How to Set Up a Medical Oxygen Splitter?

In a medical environment, when multiple patients require oxygen therapy but the number of oxygen concentrators is limited, using amedical oxygen splitter is an effective solution. Medical oxygen splitters can distribute the oxygen produced by the concentrator to multiple patients, ensuring that each patient receives the required amount of oxygen. This article will detail how to correctly set up amedical oxygen splitter, helping you efficiently and safely perform oxygen therapy.

Basic Setup of Medical Oxygen Splitters

Prepare the necessary equipment

To set up amedical oxygen splitter, you will need the following equipment:

• 10L/min oxygen concentrator

• Medical oxygen splitter

• Connection hoses

• 5 non-return valves

• Humidifier and distilled water (if humidified oxygen is needed)

Connect the equipment

First, place themedical oxygen splitteron a stable surface or mount it on the wall near the patient. Then, connect the oxygen concentrator to the splitter using a hose. Use silicone tubing to connect the splitter's outlets to the non-return valves, ensuring the flow direction of the valve matches the oxygen flow direction.

Next, connect the hose fittings to the humidifier, then use medium-sized silicone tubing to connect the non-return valve to the hose fittings on the humidifier. After that, connect a patient tube between the humidifier and the patient. If the patient is suspected or confirmed to have an airborne disease (such as tuberculosis or measles), use a specialized antibacterial agent between the non-return valve and the humidifier to prevent cross-infection.

Adjusting the Oxygen Flow of the Medical Oxygen Splitter

Adjust the flow settings

Turn the flow meter on the oxygen concentrator to the maximum concentration (5L/min or 10L/min), then fully open four of the five valves on the splitter. After turning on the oxygen concentrator, if using a5L/min concentrator, adjust the flow meter on the splitter to1L; if using a10L/min concentrator, adjust the flow meter to2L. Continue to adjust the other flow meters as needed.

Using the humidifier

If humidified oxygen is needed, fill the humidifier with medical distilled water up to the indicator line, then connect the humidifier between the flow distributor and the patient. If distilled water is not available, tap water meeting residual chlorine standards or MSF filtered water can also be used. Finally, connect the humidifier to a single flow meter nozzle and attach the oxygen tubing to the humidifier cap nozzle.

Equipment layout

Ideally, place the oxygen concentrator on the floor between two beds, and mount the splitter and humidifier on the wall above the patient. Ensure the back of the oxygen concentrator is a few centimeters away from the wall to prevent overheating.

Precautions

The amount of oxygen delivered by the medical oxygen splitters hould not exceed the maximum flow rate of the oxygen concentrator. If the oxygen concentrator emits a low oxygen alarm, you may need to reduce the flow for one or more patients.

The flow meter on the oxygen concentrator may exceed the red line. While this should be avoided as much as possible, the oxygen concentrator needs to overcome the additional resistance from the splitter.

Changing the flow for one patient on the splitter will affect the connections and flow for other patients, so always check and adjust the other flow meters whenever adjusting the flow or adding/removing a patient.

If there are no longer any patients connected to the splitter, promptly turn off the oxygen concentrator to save energy.

Correctly setting up themedical oxygen splitterensures that patients receive stable and sufficient oxygen therapy. By appropriately configuring the equipment and carefully adjusting the flow, you can effectively provide the necessary oxygen for multiple patients, ensuring the effectiveness of their treatment.