Or, confused by the code, the machine may simply lock up. But first you have to find them. But you must try to find it where it's most critical. What may be at stake are patients' lives as well as a company's livelihood. Annex I of the Medical Devices Directive requires manufacturers to evaluate and correct problems such as those caused by the millennium bug and holds them responsible for ensuring that devices do not compromise the clinical condition or safety of patients or users during the lifetime of the device.
Authorities believe the problem affects only a small number of devices.
But manufacturers need to check in the mirror and see whether it affects them or not. Companies producing devices that use embedded software need to check this software as well, Lewis advises. Some products that don't have software may not be affected. But if a product works with dates, the year 2000 may confuse or stop a machine. Even devices that do not output information with a date or rely on a date to be programmed could be affected.