What's the deal with medical O2 regulators?
Why aren't they designed to be serviced? How do you get them O2 clean?
Why aren't they designed to be serviced? How do you get them O2 clean?
Medical O2 regulator
- Thread starter guruboy
- Start date
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Here's some observations to start discussion.
1. Medical equipment maintenance is hidden in layers of liability reducing secrecy.
2. They are designed to be serviced by technicians and the manufacturer's recommended service interval is 1,5,15 years depending on the region and brand. 3. When serviced they are cleaned. Specific methods of this aren't publicly shared. The little I know is from reading recommendations to modify maintenance procedures every time there's a medical o2 fire.
In a dive forum context what is it you are wondering about them?
Cameron
1. Medical equipment maintenance is hidden in layers of liability reducing secrecy.
2. They are designed to be serviced by technicians and the manufacturer's recommended service interval is 1,5,15 years depending on the region and brand. 3. When serviced they are cleaned. Specific methods of this aren't publicly shared. The little I know is from reading recommendations to modify maintenance procedures every time there's a medical o2 fire.
In a dive forum context what is it you are wondering about them?
Cameron
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I'm with Cameron on this one. The only reason to have and use medical O2 regs is if you have a MTV-100. If you don't have an MTV-100, you are far better off with a normal scuba regulator and a RescuEAN. Medical bottles are annoying to fill, annoying to deal with, and volume limited, especially for constant flow.
On the service thing. Think about who uses these. People at home with medical issues, hospitals, and EMS. The liability for hospital and EMS are going to require that they get sent out for service, and people at home aren't going to deal with them.
I have a Walk-O2-bout that is on my medical O2 bottle, and I have 3 little babies that came with the O2 Generator and Compressor that I bought. I keep the little ones for taking to sports stuff, and races for my wife just in case someone needs to get on O2 or she wants to after a race. They are constant flow only as they use the weird proprietary valve for the compressor. The Walk-O2-Bout is on a tall bottle and has a DISS port that I use my MTV-100 on and that is the only reason that I keep it.
On the service thing. Think about who uses these. People at home with medical issues, hospitals, and EMS. The liability for hospital and EMS are going to require that they get sent out for service, and people at home aren't going to deal with them.
I have a Walk-O2-bout that is on my medical O2 bottle, and I have 3 little babies that came with the O2 Generator and Compressor that I bought. I keep the little ones for taking to sports stuff, and races for my wife just in case someone needs to get on O2 or she wants to after a race. They are constant flow only as they use the weird proprietary valve for the compressor. The Walk-O2-Bout is on a tall bottle and has a DISS port that I use my MTV-100 on and that is the only reason that I keep it.
OP
Good point about the MTV. Should probably see if I can get that first.
OP
I wonder if there is an adapter to go from scuba output to MTV input.
One of the big issues with medical o2 supply is that you really only get say about 50% o2, this is by design as they are meant for long term oxygen supply and in that situation you dont want 100% for days on end.
In the situation of being bent, 100% is much better and effective, and this is from experience. Thus I sold my oxygen cylinder and medical reg/mask. I now use an oxygen reg and scuba cylinder and ask the patient to put their scuba mask on if possible to seal their nose (usually my wife). In this way they get 100% oxygen and from experience its very effective in dealing with bends, in particular skin bends. Thats what I use on my boat, and if overseas and someone gets bent thats what I recommend. In Truk my buddy got bent due to PFO, we used a normal medical kit first day but it didnt fully resove the bends, a normal reg next day fixed everything totally. 50% Nx works if thats all you have but 100% is better.
In the situation of being bent, 100% is much better and effective, and this is from experience. Thus I sold my oxygen cylinder and medical reg/mask. I now use an oxygen reg and scuba cylinder and ask the patient to put their scuba mask on if possible to seal their nose (usually my wife). In this way they get 100% oxygen and from experience its very effective in dealing with bends, in particular skin bends. Thats what I use on my boat, and if overseas and someone gets bent thats what I recommend. In Truk my buddy got bent due to PFO, we used a normal medical kit first day but it didnt fully resove the bends, a normal reg next day fixed everything totally. 50% Nx works if thats all you have but 100% is better.
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@guruboy I'm sure you could, but it runs at a much lower IP so wouldn't work on a normal regulator, about 50psi for reference. It would not be happy at 3x that pressure.
@Peter69_56 it depends on what kind of mask you use. With a non-rebreather you get above 95% though I find them annoying to breathe with. The only way of getting 100% is by using a demand regulator of some sort and ensuring the nose is blocked off. The MTV-100 is great, but since you have to use a pocket mask with it, it's much better for resuscitating someone than putting a conscious person on it.
@Peter69_56 it depends on what kind of mask you use. With a non-rebreather you get above 95% though I find them annoying to breathe with. The only way of getting 100% is by using a demand regulator of some sort and ensuring the nose is blocked off. The MTV-100 is great, but since you have to use a pocket mask with it, it's much better for resuscitating someone than putting a conscious person on it.
Relevant confession. Found myself mildly needing o2 and only had a tiny medical constant flow source.
Rigged a mouthpiece onto a counter lung (garbage bag and rubber bands) and fiddled with the flow until it matched my breathing requirements. In through the mouth, out through the nose. No rebreathing and no demand valve.
Got 100% (or close) for 5hrs on a 45 minute bottle.
Maybe useful as a last ditch contingency for someone in a bad situation.
Regards,
Cameron
Rigged a mouthpiece onto a counter lung (garbage bag and rubber bands) and fiddled with the flow until it matched my breathing requirements. In through the mouth, out through the nose. No rebreathing and no demand valve.
Got 100% (or close) for 5hrs on a 45 minute bottle.
Maybe useful as a last ditch contingency for someone in a bad situation.
Regards,
Cameron
Disclaimer for those beginner divers reading in the basic scuba forum:
The discussion in this thread is for trained professionals regarding suitable gear for temporary EMERGENCY first aid measures and it is DANGEROUS to attempt to treat bends or suspected dcs without a medical doctor's guidance.
Dive safe,
Cameron
The discussion in this thread is for trained professionals regarding suitable gear for temporary EMERGENCY first aid measures and it is DANGEROUS to attempt to treat bends or suspected dcs without a medical doctor's guidance.
Dive safe,
Cameron
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that's why I carry a non-rebreather mask with me. That's a great DIY solution though if you don't have one!
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