Diagnostic equipment product attributes

Diagnostic equipment covers devices as different as patient monitors, blood pressure units, pulse oximeters and thermometers, and the records share one problem: a model name describes a family, not a product. Monitors in particular are sold as configurations, with parameter modules, sensor platforms and connectivity options that change what the device measures and which accessories it accepts. A supplier line that repeats the model name hides those differences.

The details sit in operator manuals, accessory lists and regulatory filings. Patient population, sensor compatibility, electrical classification and applied-part type rarely appear in a price file, and supplier spellings for parameters and populations vary widely. Regulatory status is often written loosely, for example "FDA approved" for a device that was cleared through a 510(k), which a catalog should not repeat.

A buyer needs to know what the device measures, for which patients, what power and connectivity it has, and which sensors and cuffs it works with. Each of those, together with the device identifier and regulatory status, should be a separate field traced to the manufacturer's documentation.

The diagnostic equipment attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 8 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer manufacturer	Text	Core	Manufacturer name as printed on the device label
Manufacturer Part Number (MPN) manufacturer_part_number_mpn	Identifier	Core	VS-6200-A
GTIN-14 gtin_14	Identifier	Core	00841234601157
UDI-DI (GUDID Primary DI) udi_di_gudid_primary_di	Identifier	Channel / evidence	00841234601157

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Power Source power_source	Text	Core	AC 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz + internal Li-ion (2550 mAh)
NIBP Measuring Range (adult systolic) nibp_measuring_range_adult_sys	Text · mmHg	Buyer decision	40–270
SpO2 Accuracy (Arms) spo2_accuracy_arms	Number · %	Buyer decision	2
Ingress Protection Rating ingress_protection_rating	Controlled list	Buyer decision	IPX1

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Device Type device_type	Controlled list	Core	Multiparameter vital signs monitor
Measured Parameters measured_parameters	Controlled list	Core	ECG; RESP; SpO2; NIBP; TEMP; CO2
Patient Population patient_population	Controlled list	Core	Adult; Pediatric; Neonatal
ECG Lead Configuration ecg_lead_configuration	Controlled list	Buyer decision	5-electrode (I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V)
Connectivity / Data Output connectivity_data_output	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n; HL7; USB

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
SpO2 Sensor Platform spo2_sensor_platform	Controlled list	Buyer decision	OEM-specific sensor family (per manufacturer accessory list)

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Core	China
Regulatory Status regulatory_status	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Class II, 510(k) cleared, Rx only
Electrical Class & Applied Part Type electrical_class_applied_part_type	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Class I; Type CF, defibrillation-proof
Standards Conformance standards_conformance	Text	Channel / evidence	IEC 60601-1; IEC 60601-1-2; IEC 80601-2-30; ISO 80601-2-61

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Patient Population (adult, pediatric, neonatal)
• SpO2 Sensor Platform / Probe Connector
• Applied Part Type and Defibrillation-Proof Rating
• MR Safety Status
• Regulatory Status (class, clearance pathway, Rx/OTC)

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing diagnostic equipment ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will our existing SpO2 sensors and blood pressure cuffs work with this monitor?
• Is this monitor indicated for neonatal patients?
• Can it send vitals to our electronic health record over Wi-Fi?
• How long does it run on battery during patient transport?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

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