Nitronox Cylinders: Features and Components

1. Cylinder Appearance

Distinctive Colour:

• The shoulder of Nitronox cylinders is quartered, featuring blue and white sections.
• White signifies the 50% medical oxygen content, while blue represents the nitrous oxide content.
• The cylinder body itself is predominantly white, resembling an oxygen cylinder.

2. Cylinder Labeling

Essential Information:

• Nitronox cylinders are equipped with barcode labels containing vital data, including expiry dates, batch numbers, and fill dates.
• Shoulder markings may include the cylinder's serial number, manufacture dates, or test dates.
• These cylinders have a 10-year lifespan and can be retested for another 10 years if they pass examination, indicated by a stamp.
• Product labels display the manufacturer's details, contact numbers, and safety instructions for handling the gas.

3. Cylinder Regulators

Integral Regulators:

• Nitronox cylinders commonly feature integral regulators that cannot be detached.
• The regulator is equipped with a contents gauge, providing real-time gas quantity information.
• A quick-connect or Schrader-type connector is present for attaching ancillary equipment like demand valves.
• An on-off switch on the cylinder allows gas flow into the regulator from the cylinder itself.

4. Cylinder Charge Port

Filling Point:

• A charge port on the cylinder, sealed with a dust cap, is where the cylinders are filled at the production facility.

5. Demand Valves

Key Components:

• Demand valves used with Nitronox cylinders consist of a quick-connect Schrader-type probe for attachment to the cylinder's regulator.
• A hose, typically 1.5 meters or 3 meters long, extends from the probe to the demand valve.
• The demand valve features a test button for system testing and purging.
• Gas release from the demand valve occurs when it senses a patient's inhalation, allowing for self-administration of the gas.