Medical gas supply

Medical gas supply systems in hospitals, and most other healthcare facilities, are essential for supplying piped oxygen, nitrous oxide, nitrogen/surgical air, carbon dioxide, oxygen/nitrous oxide 50/50, medical vacuum, anaesthetic gas scavenge/waste anesthetic gas disposal and medical air to various parts of the facility. Source equipment systems are monitored by central/source alarm systems, at the point of supply with multiplexed repeater alarms throughout the facility and for monitoring high and low gas pressure in particular areas such as general ward, operating theatres, ICU/ITU/CCU/NICU, recovery, major treatment rooms, etc. Equipment is connected to the medical gas supply system via station outlets. For emergency gas control area zone service valves are installed in order to prevent contaminated gas going to patient or to stop gas flowing to an area in the event of fire. Valves are positioned at the entrance to all departments and can be accessed via emergency pull out windows.

Oxygen may be used for patients requiring supplemental oxygen via mask. Usually accomplished by a large storage system of liquid oxygen at the hospital which is evaporated into a concentrated oxygen supply, pressures are usually around 345-380 kPa (50-55 psi), or in the UK and Europe, 4-5 bar. This arrangement is described as a vacuum insulated evaporator (VIE) or bulk tank. In small medical centers with a low patient capacity, oxygen is usually supplied by a manifold of multiple high-pressure cylinders. In areas where a bulk system or high-pressure cylinder manifold is not suitable, oxygen may be supplied by an oxygen concentrator. However, on site production of oxygen is still a relatively new technology.

Medical air is compressed air supplied by a special air compressor, through a dryer (in order to maintain correct dew point levels), and distributed to patient care areas. In smaller facilities, medical air may also be supplied via high-pressure cylinders. Pressures are maintained around 345-380 kPa (50-55 psi).

Nitrous oxide is supplied to various surgical suites for its anaesthetic functions during pre-operative procedures. It is delivered to the hospital in high-pressure cylinders and supplied through the Medical Gas system. Some bulk systems exist, but are no longer installed due to environmental concerns and overall reduced consumption of Nitrous oxide. System pressures are around 345 kPa (50 psi), 4 bar UK.

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