EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Problems fitting pin index cylinders

Has anyone else had problems fitting pin index cylinders to Hill Rom resuscitaires and / or Ti 500 transport incubators? It would appear to me that BOC may have changed the dimensions of the square cylinder head, making it difficult to put on or remove the cylinders.

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has experienced this problem. Please contact me directly by email: richard.aldridge@chelwest.nhs.uk

or 0208 746 8140

Thanks

Richard

Interesting, Richard. I suspect European "harmonization" versus American "customary units" (ie, inches, and fractions thereof). Time to get out the digital vernier gauges, Guys!

This will be the same issue affecting the draeger 5400 transport incubator. This is going to prove a real headache, in that the porters have to ensure they bring the correct cylinder. I am in the process of making a go/no-go gauge the portering staff can use in the gas store to ensure compliance. It is the best way I can see without resulting to tape measure.

Mind you if anbody can think of a better alternative, I am all ears.

Hi Richard,
Have had a few instances of leaks on an old Blease Minor (in a vets I hasten to add!) that was reported as leaking. When we took a look it seems some of the new cylinders were fouling the side of the machine just below the yoke. This was cured by removing the plastic collar around the base of the valve allowing the cylinder to sit straight again. It would appear that the valve is shorter on these new cylinders for some reason? and yep BOC have no record of any problems!
Best regards
Ed Bennett
Southwest Medical Ltd

Removing the collar is one way to fix it, but this is not best practice as you are breaking all sorts of regulations. As you know, the collar contains a lot of info. regarding the drug (in this case oxygen). Only remove the collar as a last resort.

There has been a safety notice out this already...

Any chance of a link, then, Alan?

Were you meaning this one?
It refers to pin index cylinders that could have the yoke mounted up side down so getting round the pin index safety.
Robert

That safety notice is 6 years old Robert!!! I think that they may be referring to something a bit more up to date, at least I hope so.

One of my trusted correspondents reports as follows:-

See (as in "Google") MDA DA2002(01) from March 2002.

This problem was encountered on Hill-Rom/Drager yokes back in 2006.

It seems that their yokes aren't manufactured exactly to the European standard (but they do meet "equivalent" safety requirements, apparently). Certain makes of cylinders can be a bit tight or not fit at all.

BOC and Linde cylinders have gone through a few changes over the years, from different manufacturers, hence the inconsistent pin-index valve body dimensions.

MHRA tends to deal with cylinders as medicines rather than devices (which means that they're in somewhat of a grey area).

Certain people have tried, but not got far, when discussing the issue of incompatibility between pin-index cylinders and yokes on Drager/Hill-Rom equipment over the years.

These days, it's best to specify newer cylinders (that meet the current standards) for use with these devices.