Medical Gases
Laboratory gases - answer are used for equipment calibration and diagnostic testing
Therapeutic gases - answer are used to relieve symptoms and improve patient's
oxygenation
Anesthetic gases - answerare combined with oxygen to provide anesthesia during
surgery
As an RT you should be aware of... - answer-remain familiar with all aspects of gases
used in the clinical setting
-Fire Risk
-Medical compressed gases are classified as either non-flammable, oxidizing (non-
flammable but supportive of combustion) and flammable
Physical Characteristic of Medical Gases(Lab Gas) - answer
Physical Characteristic of Medical Gases(Therapeutic Gas) - answer
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Medical Gas) - answer-Stored in portable, high-
pressure cylinders or in large bulk reservoirs
-Bulk reservoirs require a separate distribution system to deliver the gas to the patient
Storage and Handling of Oxygen(Gas Cylinders) - answer-Used to store and ship
compressed or liquid medical gases and are high-pressure cylinders
-Gas cylinders are made of seamless steel and are classified by the Federal
Department of Transportation (DOT), according to their fabrication method
Types of gas cylinders - answer-Type 3A - made of carbon steel
-Type 3AA - made of steel alloy tempered for higher strength
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Identification) - answer-Marked with metal stamping
on the shoulders that supplies specific information
-(1st line) Letters DOT or ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) are followed by the
cylinder classification (3A or 3AA) and the normal filling pressure in pound per square
inch (psi)
-(2nd line) The letter size of the cylinder followed by the cylinder serial number
-(3rd line) Provides a mark of ownership, followed by the manufacturer's stamp or mark.
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Identification) - answer-On the other side of the
cylinder is information about the original safety test and dates of all subsequent tests
-Safety tests are conducted every 5-10 years, as specified in DOT regulations
, -During these tests, cylinders are pressurized to 5/3 or 167% of their service pressure
-While the cylinder is under pressure, technicians measure cylinder leakage, expansion
and wall stress
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Identification) - answer-The notation EE followed by a
number indicates the elastic expansion of the cylinder in cubic cm
-A * next to the test date indicates DOT approval for 10 years
-A + sign means the cylinder is approved for filling 10% above its service pressure
-After hydrostatic testing, cylinders are subjected to internal inspection
Medical Gases(Filling (charging) cylinders) - answer-the gas into its smaller volume
-In Pressure in a cylinder depends on the state of its contents
-In a gas filled cylinder, the pressure represents the force to compress liquid-filled
cylinder is the vapor pressure needed to keep the gas liquefied at the current temp
Safety Systems - answer-Gas cylinders may contain a variety of gases
-(ASSS) American Standard Safety System
-Designed to prevent the interchange of cylinders containing different gases
-Different thread sizes and pitches are used to prevent interchange between large
cylinders (H)
Medical Gases(Safety Indexed Connector Systems) - answer-American Standard
Safety System - (ASSS)
-Provides standards for threaded high-pressure connections between large compressed
gas cylinders (sizes F through H/K) and their attachments
Safety Systems - answer-(PISS) Pin Index Safety System
-Small cylinder (E) valves use a yoke connection rather than a threaded connection for
equipment attachment (Flow meter)
-The face of the cylinder valve has two holes drilled in two of six specific positions
-The position of the drilled holes is unique for different gases
Medical Gases (Safety Indexed Connector Systems) - answer-Pin Indexed Safety
System - (PISS)
-Pin indexing is part of the ASSS, but applies only to the valve outlets of small cylinders
up to and including E cylinders
Medical Gases (Safety Indexed Connector Systems) - answer-Diameter-Index Safety
System - DISS
-Whereas the ASSS and PISS provide standards for high-pressure connections
between cylinders and equipment, the DISS was established to prevent accidental
interchange of low-pressure medical gas connectors
Medical Gases (Comparison of safety systems) - answer
Pin Index Safety System - answer
Laboratory gases - answer are used for equipment calibration and diagnostic testing
Therapeutic gases - answer are used to relieve symptoms and improve patient's
oxygenation
Anesthetic gases - answerare combined with oxygen to provide anesthesia during
surgery
As an RT you should be aware of... - answer-remain familiar with all aspects of gases
used in the clinical setting
-Fire Risk
-Medical compressed gases are classified as either non-flammable, oxidizing (non-
flammable but supportive of combustion) and flammable
Physical Characteristic of Medical Gases(Lab Gas) - answer
Physical Characteristic of Medical Gases(Therapeutic Gas) - answer
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Medical Gas) - answer-Stored in portable, high-
pressure cylinders or in large bulk reservoirs
-Bulk reservoirs require a separate distribution system to deliver the gas to the patient
Storage and Handling of Oxygen(Gas Cylinders) - answer-Used to store and ship
compressed or liquid medical gases and are high-pressure cylinders
-Gas cylinders are made of seamless steel and are classified by the Federal
Department of Transportation (DOT), according to their fabrication method
Types of gas cylinders - answer-Type 3A - made of carbon steel
-Type 3AA - made of steel alloy tempered for higher strength
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Identification) - answer-Marked with metal stamping
on the shoulders that supplies specific information
-(1st line) Letters DOT or ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) are followed by the
cylinder classification (3A or 3AA) and the normal filling pressure in pound per square
inch (psi)
-(2nd line) The letter size of the cylinder followed by the cylinder serial number
-(3rd line) Provides a mark of ownership, followed by the manufacturer's stamp or mark.
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Identification) - answer-On the other side of the
cylinder is information about the original safety test and dates of all subsequent tests
-Safety tests are conducted every 5-10 years, as specified in DOT regulations
, -During these tests, cylinders are pressurized to 5/3 or 167% of their service pressure
-While the cylinder is under pressure, technicians measure cylinder leakage, expansion
and wall stress
Storage and Handling of Oxygen (Identification) - answer-The notation EE followed by a
number indicates the elastic expansion of the cylinder in cubic cm
-A * next to the test date indicates DOT approval for 10 years
-A + sign means the cylinder is approved for filling 10% above its service pressure
-After hydrostatic testing, cylinders are subjected to internal inspection
Medical Gases(Filling (charging) cylinders) - answer-the gas into its smaller volume
-In Pressure in a cylinder depends on the state of its contents
-In a gas filled cylinder, the pressure represents the force to compress liquid-filled
cylinder is the vapor pressure needed to keep the gas liquefied at the current temp
Safety Systems - answer-Gas cylinders may contain a variety of gases
-(ASSS) American Standard Safety System
-Designed to prevent the interchange of cylinders containing different gases
-Different thread sizes and pitches are used to prevent interchange between large
cylinders (H)
Medical Gases(Safety Indexed Connector Systems) - answer-American Standard
Safety System - (ASSS)
-Provides standards for threaded high-pressure connections between large compressed
gas cylinders (sizes F through H/K) and their attachments
Safety Systems - answer-(PISS) Pin Index Safety System
-Small cylinder (E) valves use a yoke connection rather than a threaded connection for
equipment attachment (Flow meter)
-The face of the cylinder valve has two holes drilled in two of six specific positions
-The position of the drilled holes is unique for different gases
Medical Gases (Safety Indexed Connector Systems) - answer-Pin Indexed Safety
System - (PISS)
-Pin indexing is part of the ASSS, but applies only to the valve outlets of small cylinders
up to and including E cylinders
Medical Gases (Safety Indexed Connector Systems) - answer-Diameter-Index Safety
System - DISS
-Whereas the ASSS and PISS provide standards for high-pressure connections
between cylinders and equipment, the DISS was established to prevent accidental
interchange of low-pressure medical gas connectors
Medical Gases (Comparison of safety systems) - answer
Pin Index Safety System - answer
