# Teleflex — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 16-0200
- **title:** Teleflex — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2017-03-30
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 16-0200 response to Teleflex concerning 175.10.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0200.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0200.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-16-0200
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2017/160200.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
MAR 3 0 2017
Jay White
President and General Manager
Teleflex
3015 Carrington Mill Boulevard
Morrisville, NC 27560
Reference No. 16-0200
Dear Mr. White:
This letter is in response to your December 11 , 2016, letter requesting clarification of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to exceptions for
passengers, crewmembers, and air operators. You describe in your letter a small lithium metal
battery contained in both the EZ-IO Intraosseous Infusion system and the OnControl Driver
system, further stating that the battery meets the requirements of each test in the United Nations
(UN) Manual of Testing and Criteria Part III, Sub-section 38.3 and contains less than 2 grams of
lithium metal. Specifically, you ask if Teleflex employees are permitted to transport this small
lithium metal battery, as well as the devices in which it is contained, in carry-on baggage aboard
a passenger aircraft for the purpose of demonstrations and promotional shows.
The answer is yes, provided Teleflex employees follow the requirements in § 175.1O(a)(l8). The
requirements of this section allow a passenger or crew member to carry a medical device
containing dry cells or dry batteries (including lithium cells or batteries) in either checked or
carry-on baggage. Spare lithium batteries must be individually protected to prevent short circuits
(e.g., placing them in original retail packaging, insulating exposed terminals with tape, or placing
each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch) and must be placed in carry-on
baggage only.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Chief, Standards Development Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

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December 11 , 2016
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3015 Carrington Mill Blvd.
Morrisville, NC 27560
USA
Phone: 919-544-8000
www.teleflex .com
U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Attention: PHH-10
East Building
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Request for Interpretation Letter on 49 CFR § 175.1 O(a)(18)
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing to request a formal interpretation letter on the exceptions in the hazardous materials
regulations (HMR) found at 49 CFR § 175.1 O(a)(18). This provision applies to passengers or
crewmembers when they carry aboard the aircraft for personal use "portable electronic devices (e.g.,
watches, calculating machines, cameras, cellular phones, laptop and notebook computers,
camcorders, medical devices etc.) containing dry cells or dry batteries (including lithium cells or
batteries) and spare dry cells or batteries for these devices." (Emphasis added.)
Teleflex is a manufacturer of two small, life-saving medical devices known as the EZ-10 lntraosseous
Infusion system and the OnControl Driver system used in the delivery of fluids and medications to
patients in the pre-hospital and hospital environments. These devices are powered by a small lithium
metal battery that contains less than 2 grams of lithium metal content. The battery has been tested to
meet the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part Ill, Sub-section 38.3.
Representatives from Teleflex intend to carry these devices aboard the aircraft for personal use when
traveling to give demonstrations at medical facilities and promotional shows. The devices will be
placed in customized carrying cases that will protect them from being damaged and inadvertent
activation. We note that your office issued a letter to Arie Tillberg with Morpho Detection on March 3,
2016 (Ref. No. 15-0202) confirming that a small lithium ion battery may be carried aboard the aircraft
by a Morpho Detection employee who is traveling to show the battery "for demonstrations and [at]
promotional shows."
The Teleflex situation is nearly identical to the one described in your March 3rct letter to Mr. Tillberg
except that it addressed a lithium ion battery rather than a lithium metal battery-powered device.
Therefore, we request confirmation that the EZ-10 lntraosseous Infusion system and the OnControl
Driver system with a small lithium metal battery may be transported in carry-on baggage on
passenger aircraft by Teleflex employees for the purpose of demonstrations and promotional shows.
Thank you for your assistance. I can be reached 919.433.4806 if you have any questions regarding
this issue.
Sincerely,
Jay White
President and General Manager
Vascular

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
INFOCNTR (PHMSA)
Monday, December 19, 2016 4:20 PM
Hazmat Interps
FW: Request for Interpretation Letter on 49 CFR § 175.10(a)(18)
Jay White- Teleflex_Request_for_
DOT _Interp_
Letter 12 19 16-signed.pdf
Hi Shante/ Alice,
Please submit this as a letter of interpretation. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Jordan
From: Howington, Kim [mailto:Kim.Howington@teleflex.com]
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2016 10:01 AM
To: PHMSA HM lnfoCenter <PHMSAHMlnfoCenter@dot.gov>
Cc: gkerchner wileyrein .com <gkerchner@wileyrein.com>; Ball, Michael <Michael.Ball@teleflex.com>; White, Jay
<jay.white@teleflex.com>
Subject: Request for Interpretation Letter on 49 CFR § 175.10(a)(18)
Dear Sir/Madam:
Please see attached request for Interpretation Letter on 49 CFR § 175.10(a)(18}.
Kindly confirm receipt,
Kim Howington
Executive Assistant to Jay White, President
Vascular Division
P: +1 .919.433.4818 ext. 68.4818
E: kim.howington@teleflex.com
Teleflex
3015 Carrington Mill Blvd ., 6N, Morrisville, NC 27560
teleflex.com
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