Humidifiers - Basics
| What does "Humidifier" mean? |
Humid = moist Humidifier = a device to make air moist |
| What does it do? |
To heat and make the gases moist going into the patient from a ventilator. |
| Physiology |
The gas from a bottle or hospital gas supply is very dry and
cool. If a patient on a ventilator inhales this cool dry air,
the tissue in the airway passages and lung tissues can dry out
and be damaged. When the airway tissue becomes dry the mucous
becomes thick and difficult to remove by suction. The humidifier
humidifies the air to prevent all of the above. The air is also
warmed to prevent temperature loss in the patient. The ideal
gas to enter a patient is at a temperature of 37 C°, and
moisture levels in the gas of 44mg/L (100% humidity at 37 C°) |
| How it works |
A humidifier is a controlled heater block with a chamber of
water on top. The heater plate heats the water in the chamber
and causes some water to evaporate. The gas in the ventilator
patient circuit passes over the water chamber and is warmed
to the desired temperature and humidified. A heater wire is
also inserted along the tubing going to the patient to prevent
the gas from cooling along the length of the tube. The controller
also includes various alarms of high or low temperature in the
airway or water chamber. |
| Units of measurement |
Degrees Celsius. C°, water content mg/L, %Relative Humidity |
| Typical values |
37 deg C, 44mg/L, 100%Relative Humidity |
| Picture of equipment |
http://www.fphcare.com/humidification/default.asp |
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F&P MR 850 and oxygen blender ready
to go |