Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Use A Medical Oxygen Analyzer

Medical oxygen analyzers are an effective tool to measure the amount of oxygen that a patient is exhaling. These types of measurements can then be used to assess how well the lungs are working, especially if the patient is inhaling 100 percent oxygen. The higher the level of oxygen that the patient is exhaling, the more poorly the lungs are working. As a result, medical oxygen analyzers are useful for home monitoring of lung function.








Instructions


1. Turn the sensor on. This can usually be done by flipping the power switch, which will be located on the front of the unit.








2. Connect to source of pure oxygen. To do this, connect the sensor to a small oxygen tank. The calibration tank that comes with the unit has a nozzle which will attach securely to the sensor. Turn on the flow of oxygen by turning the valve at the top of the tank counter-clockwise.


3. Calibrate the machine for 100 percent oxygen. After connecting the oxygen, wait for about 20 seconds, and then hit the "CAL" key. This will start the calibration of the unit. When it is done calibrating, it should read "100 percent" on the screen and the results will flash. Press the "Unlock" button to accept the calibration reading.


4. Measure room air. To do this, unhook the pure oxygen and allow the sensor to measure the air in the room. After stabilizing (this should take 30 seconds or so) it should read between 20 and 22 percent.


5. Measure oxygen levels from exhalation. Once the machine is properly calibrated, have the patient breathe into the tube connected to the sensor to measure the oxygen content from their exhalations.

Tags: lungs working, oxygen analyzers, oxygen that, oxygen that patient, patient exhaling, percent oxygen