigating measures.
Table 3-1: Suggested questions for identifying medical device characteristics that can impact safety
1. What is the intended use/purpose and how is the medical device to be used?
2. Is the medical device intended to be in contact with patients or other persons?
3. What materials and/or components are incorporated in, or are in contact with, the medical device?
4. Is energy delivered to and/or extracted from the patient?
5. Are biological materials processed by the medical device for subsequent re-use?
6. Is the medical device supplied in a sterile condition, or is it intended to be sterilized by the user, or are other microbiological
controls applicable?
7. Is the medical device intended to be routinely cleaned and disinfected by the user?
8. Is the medical device intended to modify the patient environment?
9. Are measurements taken with the device?
10. Is the medical device interpretative?
11. Is the medical device intended to control or to interact with other devices or drugs?
12. Are there unwanted outputs of energy or substances?
13. Is the medical device susceptible to environmental influences?
14. Does the medical device influence the environment?
15. Are there essential consumables or accessories associated with the medical device?
16. Is maintenance and/or calibration necessary?
17. Does the medical device contain software?
18. Does the medical device have a restricted shelf life?
19. Are delayed and/or long-term effects of use possible?
20. To what mechanical forces will the medical device be subjected?
21. What determines the lifetime of the medical device?
22. Is the medical device intended for single use or multiple uses?
23. Is safe decommissioning or disposal of the medical device necessary?
24. Does installation of the medical device require special training?
25. Will new manufacturing processes need to be established or introduced?
26. Is successful application of the medical device critically dependent on human factors, such as the user interface?
27. Does the medical device have connecting parts or accessories?
28. Does the medical device have a control interface?
29. Does the medical device display information?
30. Is the medical device controlled by a menu?
31. Is the device intended to be mobile or portable?
RISK MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES 11
CHAPTER 4
Risk Analysis Methodologies
This chapter gives an overview of Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), which are risk
analysis techniques commonly used in the medical device industry as alternatives to Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
(FMEA).
This technique was originally developed for use in the chemical process industry for identifying hazards and
operability problems. It can also be applied to the operation of medical devices, e.g. the processes used for the
diagnosis or treatment of disease, or the processes used to manufacture the device.
HAZOP is a highly structured bottom-up methodology. It uses the combination of design parameter and
guideword to help identify deviation from design intent. The following are examples of guidewords and design
parameters:
Guidewords
• More or High or Higher or Greater (words that imply an excess), when compared to the design intent;
• No, None, Less or Low or Lower or Reduced (words that imply insufficiency), when compared to the design intent;
• Part of or Not all of or Partially (words that imply incompleteness), when compared to the design intent.
Design Parameters
Applicable parameters typically include:
• Pressure;
• Temperature;
• Flow;
• Composition;
• Level;
• Reaction Rate;
• Viscosity;
• pH.
• Filling;
• Transferring;
• Purging;
• Emptying;
• Draining;
• Venting;
• Maintenance;
• Start-up;
• Shut-down.
RISK ANALYSIS METHODOLOGIES 13
Deviations
For example:
This chapter is an introduction to Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). It outlines the objectives of FMEA, reasons
and benefits of performing FMEA and the limitations of the technique.
Overview
The need for continuous improvement of product quality, reliability and safety arises from product recalls (see Table 5-1),
government regulatory requirements, agency recommendations, legal implications and above all a company’s desire to
improve its market position and customer satisfaction. These issues require product manufacturers to perform risk analyses
that identify and minimize part/system failures throughout the product’s lifecycle.
The FMEA methodology is one of the risk analysis techniques recommended by international standards. It is a systematic
process to identify potential failures to fulfill the intended function, to identify possible failure causes so the causes can be
eliminated, and to locate the failure impacts so the impacts can be reduced. The process of FMEA has three main focuses:
FMEA is primarily adapted for material and equipment failures, but in a broad sense, human error, performance and software
errors can also be included.
By applying the FMEA methodology during the various phases of a product’s lifecycle, the methodology provides a
systematic and disciplined strategy for examining all the ways in which a product can fail. The results of FMEA in turn affect
the product design, process development, sourcing and suppliers’ quality, downstream (referring to downstream of a process
or user of the product) application, and field service.
The following are some of the benefits of conducting a FMEA study:
■ Ensures that the potential failures and their effects on the system have been identified and evaluated, consequently helping
to identify errors and define corrective actions;
■ Provides a means for reviewing product and process design;
■ Helps to identify critical characteristics of the products and processes;
■ Improves productivity, quality, safety and cost efficiency;
■ Helps to determine the need for selecting alternative materials, parts, devices, components and tasks;
■ Assists in documenting the reasons for changes;
■ Provides a means of communication between different departments;
■ Helps increase customer satisfaction;
■ Improves a company’s image and competitiveness.
Limitations of FMEA
Using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis can potentially be disadvantageous for the following reasons:
■ Analysis of complex systems that have multiple functions consisting of a number of components can be tedious and difficult;
■ Compound failure effects cannot be analyzed;
■ Incorporating all possible factors influencing the product/process, such as human errors and environmental impacts, can
make the analysis lengthy and require a thorough knowledge of the characteristics and performance of the different
components of the system;
■ Successful completion requires expertise, experience and good team skills;
■ Dealing with data redundancies can be difficult;
■ Can be costly and time consuming.
CHAPTER 6
FMEA Procedures
This chapter describes the basic terminology and process used in FMEA. In addition, the procedures for setting up,
conducting and following up FMEA are described.
Introduction
Similar to a HAZOP, the FMEA is a bottom-up approach starting with components and using a single-point failure approach
to progressively work up to the top level. During the FMEA study, risk is estimated by rating the severity of failure effects,
the likelihood of causes, and the likelihood of detecting the cause of a failure or the failure mode. Table 6-1 shows a sample
FMEA worksheet for documenting the result of the analysis. The terminology used on the worksheet and the FMEA
procedures are described below.
FMEA Terminology
Item Function
Item function specifies the function of the part or item under review.
■ Fail to open/close;
■ Brittle;
■ Cracked;
■ Warped;
■ Underfilled;
■ Undersized/Oversized.
■ Overstressing;
■ Incorrect material specified;
■ Improper wall thickness;
■ Improper tolerance.
FMEA PROCEDURES 19
For a manufacturing process, two types of potential failure effects need to be considered:
The severity of a particular failure is determined based on the failure effect. The more serious the effect is, the higher the
severity.
Potential failure effects might include these examples:
■ Erratic operation;
■ Failure to operate;
■ Noise;
■ Loss of life.
Current Controls
Current controls are the safeguarding measures in place at the time of review that are intended to do the following:
Severity
Severity is the seriousness of the effects of the failure. Severity is an assessment of the failure effects on the end user, local
area and in-between (next higher) areas. The severity rating applies only to the effects.
The severity can be reduced only through a change in the design. If such a design change is attainable, the failure can
possibly be eliminated.
Occurrence
Occurrence is the frequency of the failure—that is, how often the failure can be expected to take place.
20 FMEA PROCEDURES
Detection
Detection is the ability to identify the failure before it reaches the end user/customer.
Resulting Severity
After a corrective action has been chosen/identified, “estimate” and record the resulting severity rating.
Resulting Occurrence
After a corrective action has been chosen/identified, “estimate” and record the resulting occurrence rating.
Resulting Detection
After a corrective action has been chosen/identified, “estimate” and record the resulting detection rating.
Resulting RPN
The resulting RPN is determined based on the resulting severity, occurrence and detection.
Critical Characteristics
Critical Characteristics are characteristics that can affect compliance with government regulations or product safety. Critical
Characteristics are defined by:
Such characteristics require specific producer, assembly, shipping or monitoring actions and inclusion on Control Plans.
Examples of critical characteristics include part or process requirements, such as dimensions, specifications, tests, processes,
assembly sequences, tooling, torque, welds, attachments and component usages.
FMEA PROCEDURES 21
Significant Characteristics
Significant characteristics are characteristics of products, processes and tests where a reduction in variation within a specified
tolerance around a proper target will improve customer satisfaction. Significant characteristics must be supported with
Control Plans.
Control Items
Control items are parts that can affect either compliance with government regulations or safe product/process operation, and
are identified by the customer’s product engineering on drawings and specifications with a specific and unique symbol.
FMEA Steps
During an FMEA study, the product/process/service/system being reviewed is broken down into smaller items/subsystems.
For each item, the following steps are performed:
After going through all the items for each failure, assign a rating (from 1 to 10, low to high) for severity, occurrence and detection.
Determine the RPN and use it to prioritize the recommendations. The severity rating should be based on the worst effect of
the potential failure mode.
When the severity is very high (8 to 10), special attention must be given to ensure that the risk is addressed through existing
design controls or corrective/preventive actions, regardless of the RPN.
If there are no recommended actions for a specific potential failure mode, failure cause or existing control, enter “None”.
If this is a follow-up of an existing FMEA, note any action taken to eliminate or reduce the risk of failure modes.
Determine the resulting RPN as the risk of the potential failure modes are reduced or eliminated.
Once corrective action has been taken, the resulting RPN is determined by reevaluating the severity, occurrence and
detection ratings. Improvement and corrective action must continue until the resulting RPN is at an acceptable level for all
potential failure modes.
22 FMEA PROCEDURES
■ What aspects of the FMEA is the team responsible for? e.g. FMEA analysis, recommendations for improvement,
implementation of improvements.
■ What is the budget for the FMEA?
■ Does the project have a deadline?
■ What is the scope of the FMEA?
When it comes to planning the meeting, the following is a suggested list of considerations:
■ People—People involved in all meetings may differ in values, attitudes, experiences, gender, age and education. All these
differences must be accounted for in the planning of the meeting.
■ Purpose—As mentioned before, the scope of the study—the purpose, objective and the goal, must be understood by all, both
management and participants.
■ Atmosphere or climate—The atmosphere contributes to the effectiveness of the meeting. It is imperative that whoever
plans the meeting takes into consideration the climate and atmosphere.
■ Place and space—All meetings are held in a space and a place. Therefore, planners must consider the following:
■ Costs—The FMEA budget should take into consideration the required preparation time, as it can be lengthy. The required
preparation work is discussed further in the next section. As the system, design, process or service personnel assigned to do
the FMEA may be in different places, one should consider the travel expenses of participants.
■ Time dimensions—When estimating the time required for conducting the FMEA, one should consider the conditions,
objectives and complexity of the project. The time constraints should be fully evaluated. If the meeting is going to be
prolonged, the agenda items and objects should be adjusted accordingly.
■ Prework and “after the official meeting work”—The quality of the FMEA study depends on good preparation work, which
is discussed further in the next section.
■ Plans, program and agenda—All meetings have an agenda. Without an agenda there cannot be a meeting. A detailed
planned program or agenda, which can be shared (no surprises) by all participants, is a valuable addition to a meeting.
When planning the agenda, make sure all the objectives of the meeting are covered.
■ Follow-up—After the meetings have ended, there is a need for some follow-up in these areas:
1.
Define scope
After considering the questions outlined in the previous section, the study scope should be defined and documented. This would
help prevent the FMEA team from focusing on the wrong aspect of the product, process or service during the FMEA. It would
also assist the process of data collection (next step).
2.
Collect data
On the basis of the scope defined in step 1, assemble as much information as possible. The following are some examples:
■ Product prototype;
■ Design specification;
■ Design drawings;
■ Process flow diagram;
■ Operating manual;
■ Maintenance log.
3.
Break the system down
During the process of breaking down the product/process/service into smaller items, consider the following:
■ If items are too small, you can lose your sense of analysis and incur excessive repetition;
■ If items are too large, they can become confusing and hard to handle. The best way to size an item is based on item
function.
4.
Prepare list of potential failure modes
The list of potential failure modes prepared at this stage acts as a starting point for the FMEA section. It is not intended to
replace the effort of identifying the potential failure modes during the FMEA section. The list can be established based on this
information:
5.
Assemble FMEA team
A FMEA study requires efforts of experts from different areas. It cannot be done on an individual basis. Hence, the team should
be cross-functional and multi-disciplined. It is important to ensure that the appropriate individuals are going to participate.
6.
Choose the right tool for transcribing FMEA
Choosing the right tool for transcribing the FMEA ensures efficiency of conducting the analysis. There are three different
methods (non-computer and computer based):
■ Manual transcription;
■ Spreadsheet—type software;
■ Risk analysis software (Windows based).
FMEA PROCEDURES 25
Table 6-2 compares the features of the above methods. Each feature is ranked from 10 to 1 with 10 being the best
performance. It is concluded that using risk analysis software is the best and most efficient method.
1.
Facilitator or team leader explains
The facilitator or one of the team members explains the purpose and scope of the FMEA and sets the rules for the study.
2.
Review the system being studied
The system is reviewed to ensure everyone on the FMEA team has the same understanding of the system.
3.
Perform the analysis
The FMEA process described earlier is applied to the product/process/system. When FMEA is performed on commodity
items, it would be efficient to perform group FMEAs on similar or identical items and then address the out-of-the-ordinary
conditions as separate items.
26 FMEA PROCEDURES
4.
Review FMEA
At the end of the FMEA, the team should ensure that the function, purpose and objective have been met. Some helpful hints
include the following questions:
Follow-Up of FMEA
■ The facilitator/team leader would issue a preliminary FMEA report including the following:
○ Attendance;
○ Study Outline;
○ Detail Report;
○ Action Register.
■ The FMEA is a living document and should always reflect the latest level of the system being analyzed, as well as the latest
relevant actions, including those occurring after the start of production.
■ The distribution is a controlled document and should be treated as such.
■ Each recommendation must be assigned to the appropriate personnel to ensure it has been implemented or adequately
addressed.
■ A person should be assigned to oversee the progress of implementing all recommendations and to ensure all actions are
carried out properly.
CHAPTER 7
FMEA Team
This chapter describes the responsibilities of FMEA team members and the facilitator/ team leader.
Introduction
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a team function and cannot be done on an individual basis. The makeup of the
FMEA team is cross-functional and multi-disciplined for each study. The knowledge that is required for a specific problem is
often unique to that problem and may require personnel from other specialized departments as well.
Team Size
Team Membership
The responsibilities of team members are as follows:
■ Participate;
■ Contribute your knowledge and experience;
■ Be open-minded for discussion, negotiation and compromise;
■ Share adequate information with your colleagues.
The team leader should not dominate the team and does not normally have the final word on team decisions. The team
leader’s role is more like that of a facilitator than a decision-maker.
Arrangements should be made for a scribe to be responsible for documenting the study during the FMEA session. The
scribe’s role is often rotated among all team members, except the team leader. This spreads the burden equally among all
participants.
CHAPTER 8
Pitfalls with FMEA
This chapter describes some major pitfalls during the conduction of FMEA studies.
■ Record the Action Item so that it can be acted upon by the responsible person designated to execute it. Avoid indecisive
instructions such as “Consider studying…”
COMMON TOOLS USED WITH FMEA 29
■ Do not propose Actions that are just “wish lists.” Excessive numbers of Actions tend to devalue their worth. Be critical,
but not over or under zealous.
CHAPTER 9
Common Tools Used with FMEA
This chapter gives an overview of tools commonly used with FMEA, including process flowcharts, block diagrams and Pareto
charts.
Pareto Charts
The Pareto Chart combines a bar graph with a cumulative line graph. The bars are placed from left to right in descending
order. The cumulative line graph shows the percent contribution of all preceding bars. The Pareto Chart shows where effort
can be focused for maximum benefit. It may take two or more Pareto Charts to focus the problem to a level that can be
successfully analyzed.
In FMEA, Pareto Charts are usually used for the following:
■ Comparison of RPNs between different failure modes of the item analyzed and identification of high RPN failure modes.
32 COMMON TOOLS USED WITH FMEA
In either case, the team must set a cut-off RPN, where any failure modes or items with an RPN above that point require
further attention. An example Pareto Chart for comparison of RPNs between different failure modes is given in Figure 9-4.
COMMON TOOLS USED WITH FMEA 33
Figure 9-4: Pareto Chart for comparison of RPNs between different failure modes
CHAPTER 10
Product Life Cycle & FMEA
This chapter outlines the application of FMEA at various stages in a product’s life cycle. It also introduces the use of Control
Plans as a tool to document the design and process characteristics for manufacturing the device.
Introduction
During the process of design, development and manufacture, the following issues affect the reliability (safety, durability,
robustness) of medical devices:
Applying FMEA at different stages in the product’s life cycle helps in the identification of not only design and manufacturing
defects but also the product and process characteristics that need to be controlled, monitored and tested. Such information,
together with the methods of monitoring and testing, are documented in the Control Plan.
A Control Plan is a written summary of the producer’s quality planning actions for a specific process, product and/or
service. The Control Plan lists all process parameters and design characteristics considered important to customer satisfaction
and which require specific quality planning actions. It also describes the actions and reactions required to ensure that the
process is maintained in a state of statistical control, as agreed upon between the design team, customer and supplier. It
supports verification and validation of the product and the process. It also helps minimize process variation.
Figure 10-1 is an illustration of how various types of FMEAs and Control Plans can be integrated into the product’s life
cycle. The various types of FMEAs in Figure 10-1, their application in the product’s life cycle and the use of Control Plans
are described in the following sections. The various FMEA methodologies are discussed in Chapters 11 to 14.
Figure 10-1: Relationship between FMEA, Control Plan and product cycle.
36 PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE & FMEA
Feasibility Phase
At this stage, financial and technological feasibility studies are established. The feasibility phase is concluded with the product
design target specifications.
Purchasing Phase
At this stage, production and tooling planning take place with the P-FMEA focusing on the key characteristics of the
processes in production.
A-FMEA (supplier side) can be used to evaluate the potential process failures resulting from application of parts,
components and materials from outside suppliers. The causes are due to suppliers’ manufacturing processes or designs, but
the effects would be on the respective product manufacturing process. The failure modes in the A-FMEA identify their own
causes in the system. These failure modes, which affect the manufacturing process, will also be used for the P-FMEA. The
key characteristics identified in the FMEA would be recorded in the Control Plan (production Control Plan).
Production Phase
The production Control Plan is executed in the production phase. Prior to post-production activities (e.g. product verification,
packaging, distribution and servicing), A-FMEA (customer side) can be used for evaluating the application of the product by
the customer (if the product is involved in the customer’s downstream manufacturing process) or the end user (if it is the end
product, e.g. reviewing the user instruction manual).
In the S-FMEA, the end product is the focus. It is very difficult to evaluate the entire service, especially in the early stage
or initiation of the services. In most cases, the service evaluation develops over time and as such the S-FMEA becomes a
living document to reflect the changes of the services. The failure causes in the D-FMEA and P-FMEA, if not corrected,
would have an effect on the end product, which in turn would result in failure modes in the Service FMEA and would lead to
product recalls.
38 PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE & FMEA
Table 10-2 shows how each type of FMEA interacts with the Control Plan at various stages of the product cycle.
Table 10-2: Relationship between FMEA, product cycle and Control Plan
Stages in Product Cycle Function Type of FMEA FMEA Focuses Control Plan Status
Product Design Engineering Product FMEA Balanced Design Started
Process Planning Processing Process FMEA Process Seq. & Flow Study Continued
Sourcing & Suppliers, Quality Purchasing Supplier Side Application Key Characteristics of Parts Continued
Planning FMEA Identified
Production, Tooling Planning Manufacturing Process FMEA Key Characteristics of Process Executed
Identified
Product Usage & Application Services Customer Side Application Key Characteristics of Product Monitored
FMEA & Service FMEA Identified
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
Die beiden Wächter
Fürchtegott Gellert
Sturmnacht
Im Hinterhaus im Fliesensaal
Über Urgroßmutters Tisch’ und Bänke,
Über die alten Schatullen und Schränke
Wandelt der zitternde Mondenstrahl.
Vom Wald kommt der Wind
Und fährt an die Scheiben;
Und geschwind, geschwind
Schwatzt er ein Wort,
Und dann wieder fort
Zum Wald über Föhren und Eiben.
Theodor Storm
Was bei den Sternen war
Selbst der Naturforscher gibt es diesmal zu, was der Poet
behauptet, daß nämlich im Waldlande die Sterne heller leuchten als
sonstwo. Das macht die reine feuchte Luft, sagt der eine; der andere
hingegen meint, der kindliche Glaube der Einschichtbewohner sei
Ursache, daß der Sternenhimmel so hell und hold niederfunkle auf
den weiten, stillen Wald.
Hat doch mein Vater zu mir gesagt, als wir noch beisammen auf
dem Holzbänklein unter der Tanne gesessen:
»Du bist mein liebes Kind. Und jetzt schau zum Himmel hinauf, die
Augen Gottes blicken auf uns herab.«
Ei freilich, ich konnte mir’s wohl denken, einer, der auf des
Menschen Haupt die Haare zählt, muß hunderttausend Augen
haben. Nun war es aber schön zu sehen, wie mir der liebe Gott mit
seinen Augen zublinzelte, als wollte er mir was zu verstehen geben;
– ja, und ich konnte es doch um alles nicht erraten, was er meinte. –
Ich nahm mir wohl vor, recht brav und folgsam zu sein, besonders
bei Nacht, wenn Gott da oben seine hunderttausend Augen auftut
und die guten Kinder zählt und die bösen sucht und recht scharf
anschaut, auf daß er sie kennt am Jüngsten Tage …
Ein andermal saß ich auf demselben Holzbänkchen unter der
Tanne, an Seite meiner Mutter. Es war bereits späte Abendstunde,
und die Mutter sagte zu mir:
»Du bist ein kleiner Mensch, und die kleinen Leute müssen jetzt
schon ins Bett gehen, schau, es ist ja die finstere Nacht, und die
Engel zünden schon die Lichter an, oben in unseres Herrgotts
Haus.«
Mit solchen Worten ein Kind zur Ruhe bringen? Das war übel
geplant.
»In unseres Herrgotts Haus die Lichter?« fragte ich, sofort
durchaus für den Gegenstand eingenommen.
»Freilich,« entgegnete die Mutter, »jetzt gehen alle Heiligen von
der Kirche heim, und im Hause ist eine große Tafel, und da setzen
sie sich zusammen und essen und trinken was, und die Englein
fliegen geschwind herum und zünden alle Lichter an und den großen
Kronleuchter auch, der mitten hängt, und nachher laufen sie zu den
Pfeifen und Geigen und machen Musik.«
»Musik?« entgegnete ich, in die Anschauung des Bildes
versunken. »Und der Wollzupfer-Michel, ist der auch dabei?«
Der Wollzupfer-Michel war ein alter, blinder Mann gewesen, der
bei uns Waldbauern das Gnadenbrot genossen und dafür zuweilen
Schafwolle gezupft und gekraut hatte. Wenige Wochen vor diesem
Abendgespräche war er gestorben.
»Ja du,« versetzte die Mutter auf meine Frage, »der Wollzupfer-
Michel, der sitzt ganz vorn bei unserem lieben Herrgott selber, und
er ist hoch in Ehren gehalten von allen Heiligen, weil er auf der Welt
so arm gewesen ist und so verachtet und im Elend hat leben
müssen, und weil er doch alles so geduldig ertragen hat.«
»Wer gibt ihm denn beim Essen auf den Teller hinaus?« war
meine weitere Frage.
»Nu wer denn?« meinte die Mutter, »das wird schon sein heiliger
Schutzengel tun.« Sogleich aber setzte sie bei: »Du Närrisch, der
Michel braucht jetzt gar keine Behelfer mehr, im Himmel ist er ja
nimmer blind; im Himmel sieht er seinen Vater und seine Mutter, die
er auf der Welt niemalen hat gesehen. Und er sieht den lieben
Herrgott selber und unsere liebe Frauen und alle, und zu uns sieht er
auch herab. Ja freilich, mit dem Michel hat’s gar eine glückselige
Wendung genommen, und hell singen und tanzen wird er bei der
himmlischen Musik, weil der heilige David Harfen spielen tut.«
»Tanzen?« wiederholte ich und suchte mit meinen Augen das
Firmament ab.
»Und jetzt, Bübel, geh schlafen!« mahnte die Mutter. Wohl machte
ich die Einwendung, daß sie im Himmel erst die Lichter angezündet
hätten und also gewißlich auch noch nicht schlafen gingen; aber die
Mutter versetzte mit entschiedenem Tone, im Himmel könnten sie
machen, was sie wollten, und wenn ich fein brav wäre und einmal in
den Himmel käme, so könnte ich auch machen, was ich wollte.
Ging zu Bette und hörte in selbiger Nacht die lieben Englein
singen. –
Wieder ein andermal saß ich mit der Ahne auf der hölzernen Bank
unter den Tannen.
»Guck, mein Bübel,« sagte sie, gegen das funkelnde Firmament
weisend, »dort über das Hausdach hin, das ist dein Stern.« Ein
helles, flimmerndes Sternchen stand oft und auch heute wieder über
dem Giebel des Hauses; aber daß selbes mein Eigentum wäre, hörte
ich nun von der Ahne das erstemal.
»Freilich,« belehrte sie weiter, »jeder Mensch hat am Himmel
seinen Stern, das ist sein Glücksstern oder sein Unglücksstern. Und
wenn ein Mensch stirbt, so fällt sein Stern vom Himmel.«
Todeserschrocken war ich, als gerade in diesem Augenblicke vor
unseren Augen eine Sternschnuppe sank.
»Wer ist jetzt gestorben?« fragte ich, während ich sogleich
schaute, ob mein Sternchen wohl noch über dem Dachgiebel stehe.
»Kind,« sagte die alte Ahne, »die Welt ist weit, und hätten wir nur
Ohren dazu, wir täten Tag und Nacht nichts hören als
Totenglockenklingen.«
Focht mich dieweilen nicht an.
»Ahndl,« fragte ich; denn Kinder, die in ihrem Haupte so viel Raum
für Vorstellungen und Eindrücke haben, sind unermüdlich im Fragen.
»Ahndl, wo hast denn du deinen Stern?«
»Mein Kind,« antwortete sie, »der ist schon völlig im Auslöschen,
den sieht man nimmer.«
»Und ist das ein Glücksstern gewesen?«
Da schloß sie mich an ihre Brust und hauchte: »Wird wohl so sein,
du herzlieber Enkel, wird wohl so sein!«
Ein alter Schuhmacher kam zuweilen in unser Haus, der redete
wie ein Heide. Wir Menschen, meinte der alte Schuhmacher, kämen
nach dem Tode weder in den Himmel, noch in die Hölle, sondern auf
einen Stern, wo wir so wie auf dieser Welt wiedergeboren würden
und je nach Umständen weiterlebten.
Eine junge Magd hatten wir im Hause; die war gescheit, die hat
einmal was gesagt, was mir heute das Herz noch warm macht. Sie
hatte es sicherlich von ihrem alten Ziehvater, der so ein Waldgrübler
gewesen war. Der Mann hat etwas Wundersames in seinem Kopfe
gehabt; er wäre gern Priester geworden; aber blutarm, wie er war,
sind ihm alle Wege dazu verlegt gewesen. Da wurde er
Kohlenbrenner. Ich habe den Alten oft heimlich belauscht, wenn er
auf seinem Kohlenmeiler stand und Messe las oder wenn er den
Vögeln des Waldes vorbetete, wie voreinst der heilige Franziskus in
der Wüste. Von diesem Manne mag unsere junge Magd das seltsame
Wort gehört haben.
»Der Sternenhimmel da oben,« sagte sie einmal, »das ist ein
großmächtiger Liebesbrief mit goldenen und silbernen Buchstaben.
Fürs erste hat ihn der liebe Herrgott den Menschen geschrieben, daß
sie doch nicht ganz auf ihn vergessen sollten. Fürs zweite schreiben
ihn die Menschen für einander. Das ist so: wenn zwei Leut, die sich
rechtschaffen liebhaben, weit auseinander müssen, so merken sie
sich vorher einen hellen Stern, den sie beide von aller Fremde aus
sehen können und auf dem ihre Augen zusammenkommen. –
Dasselbig funkelnde Ding dort,« setzte die Magd leise und ein wenig
zögernd bei, indem sie auf ein glühend Sternlein deutete, das hoch
über dem Waldlande lag, »dasselbe Ding, das schaut zu dieser
jetzigen Stund auch der Hans an, der weit drin in Welschland ist bei
den Soldaten. Ich weiß wohl, er wird nicht darauf vergessen, es
glänzt wie der kein Stern so hell am ganzen Firmament.«
Eines Tages mußte ich am Waldrande spät abends noch die Rinder
weiden, die tagsüber im Joche gegangen waren. Sonst war in
solchen Stunden lieb Ahne bei mir, aber die war nun schon seit
länger unwohl und mußte zu Hause bleiben. Jedoch hatte sie mir
versprochen, oftmals vor das Haus herauszutreten und den
Hühnerpfiff zu tun, damit mir in der einschichtigen stillen Nacht nicht
zu grauen beginne.
Ich stand zagend neben meinen zwei Rindern, die auf der
taunassen Wiese eifrig grasten, aber ich hörte heute keinen jener
lustigen Pfiffe, welche meine Ahne mittelst zweier Finger, die sie in
den Mund legte, so vortrefflich zu machen verstand, gewöhnlich zu
dem Zwecke, um die Hühner damit zusammenzulocken.
Das Haus lag still und traurig oben auf dem Berge. Von der tiefen
Schlucht herauf hörte ich das Rieseln des Wässerleins, das ich sonst
hier noch nie vernommen hatte. Hingegen schwiegen heute die
Grillen ganz und gar. Ein Uhu krähte im Walde und erschreckte mich
dermaßen, daß ich die Hörner des Rindes erhaschte und dieselben
gar nicht mehr loslassen wollte.
Der Sternenhimmel hatte heute einen so heiligen Ernst; mir war,
als hörte ich durch die große Stille das Saitenspiel des heiligen
Sängers David klingen. – Siehe, da löste sich plötzlich ein Stern und
fiel in einem scharfen Silberfaden, der gerade über unser Haus
niederging, vom Himmel herab. – –
Mir zuckte es heiß durchs Herz, mir blieb der Atem stehen. »Jetzt
ist die Ahne gestorben!« sagte ich endlich laut, »das ist ihr Stern
gewesen.« Ich hub an zu schluchzen. Da hörte ich vom Hause her
bereits des Vaters Stimme, ich sollte eilends heimzutreiben.
Bald jagte ich in den Hof ein. Das Haus war in allen Fenstern
beleuchtet; ein Geräusch und Gepolter war, und Leute eilten hin und
her nach allen Ecken und Winkeln.
»Geschwind, Peterle, geh her!« rief es mir von der Tür aus zu,
und das war die Stimme der Ahne. Ich lief in das Haus – was hab ich
gehört? Klein Kindesgeschrei.
»Ein Brüderlein hast kriegt,« rief die Ahne, »das hat ein Engel vom
Himmel gebracht!«
So war es. Mutter lag schon im Bette, und sie hielt das winzige
Büblein an der Brust.
Ein Engel vom Himmel! Ja, ich habe ihn fliegen gesehen. »Ahndl,«
sagte ich, »es ist nicht wahr, daß Sterne fallen, lauter Engel sind es,
die mit kleinen Kindlein niederfliegen vom Himmel!«
Ich verharre bei diesem Glauben noch heute, da ich vor einer
Wiege stehe, in die mir selbst ein liebes himmlisches Wunder
gegeben ist.
Peter Rosegger
Um Mitternacht
Eduard Mörike
Sternentrost
Martin Greif
Der Sternseher
Carl Busse
In Harmesnächten
C. F. Meyer
Ansage
Martin Greif
Mondspuk
Der Vollmond leuchtet hoch am bläulichen Himmel; sein Glanz hat
das letzte, weiße Wölkchen verzehrt; sogar die Sterne sind in seiner
Lichtflut ertrunken, und nur die großen Himmelsbilder glänzen noch
neben ihm. Von unten herauf funkelt die Wintererde festlich im
Schnee; Berge recken dort ihre Silberköpfe empor, und mitten in den
Bergen drin, am Fuß eines Hügels, liegt das Dorf lautlos im
Mondschein.
Leer und hell sind alle Gassen des Dorfs. Riesig ragt die Kirche aus
den niedrigen Häuschen hervor, ein mächtiges, steinernes Ungetüm;
wie ein hoher Zaubererhut glitzert der spitze Kirchturm darüber. Zwei
Lukenaugen schauen finster aufgerissen unter dem Hut. Auf einmal
fängts an, im Innern des steinernen Tiers zu rumoren; es rasselt, es
stöhnt, es zieht schwerfällig Atem: ’s will Mitternacht schlagen. Aber
seltsam: es stöhnt und rasselt, es wird wieder still, und kein
Glockenschlag hat geschallt. Statt dessen in den dunklen
Lukenaugen droben glüht’s auf, und eine schnarrende Stimme
schreit hinaus ins Land:
»Eins, zwei, drei … zwölf!«
Da tut’s einen Rumpler unten im Dorf. Das ist im Haus vom
Wegmacher-Jackl gewesen. Der selber ist aus dem Bett hart auf die
Füße gefahren und wandelt quer durch die Stube. Aber ganz
abwesend schaut er drein. Er geht ans Fenster; ’s ist dicht mit Efeu
zugewachsen; und sitzt nieder. Der Mond scheint durch den Efeu,
malt helle Flecke aufs wetterbraune Runzelgesicht und blickt grad
hinein in die Augen …
Ganz stad ist’s draußen, und grausam hell, und alle Haustüren
stehn weit offen.
»Was ist denn des?« denkt der Jackl: »is doch nachtschlafende
Zeit!«
Aber die Haustüren stehen offen, und jetzt sieht er’s: eine ganz
leise, leuchtende Schafherde wimmelt die Gasse hinab; schneeweiß,
wollig, flockig wimmelt’s, wuselt’s durcheinander. Ein mondheller
Wolfshund rennt an ihr hin, umkreist sie; Funken tanzen aus seinem
Borstenfell, flüssiges Silber trieft ihm aus dem Maul. Und hinter der
Herde drein wankt der Hirt, in blauem Mantel, ein alter Mann. Tief
sitzt ihm der große Glanzhut im Gesicht, daß nur der welke Mund
und das bleiche Kinn hervorschauen; an langem Stecken wankt er
hin und bewegt die Lippen. Er singt.
Leopold Weber
Alter Spruch
Volksmund
Stimme im Dunkeln
Richard Dehmel
Alp
August Kopisch
Närrische Träume
Gustav Falke
Der Traum
Victor Blüthgen
Ein Traum
Victor Blüthgen