How to test medical oxygen regulators?

[Stephen Tashiro]

Continuous flow oxygen regulators on medical oxygen tanks can be tested by putting the patient's oxgen cannula in a glass of water and seeing if it emits bubbles. What is a simple test for the conservative type of oxygen regulator that only emits oxygen when the patient breathes-in ?

According to the web page http://oxygen-regulators.com/, there are non-battery powered conservative regulators and battery powered conservative regulators. What tests can you do to see if these regulators are working?


(I'm interested in tests that can be done by people who are helping a patient, not people who are using the oxygen themselves.)

[Dave Richards]

Probably ought to contact a biomedical equipment specialist at the facility where the device came from. The device must have come from a home healthcare supplier or a hospital. I am a biomedical equipment specialist but I can't legally give you advice.

[Jim Koepke]

Would it be possible to run the oxygen line in to a sealed jar with some water? The line could be under the water level and the line to the patient's mask could be above the water level. When the patient inhales, there would be bubbles. When the patient exhales there should be no bubbles.

I am not a biomedical equipment specialist and this is not medical advice. It is just a possiblity that seems like a simple way to see if oxygen is being supplied when there is a drop in pressure due to breathing activity.

jtk

[James Baker SD]

That's a tough one Stephen, but checking with the manufacturer might be the best way. I am a patient myself and have an on demand unit for air travel and any time I just feel extra out of breath. Mine makes and audible noise, flashes an LED each time I take a breath, I can feel the slight pulse of air in my nostril, but have no idea if it is enriched oxygen air and just normal air. Have to trust the unit does what it claims.

As for trying it under water, I suspect the water would be too much of an energy absorber for the test to work. In theory taking a breath above the water would reduce the pressure there, but not sure the pressure sensing mechanism in the oxygen machine would sense that through the mass of the water.