Equipment and monitors Flashcards
What components are present in the high pressure system of the anesthesia machine? what is the gas pressure in this region?
The high pressure system begins at the cylinder and ends at the cylinder regulators. Components include:
* Hanger yoke
* Yoke block with check valves
* Cylinder pressure gauge
* Cylinder pressure regulators
Gas pressure = cylinder pressure
What components are present in the intermediate pressure system of the anesthesia machine?
The intermediate pressure system begins at the pipeline and ends at the flowmeter valve. Components include:
* pipeline inlets
* pressure gauges
* ventilator power inlet
* oxygen pressure failure system
* oxygen second stage regulator
* Oxygen flush valve
* Flowmeter valve
Gas pressure = 50 psi (if using pipeline) and 45 psi (if using tank)
flush valve is 35-75 L/min, 40- 50 psi
What components are present in the low pressure system of the anesthesia machine?
The low pressure system begins at the flowmeter tubes and ends at the common gas inlet. Components include:
* flowmeter tubes (thorpe tubes)
* vaporizers
* Check valves (if present)
* Common gas outlet
Gas pressure= slightly above atmospheric pressure
What are the 5 tasks of oxygen in the anesthesia machine?
- O2 pressure failure alarm
- O2 pressure failure device (failsafe)
- O2 flowmeter
- O2 flush valve
- Ventilator drive gas (if pneumatic bellows)
Describe the pin index safety system.
The PISS prevents inadvertent misconnections of gas cylinders.
The pin configuration on each hanger yoke assembly is different for each gas, making unintended connections of the wrong gas unlikely, but not impossible.
- The presence of more than one washer between the hanger yoke assembly and the stem of the tank may allow bypassing the PISS.
Describe the diameter index safely system
The DISS prevents inadvertent misconnections of gas hoses. Each gas hose and connector are sized and threaded for each individual gas.
What are the maximum pressures and volumes for cylinders that contain air, oxygen, and nitrous oxide?
Oxygen: 660L, 1900PSI, pin 2,5
Air: 625, 1900PSI, Pin 1,5
Nitrous oxide: 1590L, 745 psi, PIN 3,5
* weight full: 20.7 lb
* weight empty: 14.1 lb
The bourdon pressure gauge on an oxygen cylinder reads 500 psi. If the flow rate is 4L/min, how long will this cylinder provide oxygen to the patient?
Tank capacity/ full tank pressure x contents remaining/ gauge pressure (psi)
how long will it last?
Contents remaining (L)/ FGF rate (L/min) = minutes before tank expires
- 660L/ 1900psi= X/500psi= 174 L
- 174 L/ 4 L/min= 43.5 minutes
if you used 2,000 psi ( as some books do), then the correct answer is 41 minutes
Is it ever safe to use an oxygen cylinder in the MRI suite?
Never take a cylinder into the MRI scanner unless it’s made of a non-magnetic material, such as aluminum.
An MRI safe cylinder will have two colors: most of the tank is silver, and only the top is the color that signifies the gas it contains.
List 3 safety relief devices that prevent a cylinder from exploding when the ambient temperature increases.
Gas cylinders should never be exposed to temperatures higher than 130 F (57 C), as temperatures higher than this may lead to a fire or explosion.
In an environmental fire, there is a safety relief device built into the cylinder that allows the cylinder to empty its contents in a slow and controlled way. Examples of safety relief devices include:
- a fusible plug made of Wood’s metal (melts at elevated temperatures)
- A frangible disk that ruptures under pressure
- a valve that opens at elevated pressures
Give 1 example of how the oxygen pressure failure device (failsafe) might permit the delivery of a hypoxic mixture.
The failsafe device responds to pressure (not flow)
If there is a pipeline crossover, then the pressure of the second gas will produce pressure to defeat the failsafe device. The patient will be exposed to a hypoxic mixture
give 4 examples of how the hypoxia prevention safety device (proportioning device) might allow the delivery of a hypoxic mixture.
proportioning devices will NOT prevent a hypoxic mixture in the following circumstances:
1. Oxygen pipeline crossover
2. Leaks distal to the flowmeter valves
3. administration of a third gas (helium)
4. Defective mechanic or pneumatic components
What is the difference between the oxygen pressure failure device and the hypoxia prevention safety device?
Oxygen pressure failure device
* Fail-safe device
* Works by: shuts off and/or proportionately reduces N2O flow if O2 pressure drops below 20psi
Hypoxia prevention safety device:
* proportioning device
* Works by: Prevents you from setting a hypoxic mixture with the flow control valves
* Limits N2O flow to 3 times O2 flow (N2O max around 75%)
Describe the structure and function of the flowmeters.
The annular space is the area between the indicator float and the side wall of the flow tube. The annular space is also the narrowest at the base and widest at the top. This “variable orifice” architecture provides a constant gas pressure throughout a wide range of flow rates.
- laminar flow is dependent on gas viscosity (pouseuille)
- Turbulent flow is dependent of gas density (graham)
What is the safest flowmeter configuration on the anesthesia machine?
The O2 flowmeter should always be the furthest to the right. Here’s why…
Flowmeters are usually made of glass, making them the most delicate part of the anesthesia machine. A leak will allow oxygen to escape the low-pressure system, which could result in the delivery of a hypoxic mixture.
The order of flowmeters is important. The oxygen flowmeter should be positioned closes to the manifold outlet (on the right in the US). If a leak develops in any of the OTHER flowmeters, it won’t reduce the FiO2 delivered to the patient. If, however, a leak develops inside the oxygen flowmeter, all bets are off.
How do you calculate the FiO2 set at the flowmeter?
Equation: FiO2 = ((airflow rate x 21) + (oxygen flow rate x 100))/ total flow rate
ex: FiO2 = (1L/min x 21) + (3L/min x 100)/ 4 L/min = 80.25= 80%
An anesthesia machine uses fresh gas coupling. How do you determine the total tidal volume that will be delivered to the patient?
Vt total= Vt set on a ventilator + FGF during inspiration
you may be asked to include volume lost to compliance
When using a ventilator that couples fresh gas flow to tidal volume, what types of ventilator changes will impact the tidal volume delivered to the patient?
When using a ventilator that couples FGF to Vt, making nearly any change on the ventilator settings will ultimately impact the Vt delivered to the patient.
What is the vaporizer splitting ratio?
Modern variable bypass vaporizers split fresh gas into 2 parts:
1. Some fresh gas enters the vaporizing chamber and becomes 100% saturated with a volatile agent.
2. the rest of the gas bypasses the vaporizing chamber and does not pick up any volatile agent.
Before leaving the vaporizer, these two fractions mix, and this determines the final anesthetic concentration exiting the vaporizer.
By setting the concentration on the dial, you determine the splitting ratio. Setting a higher concentration directs more fresh gas towards the liquid anesthetic, while setting a lower concentration directs less fresh gas towards the liquid anesthetic.
What is the pumping effect?
The pumping effect can increase vaporizer output.
Anything that causes gas that has already left the vaporizer to re-enter the vaporizer chamber can cause the pumping effect. This is generally due to positive pressure ventilation or the use of the oxygen flush valve. Modern anesthesia machine design mitigates this risk.
Compare and contrast the variable bypass vaporizer with the injector-type vaporizer.
What does the oxygen analyzer measure, and where is it located?
The oxygen analyzer monitors oxygen concentration (not pressure) and is the only device downstream of the flowmeters that can detect a hypoxic mixture. Indeed, leaks in the anesthesia machine are most likely to occur in the low-pressure system.
What 2 things must you do in the event of an oxygen supply line crossover?
- Turn ON the oxygen cylinder
- Disconnect the pipeline oxygen supply. This is a key step!
if a crossover occurs, simply turning on the oxygen tank would not save the patient. If an adequate oxygen pipeline pressure is present (regardless of the gas inside), it will prevent the oxygen tank from providing oxygen to the patient.
Pressing the oxygen flush valve exposes the breathing circuit to __ O2 flow and __ O2 pressure.
Oxygen flow = 35-75 L/min
Oxygen pressure = 50 psi (pipeline pressure)