Introduction - CareFusion PrinterNOx Operating Manual

Introduction

The PrinterNOx is a combined Nitric Oxide / Nitrogen Dioxide
monitor based on electrochemical fuel cells and may be operated
directly from the mains power or from the internal rechargeable
NiCad battery pack. Fuel cells work through the reaction of the
target gas with an electrolyte at one electrode and oxygen (from
ambient air) at the other. This reaction generates an electrical
current proportional to gas concentration. In comparison with other
technologies (such as chemiluminescent detectors) electrochemical
sensors are compact, inexpensive and much easier to use with zero
warm up time and simple calibration. The PrinterNOx is designed to
monitor delivered NO used as a therapy for adult respiratory distress
syndrome and pulmonary hypertension on ventilated patients. The
more toxic and non therapeutic by-product, NO
The NO measurement has a resolution of 0.05 parts per million
(ppm) with a full scale of 100ppm and the NO
resolution of 0.05ppm with a full scale of 20ppm. The gas to be
monitored is sampled using a constant flow (250ml/min), low dead
space, sidestream system. The system includes a water trap, with
integral hydrophobic filter, and humidity conditioning circuit to
protect the fuel cells against extremes of humidity and particulate
contamination. The measurements are displayed on a large graphic
liquid crystal display and can be printed as a chart, on the integral
thermal printer, together with calibration due date and alarm
settings. The last 24 hours of NO and NO
recorded and stored in the internal battery backed memory and can
be printed or uploaded on the RS232 interface for computer storage.
The PrinterNOx includes a number of safety features and alarms.
These include upper and lower alarms for NO and an upper alarm for
NO . An external alarm cable is available, and when connected to a
2
NO delivery system, is used to trigger an alarm or initiate a safe
operating mode if high concentrations of gas are detected. This
concentration is 100ppm for NO, 9ppm NO
, is also monitored.
2
measurement has a
2
measurements taken are
2
or alarm level whichever
2
4