Air Compressors for Medical Industry
Medical professionals rely on air compressors to increase health and safety in facilities. Compressed air can provide patients with safe air to breathe while they receive treatment, and it can help clean and power the essential equipment and tools that keep health care fields running.
6 Common Air Compressor Applications in the Medical Industry
Medical facilities use medical air for multiple purposes, depending on the specific sector. Most uses fulfill a need for easily accessible, safe oxygen. This type of compressed air provides hospitals and other health care facilities with a constant air supply free from contaminates, particles, oils, odors and moisture. How each medical field uses medical air depends on its daily operations and patient needs.
Below are six common uses for compressed medical air.
1. Ventilators
Across medical practices and applications, ventilators are one of the most common medical-grade compressed air uses. Ventilators supply patients with safe, compressed medical air for increased oxygen supply and comfort during treatment. Medical professionals use ventilators in many settings, including:
- Surgeries and operations
- Intensive care units (ICU)
- Treatments related to COVID-19
- Support for oxygen toxicity-sensitive patients, like smokers
- Neonatal wards with smaller ventilator models
With so many applications, air compressors in the medical field help professionals better treat patients. Because medical air is so clean, caregivers can reduce the risk of respiratory infections and complications with this breathing assistance method.
2. Sterilization Processes
From laboratories to dental equipment, the medical industry needs access to sterile tools. Sterilization processes ensure professionals can use the equipment they need to provide the best care to their patients. Compressed air can assist drying processes to reduce contaminates and particles from entering systems for cleaner available tools and equipment. This system is hands-free to eliminate contact with the equipment before use.
3. Equipment Power
Air compressors are precise and reliable power sources that can help tools operate. The clean air supply can keep equipment free of dirt and oil that damages components and decreases its efficiency and life span. Compressed air can keep equipment functioning normally when the medical industry requires consistency and reliability. Some equipment that runs on compressed air includes:
- Hospital beds: Patients and doctors often need to adjust the height of hospital beds for the patient’s comfort and to improve accessibility. The mechanics of these features use compressed air for precise movements and better care during hospital stays.
- Dental tools: During hygiene visits, dentists need dry environments to clean teeth properly. To accomplish this, they dry patients’ mouths with compressed air because it lacks moisture and can better prepare the mouth for cleaning.
- Medical teaching simulators: Medical students can use human simulations to practice their skills before working on live patients. Models and bots might use air compressors to represent specific processes, like breathing. Students can use these options to improve and become better professionals when they graduate.
Compressed air in these applications ensures hospitals and other medical facilities can count on their equipment to serve patients, regardless of the situation and urgency.
4. Air Supply
While hospitals need medical air for direct oxygen delivery in ventilators, they also need to protect the health of other patients through their air quality. Hospitals use medical air throughout their entire ventilation systems so patients always have access to the healthiest air possible. Breathing medical air can reduce the risk of bacteria, dust, moisture and other air particles from entering the body through respiratory systems and better protect patients who are already ill and weakened.
Hospitals use complicated compressed air configurations to ensure air quality and health standards. These systems ensure air goes through all required filtration before reaching patients, professionals and visitors.
5. Anesthetics
In addition to powering operation room equipment and providing clean air through ventilators, medical professionals use medical air when delivering anesthetic in surgeries. Medical air carries these critical gases into patients’ systems, allowing doctors and dentists to operate safely and efficiently while reducing any pain the patient might experience.
6. Rehabilitation Approaches
While many doctors use compressed air in life-saving situations, it is also ideal for everyday treatments like muscle and body rehabilitation. Physical therapists and specialists can use compressed air to produce shock waves targeting muscles and organs to help relieve pain and improve conditions. Many doctors may use this method to manage painful conditions such as kidney or bladder stones and tennis elbow.
Types of Medical Air Compressors Used in the Industry
Air compressors for hospital use or dental practices serve facilities best when it meets various specifications and requirements. Knowing which models and types of air compression you need ensures you choose the right option for your medical facility.
Consider Industry Requirements
When selecting an air compressor for your medical practice, you can better protect your patients and staff by ensuring your model meets the standards required by your field. Hospitals have stringent qualifications, especially for air moisture. Drier air can reduce patients’ risk of developing a respiratory infection or worsening their condition, so hospitals must manage moisture levels.
Dental practices have similar requirements. Dry air helps medical professionals better perform hygienic practices. Driers paired with air compressors can help reduce air moisture by drying at a lower temperature, or dew point. The dental field must have an atmospheric dew point at negative 20°C. Additionally, dental equipment needs filters to reduce dust and bacteria growth. Filter efficiency for dentists must be 99.97% for dust and 99.99% for bacteria.
Oil-Free Air Compressors
Oil-free compressors can help decrease contamination risks for increased care and safety when using compressed air in medical environments. Oil in air compressors can deteriorate functions and cause more particles to enter systems. Oil-free models eliminate the problem, allowing you to focus on preventing other risks for compressed air you can rely on to keep patients safe and healthy.
Desiccant Dryers
Desiccant dryers can help professionals and facilities use medical air to control dew points. These dryers remove moisture from air compressors to ensure air is as dry as possible. When medical fields require a dry atmosphere to help patients avoid infections, this air compressor component can ensure your air solution meets industry standards. At Quincy Compressor, our desiccant dryers will keep the dew point below the required 32°F threshold to meet industry standards.
Protect Your Patients With Air Compressors From Quincy Compressor
When you need the best equipment to serve your medical practice, Quincy Compressor can pair you with quality, high-performing air compressors for durable and long-term solutions. With various models and configurations, you can find the exact model you need in our selection. Our experience working with the medical industry equips our professionals with the expertise and insights they need to serve you. Additionally, we offer 24/7 support for questions and service.
Contact Quincy Compressor today and discover how our air compressors can help you access quality medical air.