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EspañolHow to Buy a Refurbished Ventilator You Can Trust
November 13, 2026
- Understanding what “refurbished” means
- What to check before buying
- Types of ventilators commonly refurbished
- Final thoughts
Understanding what refurbished means
A refurbished ventilator is a unit that has been cleaned, inspected, repaired, and tested to meet its original specifications. The FDA classifies refurbishing, reconditioning, rebuilding, repairing, and remarketing as servicing. Servicing is separate from remanufacturing, which means changing a device in ways that significantly alter its performance, safety specifications, or intended use. The FDA’s 2024 final guidance on remanufacturing clarifies the regulatory requirements for remanufacturers.
That distinction is where quality comes from. A ventilator restored to manufacturer specifications by a qualified provider like Soma Tech Intl’, is a serviced device. The FDA’s 2018 report on servicing found that many original manufacturers and third-party organizations deliver high-quality, safe, and effective servicing. ECRI, an independent patient safety organization, reached the same conclusion about servicing by both groups. The FDA report also found that most complaints blaming inadequate servicing actually involved remanufacturing. In short, a refurbished ventilator is only as reliable as the work behind it, so verification is key.
What to check before buying
Service history: manufacturers set maintenance intervals. Their annual preventive maintenance includes filter replacement, oxygen cell replacement, and a battery health evaluation. Ask for records showing this work was completed.
Wear parts: the oxygen cell is a galvanic sensor that produces a voltage proportional to the oxygen in the delivered gas, and it wears out with use. Lithium-ion batteries usually have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years, with a maximum performance loss of about 10% when stored and maintained correctly. Confirm both parts were tested or replaced.
Calibration: the ventilator calculates volume from airflow readings, so the flow sensor must be accurate. Ask what tests the seller performed and request the results.
Recalls and software: some recalls apply only to specific software versions. In 2024, Hamilton recalled HAMILTON-C6 units running software versions 1.1.4 to 1.1.6 because a sensor fault could stop ventilation from restarting after a patient was reconnected. The FDA’s Medical Device Recall Database is searchable by manufacturer and model. Check the unit’s serial number and software version before buying.
Documentation and parts: the World Health Organization’s guidance on medical device donations states that equipment should come with manuals, spare parts, consumables, and accessories, and that lifetime operating costs should be affordable. The same checklist applies to a purchase.
Soma provides these details in an extensive Engineering Test Report (ETR) that covers what is done to each unit.
Types of ventilators commonly refurbished
ICU ventilators. Full-featured units built for continuous critical care, such as the Getinge Maque Servo U and Puritan Bennett 980.
Compact hospital ventilators. Smaller hospital units such as the Hamilton-C1 and C3.
Transport ventilators. Portable units such as the Hamilton-T1 are built to move with the patient.
Final thoughts
A refurbished ventilator can deliver the same performance as a new one when it has been serviced back to manufacturer specifications and verified. Four questions separate quality work from the rest. Was the unit restored to original specifications? Do service records show the wear parts were handled? Was it calibrated and tested, with results available? Are its software version, recall status, and support dates clear? A seller who can answer all four with documentation is offering a ventilator you can rely on.
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