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[ What is the importance of patient airway humidification ] [ Oxygen Reservoir Kit for Uni-Vent 754 ] [ Eagle 754 Pressure Plateau ] [ Cleaning / Decontaminating the Uni-Vent® Eagle™ Model 754 ] [ HEPA Filters ]
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HEPA filters are regarded as the best form of air filtration devices
available today. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate
Arrestance. According to U.S. Military Standard MIL-STD-282, HEPA
filters are defined as air-cleaning devices that have a proven minimum
removal efficiency of 99.97% of particles in the air equal to 0.3 um
(microns) in diameter with higher efficiency for both larger and
smaller particle sizes. The reason 0.3 microns is used in the
definition is because it’s the particle size in which all mechanical
filters are LEAST efficient in capturing and removing from the air. A
micron is a measure of length: 1 micron equals 1 millionth of a meter.
A particle size of 10 microns or less is not visible to the naked eye.
The Un-Vent®
Eagle™ Model 754 comes equipped with an internal
compressor. The compressor is a mechanical component that generates
air pressure for ventilation. Pressure is needed to deliver a volume of
gas to the patient. In order for the compressor to operate, it needs
to entrain air from the atmosphere. The Eagle’s™ air entrainment port
does not come with a HEPA filter installed. When the ventilator is
operated in a clean environment like a hospital, a HEPA filter
covering the air-entrainment port is generally not needed. It is
highly recommended that when the ventilator is operated in
environments where it is exposed to higher than normal levels of
airborne contaminants that a HEPA filter be installed. The HEPA filter
will help protect the inside of the ventilator from contamination and
prolong the life of the internal components by preventing the buildup
of foreign matter like dust and dirt. |
Use of a HEPA filter will also
help protect the patient’s airway from exposure to this foreign
particulate matter. Undesirable contaminants that the HEPA filter will
help block include; smoke, mold, hair, dust, dirt, pet dander, bacteria,
viruses and fungi. Please note that “HEPA-Type” filters may look like a
certified HEPA filter however their performance may not match that of a
true HEPA filter. No filter, including a true HEPA filter, can trap 100%
of all contaminants. However, in terms of efficiency and performance, HEPA
filters are the highest performing air filtration devices currently
available. HEPA filters should ALWAYS be used in situations where the
ventilator must be operated in contaminated environments. Two additional
features of HEPA filters that add to their value is that unless the air
entering the filter is humidified, bacteria and viruses that are trapped
in the filter will dry out and die. The second feature is that the filter
becomes more efficient over time because as the filter gets filled with
trapped particles, it becomes more difficult for matter to pass through
the filter. Depending on use and level of contaminate exposure, HEPA
filters, like a regular filter need to be changed based on the
manufacturer’s recommendation.
Information used in the above article was provided
by the Centers of Disease Control,
www.cdc.gov
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