For starters, medical oxygen is a type of oxygen that is used, simply put, for medical purposes. This type of oxygen can only be generated by medical air compressors.
Specific government agencies regulate what type of compressor can be used to produce oxygen due to the risk of contamination from an incorrect compressor. Medical compressors generally come in oil-free or oil-less varieties.
Because medical oxygen is only administered for medical purposes, patients must either have a prescription to have access to it or require life-saving treatment at a hospital or emergency medical center.
Medical oxygen is regulated by the U. Depending on factors such as age, weight and others, the medical oxygen administered usually differs between patients. As we noted earlier, medical oxygen is often required for life-saving medical treatments or in everyday situations when an individual cannot adequately breathe on their own.
It may also be used for certain medical procedures, notably if a patient has to go under general anesthesia. Medical oxygen is also typically administered in non-medical situations as well. The outlet shall also be designed as being gas specific by using size or keyed dissimilar connections specific for each individual gas. Each outlet shall be labeled with the name or chemical symbol and the specific color coding for the gas supplied.
Water is the most common contaminant found in medical air lines and is perhaps the most insidious of the contaminants found. It can also cause some of the most costly damage to secondary equipment. Water, unlike particulate, can pass through particulate filters and make its way into anesthesia machines, ventilators, other commonly used secondary equipment, and the patient as well. Moisture or the combined effects of moisture with the anesthetic agent can create issues within the internal mechanisms of the vaporizer.
The anesthesia machines required a complete overhaul to restore them to usable condition. The presence of water can also provide the medium for bacterial growth. Water located in medical air lines which are subjected to low temperatures can freeze and occlude gas flow. Water can also facilitate the oxidation of the copper piping inside the medical air line.
Water may be introduced through a variety of ways. Inadequate removal of water through undersized, saturated, or the lack of appropriate air dryers is common.
Water may be introduced through malfunctioning liquid ring air compressor components. Failure of automatic drains in aftercoolers, receivers, dryers, or other components of the medical air plant is an area of frequent fault allowing unwanted water into the system. Oils can be introduced through a non-medical grade air compressor being installed. This may occur through improper equipment specification or purchasing.
Medical grade compressors have been known to fail and introduce oil into the system. Some medical air compressors are now available which use a totally oil-less compressor technology to prevent this possibility. The possibility of oil contamination has resulted in hydrocarbon monitoring requirements. Construction debris such as sand, solder, flux, dirt, vermin, and so on have been found in medical air lines due to poor techniques in the construction process.
These particulates can be introduced downstream of the filtration system located at the medical air plant. This can be avoided through proper design, installation procedures and techniques, and final testing certification of the new system or addition.
There are processes available to remove these contaminants found in existing systems. Medical air is an important life sustaining gas commonly used in our facilities. Anesthesiologists should be aware of those responsible for overseeing the medical air system and their qualifications. During construction they should be aware of design and installation specifications.
Preventative maintenance programs should be in place and the results of as many as 17 tests performed at required intervals should be reviewed and evaluated. Vigilance will result in patients receiving clean and safe medical air.
Nagle is the service marketing manager of Ohmeda, Madison, Wl, which provides field testing services for piped medical gas delivery systems. Newsletter The official journal of the anesthesia patient safety foundation.
Start at the Source The logical place to start learning about the medical air system is the intake pipe of the compressor. Receiver: The receiver is a large cylindrically shaped reservoir which stores a reserve volume of compressed air for usage. Air Dryers: Dryers are an essential part of the system used to remove the water produced in the manufacturing process by the compression of ambient air which may be rich with humidity.
Final Line Filters: Important components of the medical air system are final line filters used to prevent introduction of particulate, oil, and odors from the medical air supply. Final Line Regulators: Final line regulators should provide operating pressure for medical air throughout the facility at 50 to 55 psig. Shut-off Valves: The source shut-off valve should be located to permit the entire source of supply to be isolated from the piping system.
Alarms: An automatic pressure switch shall be located downstream of the main supply line shut-off valve. Piping: Piping which is used for the system downstream of the source shut-off valve shall be composed of copper.
More on Contaminants and Particulates: Water is the most common contaminant found in medical air lines and is perhaps the most insidious of the contaminants found. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.
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There are additional requirements and rules for medical oxygen, including requiring a person to have a prescription to order medical oxygen. Industrial oxygen is focused on uses in industrial plants including combustion, oxidation, cutting and chemical reactions. The industrial oxygen purity levels are not appropriate for human use and there could be impurities from dirty equipment or industrial storage that could make people ill.
Medical oxygen requires a prescription as the US Food and Drug Administration regulates medical oxygen. The FDA wants to assure user safety and that patients are getting the correct percentage of oxygen for their needs. The FDA also requires the medical oxygen cylinders to be free of contaminants and there to be a chain of custody to verify that the cylinder is only being used for medical oxygen.
Air Source Industries is registered with the FDA and is authorized to fill medical oxygen cylinders for patients with a valid prescription. Medical oxygen is used in a variety of settings. Commonly medical oxygen is administered in medical facilities like hospitals and clinics.
You can read about how athletes use medical oxygen in specific situations like high altitudes and training in our blog post.
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