Safety Feature
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Brief Description
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Alarms
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Audio and/or visual alarms (e.g., low- or high-oxygen and nitrous oxide pressure alarms)
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Color Coding
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Gas tanks, knobs, and hoses are coded by color (standardized nationally, but not necessarily internationally)
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Diameter index safety system
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A standard for noninterchangeable, removable connections for use with medical gases helps ensure that the appropriate gas flows through the appropriate tubing and cannot be interchanged
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Emergency air inlet
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An inlet designed to remain closed as long as gases are being administered to the patient; however, when the oxygen fail-safe system turns the gases off, ambient air is allowed to enter the system so that the patient can continue to breathe through the nasal hood or face mask
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Locks
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According to national fire codes, nitrous oxide and other compressed gases must be kept in locked rooms; many manufacturers supply additional locks for the machines at the tanks, the manifold, or the mixer level to prevent staff members from accessing nitrous oxide inappropriately
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Oxygen fail-safe system
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The oxygen fail-safe system is designed so that the nitrous oxide supply will be turned off automatically when oxygen delivery is compromised or depleted; delivery systems are required to provide a minimum oxygen liter flow that ensures that 2.5 to 3.0 liters of oxygen per minute is the minimum amount being administered and that concentrations of oxygen never fall below 30% during gas delivery
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Oxygen flush button
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A mechanism that allows for 100% oxygen to be administered through a reservoir bag in the event of an emergency; when the button is pressed, the oxygen flush valve engages, and the system delivers oxygen straight from the pipeline or tank regulator at 45 to 50 psi at a flow rate between 35 and 75 L/min
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Pin-index safety system
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Pins protruding from the gas tank yokes have a unique configuration that fits into corresponding holes in the tank valves that help prevent the accidental attachment of a nonoxygen tank to the oxygen attachment portal
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Quick connect for positive-pressure oxygen
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In an emergency situation in which positive-pressure oxygen is required (e.g., to augment cardiopulmonary resuscitation), quick-connect compatibility helps ensure immediate access to positive-pressure oxygen anywhere in the office
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Reservoir bag
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An inflatable rubber reservoir bladder into which fresh gas entering the circuit is conveyed; the bag is filled gradually as gases enter the circuit and is deflated with inhalation
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