What is the maximum leakage current through patient leads to protect against shock during power-on and power-off?

The correct answer, 10 microamps (µA), is significant because it aligns with safety standards established to minimize the risk of electric shock to patients during medical procedures involving electrically powered devices.

Leakage current refers to the unintended flow of electrical current that can occur from the equipment to the patient, which is especially important during moments when devices are being powered on or off. Keeping the leakage current within safe limits is critical for patient safety to ensure that any current that might inadvertently pass through the patient does not reach hazardous levels that could induce cardiac arrhythmias or other negative physiological effects.

Standards often indicate that a maximum leakage current of 10 microamps is acceptable to provide a significant margin of safety, reflecting that values higher than this could lead to safety concerns, especially given the fragile state of patients during surgical procedures. This standard helps to strike a balance between operational functionality of monitoring equipment and the imperative of patient safety.

The other options, such as 1 microamp or the higher values of 10 milliamps and 100 microamps, are not acceptable leakage current limits, as they either fall below adequate safety standards or exceed the thresholds that can compromise patient safety. Thus, adhering to the 10 microamps limit is critical in the context