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Medical Gas Systems in Hospitals: Ensuring Safety and Efficiency

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In the health care sector, reliable and safe distribution of medical gases is crucial to the effective treatment of patients. Medical gas systems in hospitals are designed to deliver vital gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and compressed air directly to points of use, such as patient rooms, operating rooms and intensive care units. For a company like Oxyone Medical Devices, which specializes in high-quality medical devices, providing efficient and safe medical gas systems is a top priority.

What Are Medical Gas Implants?

Medical gas systems are complex networks of piping, valves, regulators and monitoring devices designed to distribute medical gases to different areas of a hospital. These facilities ensure that the necessary gases are always available, at the right pressure and purity, to support patients’ clinical and therapeutic needs.

Importance of Medical Gas Facilities

Medical gas systems are critical for several reasons:

  1. Continuity of Care: Ensure a steady supply of essential gases, avoiding interruptions that could compromise patient care.
  2. Safety: Well-designed and maintained facilities reduce the risk of gas leaks, contamination and other problems that could endanger the safety of patients and staff.
  3. Operational Efficiency: They automate gas distribution, reducing the need for mobile gas cylinders and improving the hospital’s operational efficiency.
  4. Regulatory Compliance: They ensure that the hospital complies with health regulations and standards regarding the handling and use of medical gases.

Components of Medical Gas Systems

A medical gas system includes several critical components:

  1. Gas Reserves: Cylinders and tanks that contain medical gases.
  2. Regulation and Control Units: Pressure regulators, safety valves and monitoring systems that ensure proper gas flow and pressure.
  3. Piping: Networks of pipes made of corrosion-resistant materials that transport gases from tanks to areas of use.
  4. Delivery Points: Outlets strategically placed in operating rooms, intensive care units and patient rooms for gas delivery.
Hospital room with bed and table, 3D rendering

Maintenance and Safety

Regular maintenance and safety checks are essential for the efficient and safe operation of medical gas systems. Maintenance procedures include:

  1. Regular Inspections: Periodic inspections to detect any leaks, wear, or anomalies in the system.
  2. Calibration of Devices: Verification and adjustment of control instruments to maintain accuracy in gas distribution.
  3. Staff Training: Continuous training of hospital staff to ensure proper and safe management of the system.
  4. Technology Upgrades: Implementation of new technologies to improve system reliability and efficiency.

Innovations in Medical Gas Systems

The medical gas distribution industry is constantly evolving with innovations that improve system safety and efficiency. Some of the most recent innovations include:

  1. Advanced Monitoring Systems: Technologies that enable real-time monitoring of gas levels, pressures, and operating conditions.
  2. Automation and Remote Control: Automated systems that manage and regulate gas distribution, reducing the need for manual intervention.
  3. Advanced Materials: Use of stronger and more durable materials for piping and valves, improving system longevity and reliability.
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Oxyone Medical Devices: Your Partner for Medical Gas Implants

At Oxyone Medical Devices, we are committed to providing high-quality medical gas equipment that meets the most stringent requirements of modern hospitals. Our facilities are designed for maximum safety, efficiency and reliability, helping to improve patient care and hospital operations.

Explore our range of medical gas systems here and learn how Oxyone Medical Devices can improve the safety and efficiency of your healthcare facilities. Contact us today for more information and personalized assistance in selecting the best system for your needs.

Accuracy of medical oxygen flowmeters: a multicenter field study

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Accuracy of Medical Flowmeters: A multicenter field study

The accuracy of 476 oxygen flowmeters was analyzed using a thermal mass flowmeter in eight hospitals in France and Belgium. Different oxygen flow rates (2 to 15 l/min) at the patient’s bedside were evaluated. Considering the sample as a whole, the accuracy of the flow delivered was acceptable, but the accuracy was poor. Variability in delivered flow between devices was greatest when low flow was required. Pressure-compensated oxygen flowmeters for these low flow rates have been found to be more accurate than their uncompensated counterparts. This study emphasizes the need to individually adjust the oxygen flow rate each time the patient needs to switch from one flowmeter to another.

In Europe, the accuracy of flow measurement devices to be connected to medical gas wall distribution systems is regulated by ISO 15002 standards. According to this standard, the oxygen flow rate should not deviate from the nominal value by more than 0.5 l/min when the flow rate is less than 5 l/min, and by more than 10% above this threshold. The conditions under which the flow rate is to be evaluated are well standardized: temperature of 23°C (± 2°C) and atmospheric pressure of 1013 hPa.

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Oxygen is commonly administered in the care of both chronic and acute patients. In 2008, 18% of hospitalized patients in Britain received oxygen on a daily basis [1] . The appropriate oxygen flow rate varies widely from one situation to another. Patients with severely impaired blood-gas exchange may require a high inspiratory oxygen concentration. In these situations, a nonrebreather mask (or reservoir mask) is typically used, requiring an oxygen flow of up to 12-15 l/min [2] . For other patients, an oxygen flow of 2 to 10 l/min, via nasal puncture or simple mask, is generally sufficient to ensure adequate oxygenation [2] . However, oxygen therapy can be deleterious. Its concomitant use with bleomycin [3] or paraquat (1,1 dimethyl 4,4′ bipyridyl) can cause irreversible pulmonary fibrosis leading to death [4] . High inspiratory oxygen fractions are associated with retrolental fibroplasia in premature infants [5] or oxygen denitrogenation atelectasis [6] . Recently, some authors have also shown that hyperoxia could induce potentially harmful cerebral and myocardial vasoconstriction in ischemic diseases [7] .A reasonable goal for oxygen therapy is therefore to achieve hemoglobin saturation (SpO2) between 94 and 98% [2] .

It is estimated that 2000-4000 deaths could be prevented each year in Britain if the oxygen flow rate were more appropriate [1] . Therefore, the accuracy of the oxygen flow delivery system is important.

The Firm

This field study was conducted in 8 hospitals (number of beds > 250). Oxygen flowmeters (TT) with Thorpe tube (range: 0 to 15 l/min) have been studied in adult units where oxygen is frequently administered (intensive care unit, emergency unit, respiratory unit, cardiology, surgery) [1] . The TT evaluated was the one routinely used in these services and assigned to the next patient requiring oxygen therapy.

First, the pressure in the local pipeline was checked. The TT was then plugged into the power outlet of an unoccupied room and placed vertically as a nurse would have done. Different gas flow rates (2 to 15 l/min) were evaluated in random order. The flow rate was set by aligning the center of the float ball with the suitable flow rate indicator line (nominal value) [10]. Each flow was measured twice and averaged for each TT. All settings and measurements were made by the same person.

Special care was taken to avoid parallax errors. Oxygen fluxes were measured with a calibrated thermal mass flow meter.

Oxygen flow was measured after stabilizing the reading for 5 seconds. Several types of TT were found during our evaluations. They were classified into two groups according to whether they were pressure compensated (PCTT: Timeter™, Caudalimeter™, RTM3™, RTM2™, Taema™) or not (NPCTT: Non-Pressure Compensated Thorpe Tube).

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Results

476 oxygen flowmeters were analyzed in 8 hospitals (3 in France, 5 in Belgium) for a total of 13,328 measurements and 12 different brands of TT were found (Table 1). In both France and Belgium, pressure-compensated TT accounted for the majority of rotameters (70% and 66%, respectively). On average, the delivered flow rate matched the nominal value (NV) with a median value ranging from 94% to 100% NV depending on the flow rate considered.

On average, 35% ± 7% of flowmeters were considered inaccurate. When PCTTs were compared with NPCTTs, no statistically significant difference in median or range values was observed. The percentage of devices outside the range is acceptable according to ISO 15002 and CGA standards. At low flow rates, PCTT performed better than NPCTT, while the reverse was true at high flow rates (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

When the flow meter leaves the factory, its accuracy under standard conditions is guaranteed by the manufacturer. With time and use, its accuracy may alter, and the accuracy of the flow delivered in a hospital setting may differ from the original value. This study is the first large multicenter study evaluating the accuracy of wall-mounted oxygen flowmeters under common conditions of use. The objective of the present study was not the evaluation of any negligence, and the method used to adjust the flow rate was strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Our analysis shows that, on average, the oxygen flows delivered are close to the desired oxygen flow (nominal value).

Therefore, it is important to have accurate and reliable devices, especially when blood gas analysis is not directly accessible.Finally, inappropriate flow can cause logistical problems. This supply problem can be critical during out-of-hospital transport or when oxygen therapy is used to increase mobility and walking time.

Accuracy of Medical Oxygen Flowmeters: A Multicentric Field Study

Frédéric Duprez1,2,3*, Maria Barile2, Thierry Bonus2, Grégory Cuvelier3, Sandra Ollieuz2, Shahram Mashayekhi2, Alexandre Legrand1*
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium

2Intensive Care Unit, Centre Hospitalier Epicura, Hornu, Belgium

3Laboratory of Motion, Haute Ecole Condorcet, Tournai, Belgium

Email: *frederic.duprez@condorcet.be, *alexandre.legrand@umons.ac.be

Copyright © 2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The 5 medicinal gases used in hospitals

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5 Common medicinal gases used in hospitals

The gases  medical are essential for  hospitals and  health care facilities in general.

Knowing the most common types of gases, understanding how each is used, and then monitoring the systems for each gas will ensure the success of your system.

At Oxyone Medical Devices, we understand that the proper functioning of your medical gas systems is vital, so that you have no unexpected failures and have the proper equipment to do your job competently and without worry.

In this article, we will outline five types of medical gases used in hospitals:

Medical air: Used in intensive care and neonatal intensive care areas. Medical air is supplied by a specific air compressor to patient care areas.

Oxygen:  Oxygen is the medical gas required in every healthcare setting and is used for resuscitation and inhalation therapy.

Carbon dioxide: Used for less invasive surgery

Nitrogen: A medical support gas used mainly to power surgical instruments and other equipment.

Nitrous oxide: A medicinal gas is used in many surgical procedures as both an anesthetic and analgesic.

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In medical facilities, each gas is supplied by a separate system designed for specific gases.

Gases are supplied from their central supply source through a network of pipelines. Some gases can be supplied in cylinders.

While vacuum, medical air and instrument air are generated locally in most hospitals, a smaller volume may come through a gas system piped into cylinders connected to a manifold. Normally hospitals have nitrogen, nitrous oxide and sometimes carbon dioxide produced through a manifold.

Medical Air

refers to a clean supply of compressed air used in hospitals and health care facilities for breathing patients. It is free of contamination and particles, has no oil or odor, and is dry to prevent water accumulation in the facility’s plumbing.

When a patient is in the operating room, whether it is an emergency or not, a surgeon relies on medical air to keep the patient comfortable and breathing. Medical air sources are connected only to the medical air distribution system.

Oxygen

Oxygen is a medicinal gas found in virtually every healthcare setting and is used for resuscitation and inhalation therapy. It was introduced in the early 1900s. It is used for medical conditions such as cyanosis, shock, severe bleeding, carbon monoxide poisoning, trauma, cardiovascular and respiratory arrest, resuscitation, and life support.

Oxygen cylinders are defined by their color, green label, and unique gas-specific connection fitting. They can be connected to a manifold and then to a main alarm and control valves and pressure gauges. Some organizations use small liquid oxygen cylinders, commonly called dewars, or larger cyrogenic cylinders.

Carbon Dioxide


is used to insufflate patients by blowing into the body cavity for less invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy, arthroscopy, endoscopy, and cryotherapy. It is used to widen and stabilize the body cavity for greater visibility and access to surgical areas.

It can also provide respiratory stimulation when mixed with oxygen, during and after anesthesia administration.

Finally, it can also be used for cryotherapy, where temperatures of -76°C can be reached. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless, colorless gas. CO2 may be piped into large hospitals, but it is more likely to come from a reservoir.

Nitrogen

as a gas is used to power instruments in places where instrumental air is not available. In fact, it is most commonly used to support gas in a structure. It can come from a cylinder manifold and is piped under pressure with an alarm system to the source and place of use.

Nitrogen Protoxide

is a variant of nitrogen: when mixed with oxygen, it acts as an anesthetic agent.

Nitrous oxide is a medicinal gas commonly known as “laughing gas,” and dentists began using it as an analgesic in 1812. Since then, this medicinal gas has been used in numerous surgical procedures as both an anesthetic and analgesic.

As a medical gas, it is still used in operating rooms.

Regular inspection of facilities

Medical gas facilities must be inspected regularly, not only because they are critical to patient well-being, but also because such inspections can make the difference between financial success or failure. It is necessary to provide facility technicians with information on repair, maintenance, and operation to keep medical gas systems safe and economical.

Like other medical products, medical gas must have a marketing authorization (product license) to be sold. Equipment must have a CE marking to indicate that it complies with the Medical Device Directive.