The Medical Gas System in Hospitals
The medical gas system
in hospitals provides oxygen, medical air, and vacuum to the surgical suites
and patient rooms. These life-sustaining gasses are delivered through clean
copper piping and connect to your ventilators.
Pipeline System
A medical gas system in hospitals is an essential part
of the medical infrastructure, providing vital gases for patient ventilation
and various clinical applications. These include oxygen to provide life
support, compressed air to power surgical equipment, nitrous oxide for
anesthesia, carbon dioxide for insufflation during surgery, and vacuum to
support suction equipment.
A well-designed and
maintained pipeline distribution system brings all the required gases and
vacuum to areas where they are needed. Without a properly designed, installed
and maintained system, the whole hospital can be at risk.
The medical gas
pipeline system can be defined as a complex network of pipes, cylinders and
pumps that transports medical gases to their final destinations inside the
hospital. It consists of numerous components like oxygen cylinders, gas
outlets, pressure regulators, and alarm systems.
In addition, the
system includes safety systems built at several levels: design, control over
who has access to the system and who carries out work. They ensure that the
gases are delivered safely, as per NFPA 99 and other relevant reference
documents.
Oxygen is the most
important gas in the healthcare industry; it provides life-sustaining benefits
to patients, including the ability to breathe and move around. In a medical gas
system, oxygen is provided by a liquid gas that boils at normal temperatures
and is piped at regulated pressure into the building.
It is then delivered
through specially brazed copper pipes that deliver pure oxygen to the outlets
on walls and ceilings where it is used. These are valved, gauged and alarmed
one or more times before they reach their destination.
The medical gas
pipeline system is not only essential for hospitals, but it is also necessary
for laboratories and other research and scientific facilities. It is a complex
system that has to be planned, installed and maintained to meet the demands of
the healthcare industry.
Oxygen Cylinders
Oxygen cylinders are
an important part of the medical gas system in hospitals. They help to deliver
supplemental oxygen to patients who can’t get enough of it on their own.
Various types of cylinders are used in different situations. They also come in
varying capacities, depending on the conditions of the patient.
Cylinders can be
stored in storage facilities or portable units that are then transported to
patient rooms, where they can be used. The cylinders have a pressure gauge,
flow dial, and regulator at the top. These devices allow the cylinders to be
filled with pressurized oxygen and can provide a continuous or pulse-dose flow
of oxygen.
There are regulations
and standards that must be met for the manufacture, distribution and use of
medical cylinders. These regulations are designed to protect the safety of
staff, doctors, and patients.
Medical cylinders can
be made from steel alloys or aluminum, and their capacity and filling pressure
have increased considerably. They are color-coded and undergo many tests at
regular intervals, including hydraulic, impact, and tensile testing.
A typical E cylinder
(the size fitted to most anesthesia machines) contains approximately 680 liters
of oxygen. The cylinders are connected to a small metal and neoprene seal that
ensures a gas-tight fit between the cylinder and the mount block on the
machine. The cylinders should never be oiled as this can cause an explosion due
to the high pressures involved.
Modern anesthesia
machines have two supply sources for medical gas: the pipeline supply from the
hospital wall and E-cylinders attached to the machine. The cylinders should be
kept off the anesthesia machines when not in use, unless there is a failure of
the hospital pipeline supply.
When the cylinder is
not in use, the cylinder valve should be closed. However, the cylinder valve is
not always easy to see if it is open or closed.
The pressure in the
cylinder will gradually decrease as it is depleted. In order to maintain a
constant supply of oxygen, a regulator must be installed on the tank.
Vacuum Pumps
Hospitals use vacuum
systems to drain fluid from wounds, help with surgical procedures and to remove
mucus from the airways. They also provide negative pressure for the purpose of
anesthesia. These pumps have to be serviced regularly to ensure they operate
properly and provide the desired level of vacuum.
When there is a loss
of power in hospitals, patients can be at risk. A vacuum system can be the
lifeline that keeps some of these people alive during a critical situation.
The loss of vacuum
could affect patients who are intubated or who can’t maintain a patent airway.
This could result in respiratory failure or even death.
To prevent this, the
best defense is to take proactive steps to prepare for any potential power
failures that could cause a loss of suction. For example, some hospitals have
emergency battery operated portable suction devices that they can use in the
event of an electrical outage.
Another important step
in preparation is to have a backup generator available. Having a generator will
ensure that the hospital continues to function properly, and will help to save
lives in the event of a power outage or other emergency.
In addition, it’s
crucial to have the vacuum piping system checked yearly for flow rates.
Collection canisters with effective shut-off valves, filters and overflow
safety traps can help to protect the vacuum piping system from leaks or
overflows.
The hoses that connect
the vacuum equipment to the wall outlets are often reused, but it is important
to check them for kinks and cracks. These kinks and cracks can decrease the
vacuum system’s pressure or cause the pump to run excessively.
A regulated suction
system is an essential part of most hospitals. Vacuum regulators, which are
attached to the wall outlet of the pump, allow clinicians to control the level
of negative pressure. Clinicians must select the regulated mode, fully occlude
the patient connection and then turn the control knob until they get the
desired vacuum pressure.
Oil less Compressors
Oil-less compressors
are a critical part of a medical gas system that is used throughout hospitals.
They produce clean air for surgical suites and patient rooms. This is necessary
for patients and medical personnel to stay healthy and safe.
The medical air that
is produced by oil-less compressors comes from the compression chamber and is
then filtered through different stages to remove any contaminants. This helps
to ensure that only a pure, odorless, and dry air is delivered to the
hospital’s pipeline.
A medical compressor
is a vital part of this system and should be regularly inspected to make sure
that it is functioning properly. It must also be maintained as needed to avoid
any risks of contamination or damage.
There are many
different kinds of compressors that can be found in a hospital, including
reciprocating, rotary, and scroll models. One of the most common is the scroll
compressor, which features two intermeshing rotors that produce air. This type
of compressor is often seen in calibrating and operating medical devices,
ventilators, and incubators.
It can also be seen
powering various medical instruments, such as drills and suction pumps. In
addition, it can be found in human simulators, which use compressed air to
mimic breathing and other bodily functions.
SMAMEPEstimate Oil less rotary screw compressors are an
excellent choice for hospitals as they do not contain any oil within the
compression chamber and therefore have no chance of contamination. This is
important because of the potential for oil to migrate into the airstream and
negatively impact the quality of the air that is delivered to a facility.