Medical Gas Safety and Equipment Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is a critical safety measure when using compressors in medical gas supply equipment?

They should operate at a pressure above 100psi.

They must provide compressed air that is oil-free. (correct)

They should mix air with oil to prevent wear.

They must be able to operate under high oil pressure.

What is the importance of reducing pressure to 50psi for medical gas usage?

To maintain a constant high pressure for efficiency.

To prevent the gas from expanding rapidly.

To ensure the gas is delivered at a safe and usable pressure. (correct)

To facilitate the flow of medical gases in all conditions.

Which gas is primarily used to mix with air in medical compressors?

Oxygen (correct)

Helium

Carbon dioxide

Nitrous oxide

How does flow differ from the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2)?

Flow is the rate of gas movement, while FiO2 indicates the oxygen percentage in a gas mix. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about gas diffusion laws is true for Graham's Law?

It shows that the rate of gas diffusion is dependent on molecular weight. Signup and view all the answers

Which safety feature is designed to alert users to a drop in system pressure in a piping system?

Alarms Signup and view all the answers

What is the most common cylinder size used in hospitals for oxygen?

H Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of serial numbers on gas tanks?

To keep track of hydrostatic testing Signup and view all the answers

Which cylinder color coding indicates carbon dioxide (CO2)?

Gray Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of zone valves in a gas piping system?

To provide emergency shutoff Signup and view all the answers

What do the letters 'FiO2' stand for in relation to oxygen concentrators?

Fraction of Inspired Oxygen Signup and view all the answers

In a hydrostatic test of gas tanks, what pressure is the tank filled to?

5/3 working pressure Signup and view all the answers

Which flowmeter typically indicates the flow rate of oxygen delivered to a patient?

Variable orifice flowmeter Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the American Standard Safety System (ASSS)?

To prevent the attachment of incompatible equipment Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of pressure sensors in a gas piping system?

To ensure pressure is at 50 psi Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following safety features is associated with pressure relief in gas cylinders?

Frangible disk Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic distinguishes multistage reducing valves from single-stage reducing valves?

They allow for higher flow rates and more precise pressure regulation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of the Bourdon gauge flowmeter?

It cannot indicate if oxygen is flowing by looking at the gauge. Signup and view all the answers

Which cylinders typically utilize the Pin Index Safety System (PISS)?

D and E cylinders Signup and view all the answers

What does a compensated thorpe tube flowmeter allow for in terms of gas flow measurement?

It adjusts for back pressure to give accurate gas flow measurements. Signup and view all the answers

What type of device combines a reducing valve with a flowmeter?

Regulator Signup and view all the answers

What factor determines the use of the American Standard Safety System (ASSS) compared to Pin Index Safety System (PISS)?

The size of the gas cylinder. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary feature of a compensated thorpe tube flowmeter?

Back pressure has no effect. Signup and view all the answers

What is the flow range for high-range flowmeters typically used in CPAP?

0-75 LPM Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the reading of a Bourdon flowmeter when there is complete occlusion at the outlet?

The flowmeter reading becomes inaccurate and shows a higher flow. Signup and view all the answers

What function does the proportional valve serve in an air-oxygen blender?

Controls the mixture of air and oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of demand pulse flow O2 delivery devices?

They reduce oxygen use by delivering O2 only during inhalation. Signup and view all the answers

Why is a thorpe tube flowmeter considered uncompensated?

Back pressure affects flow readings. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common pressure provided by air-oxygen blenders?

50 psi Signup and view all the answers

What impact does downstream pressure have on an uncompensated thorpe tube flowmeter reading?

It may cause the displayed flow to appear higher than actual flow. Signup and view all the answers

In what condition is the flow registered on a Bourdon gauge flowmeter accurate?

When no external resistance is present. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of demand pulse flow oxygen conserving devices?

They rely on patient effort to activate oxygen delivery. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason most hospitals consider a tank empty at 500 psi?

To ensure continuous oxygen supply during transport Signup and view all the answers

What is the tank factor for an E cylinder when calculating oxygen availability?

0.28 L/psi Signup and view all the answers

What happens if safety rules are not followed when using oxygen cylinders?

It may cause significant property damage Signup and view all the answers

What unit conversion does the tank factor calculation involve for oxygen in a full cylinder?

Feet to liters Signup and view all the answers

What type of cylinder valve is commonly used for D and E cylinders?

Direct acting cylinder valve Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor in determining the duration of gas flow from a cylinder?

Cylinder material Signup and view all the answers

To calculate the remaining oxygen duration in a full cylinder during use, which value must be subtracted from the actual tank PSI?

500 psi Signup and view all the answers

When planning to transport an intubated patient, which measurement is crucial for confirming the adequacy of oxygen supply?

The cylinder's pressure gauge reading Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Medical Gas Supply Equipment

Medical gas supply equipment involves various components and principles, including the kinetic theory of gases and different types of pressure measuring devices.

Physics of the Principles

Gases consist of discrete molecules in random motion.
Molecular collisions are elastic, and molecular activity depends on temperature.
There's no physical attraction between molecules.
Gas pressure is force per unit area, caused by collisions of molecules with the container walls. Temperature influences molecular velocity and kinetic energy.

Pascal's Law

Fluid pressure is transmitted equally in all directions within a container.
Pressure applied to a fluid is transmitted undiminished to every portion of the fluid and to the walls of the container.

Measurement of Gas Pressure

Mercury barometers use a column of mercury to measure atmospheric pressure.
Aneroid barometers use an evacuated metal container, spring, and pointer to measure pressure changes.
Mechanical manometers, similar to aneroid barometers, employ diaphragms or evacuated containers for pressure measurement.
Bourdon gauges, commonly found on medical gas cylinders, employ a hollow, coiled metal tube with an elliptical cross-section.

Venturi's Principle

Venturi tubes operate based on Bernoulli's principle, where an increase in fluid velocity relates to a decrease in static pressure.
Enlarged tube sections are employed to slow down the gas flow, decrease velocity, and increase static pressure, which decrease ambient air entrainment, thus resulting in higher FiO2.
The tube angle must be below 15° for effective operation.
HAFOE (high air flow with oxygen enrichment) devices, or venturi masks, employ this principle to measure and mix gases.

Ducted Ejectors

Similar to Venturi devices but maintain high velocity, not restoring lateral pressure.
Downstream pressure has limited impact on entrainment.
Frequently used in nebulizers.

Choked Flow

Gas velocity increases with upstream pressure.
At a specific pressure, the flow becomes choked.
Nebulizers are susceptible to choked flow at certain pressure levels.

Reynolds' Number

This number helps determine whether the flow of a gas through a tube is laminar (smooth and uniform) or turbulent (irregular and erratic).
Low Reynolds' numbers indicate laminar flow, requiring less energy for maintenance. High numbers indicate turbulent flow, demanding more energy.

Poiseuille's Law

This law describes the resistance to laminar flow in a tube.
Resistance is inversely proportional to the fourth power of the tube radius and directly proportional to tube length and viscosity.
A reduced radius drastically increases resistance.

Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP)

STP is a standard for gas law calculations and refers to the freezing point of pure water at sea level.
The temperature is 273 K, and the pressure is 1 atm or 760 mmHg.

Boyle's Law

At constant temperature, the volume of a gas is inversely proportional to its pressure.
P1V1 = P2V2

Charles' Law

At constant pressure, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature.
V1/T1 = V2/T2

Gay-Lussac's Law

At constant volume, the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature.
P1/T1 = P2/T2

Combined Gas Law

A combination of Boyle's, Charles', and Gay-Lussac's laws.
(P1V1)/T1 = (P2V2)/T2

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures

The total pressure of a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the partial pressures of the component gases.
The partial pressure of each gas is proportional to its volumetric percentage.

Fick's Law

Diffusion rate is directly proportional to the concentration gradient.

Henry's Law

The solubility of a gas in a liquid is directly proportional to the partial pressure of the gas above the liquid.

Graham's Law

The rate of diffusion of a gas is inversely proportional to the square root of its molar mass.

Water Content in Gas

At 37°C, a gas can hold approximately 44 mg of water per liter.
A portion of the atmospheric pressure is due to water vapor pressure.

Compressors

Compressors provide compressed air to power respiratory equipment.
Air must be oil-free.
Pressure is reduced to 50 psi for use.
Three types exist: piston, diaphragm, and centrifugal.

Fractional Distillation of Oxygen

Air is liquefied and slowly heated.
Nitrogen and other trace gases boil at lower temperatures, leaving behind nearly pure oxygen.

Molecular Sieves (Concentrators)

Effective at absorbing nitrogen.
Utilizes zeolite to adsorb most of the nitrogen, leaving behind purified oxygen.
Membrane enricher devices employ semi-permeable polymers to permit oxygen to pass while retaining other gases.

Liquid Reservoir Systems

Bulk systems provide large amounts of gas.
Portable reservoirs for mobile applications with variable weight-to-liquid gas ratio.
Stationary and ambulatory systems with diverse liquid-to-gas ratios available.

Piping systems

Manifolds, bulk liquid systems, or a combination of both deliver medical gases.
Copper pipes are regularly used for safety features.
Systems include alerts for pressure drops and emergency shut-offs.
Outlet components (DISS) adapt gas specifications for correct threading sizes and diameters.
Quick-connect features increase use efficiency of outlets.

Cylinders

Constructed from regulated chrome molybdenum steel, or aluminum alloys with carbon fiber wraps.
Filled to 3,000 psi pressure.
Markings include the date tested, inspector's mark, passed-inspection status, and next inspection date.
Includes serial numbers, owner's stamps, cylinder markings, service pressure, original hydrostatic test, and retest dates.
Marked with service pressure and manufacturer's specifications.
Hydrostatic testing involves filling cylinders to specific levels for consistent pressure assessment.

Cylinder Sizes

Various sizes exist, such as H, G, M, E, D, and B types.
H and E sizes are common in hospitals, while D cylinders are prevalent in ambulances.

Color Coding

Oxygen is typically coded green or white.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is gray.
Nitrous oxide is a light blue.
other gases have distinctive colors, with color coding aiding in identification of gas types for safety.

Safety Rules

Adherence to safety rules related to cylinder handling is crucial.

Oxygen Regulation Devices

Cylinder valves come in direct-acting (D & E cylinders) and diaphragm types (H cylinders).
Diaphragm-type valves work indirectly, opening and closing based on diaphragm motion, while the direct type acts directly on the cylinder valve.

Cylinder Valve Safety Features

Standard safety systems (ASSS) and Pin index safety systems (PISS) prevent inappropriate connections.
Pressure release devices, like frangible disks or fusible plugs, reduce the risk of overly high pressure by rupturing or melting.

Reducing Valves

These are a multi-stage process, with intermediate pressure reduction.
Three main types are single-stage, modified single-stage, and multistage reduction valves, with different setups and pressures.
Safety devices such as pressure relief (pop-off valves) add safety features to the reducing valve setup.

Regulators

Combines a reducing valve and a flowmeter for both precise flow rate monitoring and reduced pressures.
Two main types are Bourdon-type and Thorpe tube flowmeters.
Flow measurement units, like flowmeters, are critical components.

Oxygen Flowmeters

Fixed-orifice, Bourdon-gauge, and Thorpe-tube flowmeters measure gas flow rates.
Uncompensated and compensated Thorpe-tube devices vary in pressure compensation and placement of the needle valve.

Flowmeter Range

Ranges typically include low (0–3 LPM), suitable for children and infants or those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and high (0–75 LPM) for devices like continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or specialized respiratory therapy equipment.

Other Medical Gas Supply Equipment

Proportioners blend air and oxygen to precise concentrations, often used for mixing concentrations of oxygen for respiratory therapies.
Demand Pulse devices deliver oxygen solely during inspiration and are frequently used for patients with chronic conditions and reduced oxygen requirements.

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Description

Test your knowledge on critical safety measures and regulations regarding medical gas supply equipment. This quiz covers essential concepts such as the importance of pressure regulation, gas diffusion laws, and safety features in medical environments.