EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Air driven tools

Hi Guys & Girls,

To my knowledge, air driven surgical tools operate at a maximum of 7 bar (in the UK at least). Does any one know if there is a move to increase this maximum or any forthcoming development that will ultimately require an increase in pressure to say 9 or 10 bar?

One of our contractors who is designing a new medical air plant has asked the following question " It is our understanding that with the improvements in surgical tools a higher pressure is required at the terminal outlet (not inlet) which maybe 10 Bar and which is referred to in the HTM." and I'm not sure of the answer.

As usual, any help is gratefully received.

Brian

The HTM states that 7 Bar is current and to have another gas pressure would mean putting more lines in the hospitals and test bays. I would say i have heard nothing about this or the geas panel i attend.
Good luck and do not let them crank up the outlet as we may then see you on MArs!
PAul

It's dead simple. Reply to the contractor requesting him to justify his query. That is, if he has come across something about this in the specs, get him to give you "chapter and verse". If modern air tools have become more efficient, why should they need more than 105 PSI?

Also consideration has to be given for the supply of 10 bar Non Interchangable Terminal Units for MA.
Are they available?? Somehow ,I don't think so.

Thanks for the quick replies lads.

Much as I suspected, contractor talking through his ******** at 10 bar or greater!!

I'll ask the question though Geoff, should be interesting to see what he comes up with. Probably something like " Well you're 500ft up in the Pennines, therefore as the ambient pressure is reduced you'll need a greater driving pressure to achieve the same torque" or something along those lines.

PS anyone reading this - the last statement is rubbish and should be taken with a pinch of salt - or a shovelful of grit (topical observation)

Brian

Not all contractors are that dumb. But they sometimes need to be given (shall we say) "clear guidance". Don't ever forget that contractors are in business primarily to make money, and the more Change Orders they can generate, the happier they will be. Just like everything else, contractors need to be managed. Never let them bully you. They are, after all (and supposedly), working for you (not the other way around).

We have 11 bar air on this site for surgical instruments.
The mgps was installed by Phoenix Medical.
Its used in ortho theatres.
Best bet is to check with your clinical leads iof they have any plans to use such. And get their response by email / letter not verbal.
At least if you dont install it then you've got a formal reason why.

A useful organisation is the Medical Gas Assosciation.
It is a group like this but they are usually Estates guys with an interest in gas and its installation and piping.

Robert

Also consider any warranty obligations from the Powered Instrument manufacturers.
If the design operating pressure for the instrument is 7 bar, then running at anything higher may cause internal component failure or loss of control.
If that happens during surgery and the patient or staff are harmed ---so raising the need for an official complaint -- you may get the MHRA asking some in depth questions.

KM

You've got 11 bar air for surgical tools??

What sort of terminal units do you have and what probes are you using? I can't find any probes or units for 11 bar air only 4 and 7 hence my original query. I've just been looking in the MEC catalogue and they don't go above 7 bar nor do Penlon.

MGA have been very helpful and I believe there has been a "misinterpretation" by our contractor.

Brian