Medical Oxygen

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Medical Oxygen

The following pictures will help you to identify the equipment that you have.

If you need further advice please ring 020 8805 5144.

Hydrostatic Test

Cylinders need to be hydrostatically tested every 5 years; the date is shown as a

month and a year and is stamped on the shoulder of the cylinder. This picture shows

that the cylinder was tested in August 2007. It will require a retest before the end of

August 2012. Frequently the cylinder may also have attached a coloured sticky label

stating 2007, whilst these are useful they should never be relied on totally.

Medical Oxygen

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Cylinder Gauge

The gauges often have coloured sectors to

indicate how much Oxygen remains in the

cylinder. This cylinder is full and should not be

made available for use if the gauge needle is in

the red sector. Do note that depending on the

device a valve may have to be opened before a

contents reading can be taken. If this is the case

the valve must be closed afterwards and the

device purged returning the gauge needle to the

zero position.

Batch Label

The batch label must be legible, if for any reason it is missing or cannot be read it

must be assumed that the expiry date for the Oxygen has been exceeded, in which

case the gas must be replenished.

Medical Oxygen

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Cylinder Valves

These are examples of common types of valves used; the flow rates are variable

depending on the concentration of Oxygen that is required to be delivered to the

patient. The older version on the right will probably only have a single flow setting

and is unlikely to meet modern requirements, it will eventually require upgrading.

Parts for these are hard to come by and if the cylinder is being hydrostatically tested

it may be a good time to change the valve.

Pin Index

The picture above shows a Pin Index type valve, some of these valves are fitted with

a removable hand-wheel others need a special spanner sometimes referred to as a

Gas Key. This type of valve is used with a variety of attachments to supply Oxygen

Therapy and Resuscitators. The advantage of this type is that a spare cylinder can

be attached to a device enabling continuous availability when the original cylinder is

sent away for refilling or Hydrostatic testing. Cylinders with integral valves do not

offer this flexibility but it would be a wise decision to have a spare available to cover

the periods when it has been sent away for refilling or testing.

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Oxygen Therapy

These pictures show an example of a detachable therapy unit for use with a Pin

Index valved cylinder; the picture on the left also shows the special spanner that is

usually attached to the unit either by a cord or a chain. The picture on the right shows

the therapy unit attached to a Pin Index valve.

Pin Index cylinder valves do not have a pressure gauge fitted, but the devices that

are used with them do. These will need connecting to the valve and the valve turned

on to register the pressure remaining in the cylinder. Do remember to switch the

cylinder off once a reading has been taken and purge any Oxygen to zero the

pressure gauge.

The above picture shows a therapy valve clearly displaying the service dates, the

label at the top just below the hand-wheel indicates the last service date and also the

next service due date. This is reinforced by the spanner symbol with Oct`12, which

highlights that the device is due a service prior to the end of October 2012.

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Resuscitation Units

These pictures show examples of resuscitation units that are available; these are

fitted with Pin Index cylinders. The resuscitators are more complex than the therapy

type of units and require a more intricate testing. They should be tested by a

competent person with the correct equipment at least once a year. Test certificates

should be available and are often kept in the carry case, if in any doubt they must be

retested.

If you have any queries regarding the equipment

you have please contact us on 020 8805 5144