There are seven main gases commonly used in medical processes: oxygen, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, and compressed air. 

Today I would like to share with you the types and uses of medical gases.

(1) Oxygen

The molecular formula of oxygen is O2. It is a strong oxidizer and accelerant. High concentration oxygen will have a strong oxidation reaction when it meets grease, produce high temperature, and even burn and explosion, so it is listed as class B fire hazardous substances in the Code for Fire Prevention of Building Design.

However, oxygen is also the most essential substance to sustain life, and is used medically to replenish oxygen to patients suffering from hypoxia. Direct inhalation of high pure oxygen is harmful to human body, long-term use of oxygen concentration is generally not more than 30 ~ 40%. Ordinary patients receive oxygen through a humidifying bottle; The critically ill patient was given oxygen through a ventilator.

Oxygen is also used in high pressure chambers to treat diving sickness, gas poisoning and drug atomization.

(2) Nitrous oxide

The molecular formula of nitrous oxide is N2O. It is a colorless, good smell, sweet gas, a small amount of people inhaled, facial muscles will spasm, there is a smile expression, so commonly known as laughing gas.

Nitrous oxide is inert and non-corrosive at room temperature. Nitrous oxide will decompose into nitrogen and oxygen when the temperature exceeds 650℃, so it has the effect of combustion. At high temperatures, the oil will burn when the pressure exceeds 15 atmos.

After a small amount of inhalation of laughing gas, there is anesthetic analgesic effect, but a large amount of inhalation will suffocate people. In medicine, a mixture of laughing gas and oxygen is used as an anesthetic, which is inhaled by the patient in a closed manner or by a ventilator.

The use of nitrous oxide as anesthetic has the advantages of short induction period, good analgesic effect, quick recovery, and no adverse effects on respiration, liver and kidney function. However, it has a slight inhibitory effect on the myocardium, incomplete muscle release, and weak general anesthesia efficacy. Using laughing gas alone as anesthetic is only suitable for tooth extraction, fracture reduction, abscess incision, surgical suture and other dental and surgical minor operations. Major surgery is often combined with barbiturates, succinylcholine, opiates, cyclopropane, diethyl ether, etc., to enhance the effect.

(3) Carbon dioxide

The molecular formula of carbon dioxide is CO2, commonly known as carbonate gas. Medically, carbon dioxide is used to inflate the abdominal cavity and colon for laparoscopy and fibercolonoscopy. In addition, it is used for laboratory culture of bacteria (anaerobic bacteria).

Carbon dioxide can be made into dry ice by pressurizing (5.2 atmosphere) and cooling (below -56.6℃). Medically, dry ice is used in cryotherapy, for the treatment of cataracts, vascular diseases, etc.

(4) Argon and helium

The molecular formula of argon is Ar and that of helium is He. They are a colorless, tasteless, non-toxic inert gas. Medically used for argon knife, helium knife and other surgical instruments.

(5) Compressed air

Compressed air is used to deliver power for oral surgical instruments, orthopedic instruments, ventilators, etc.

(6) Nitrogen gas

The molecular formula of nitrogen is N2. It is a colorless, tasteless, non-toxic, non-combustible gas. It is not active at room temperature and does not react with general metals. Medically used to power medical equipment and tools.

Liquid nitrogen is often used in surgery, stomatology, gynecology, ophthalmology cryotherapy, the treatment of hemangioma, skin cancer, acne, hemorrhoids, rectal cancer, various polyps, cataract, glaucoma and artificial insemination.

The department of a hospital that uses medical gases

The departments using medical gas in the hospital mainly include operating room, pre-anesthesia room, recovery room, debridement room, obstetrics and gynecology ward, ICU ward and general ward.

Company Profile：

Founded in 2013, Zibo Dijia Special Gas Co., Ltd ,based on more than thirty years of research and production of gases, Dijia as the window to actively explore new markets and integration of special gas resources for domestic and foreigncustomers. 

Zibo Dijia has full range of gases, including Industrial gases,specialty gases,electronic gases, high purity gases,mixed gases, electric lighting gases, ultra-pure gases, laser gases, medical gases, calibration gases, a total of ten series ofmore than 100 varieties, with strong market competitiveness. 

 >>Industrial Gases: Hydrogen H2, Oxygen O2, Nitrogen N2, Propane C3H4, Ammonia NH3, Carbon Dioxide CO2, Sulfur Dioxide SO2, Carbon Monoxide CO, Chloromethane CH3Cl 

 >>Medical Gases: Nitrous Oxide N2O, Carbon Dioxide CO2, Oxygen O2 and Air

 >>Specialty Gases: Hydrogen chloride HCl ,Sulfur hexafluoride SF6, Ethylene C2H4, Hydrogen Sulfide H2S, Methane CH4, Nitrous Oxide N2O, Nitric oxide NO, Nitrogen Trifluoride NF3, Boron Trifluoride BF3, Tungsten Hexafluoride WF6, Hydrogen Bromide HBr, Boron Trichloride BCL3, Carbon Tetrafluoride CF4 

 >>Rare Gases: Argon, Helium, Neon, Xenon, Krypton 

 >>Refrigerant Gases: R134A,R32,R22,R410,R410A,R290,R600,Ammonia R717, Difluoromethane R32, CH2F2, Trifluoromethane R23, CHF3, Hexafluoropropylene R1216, C3F6, Butane R600, C4H10 

 >>Mixture Gases/ Calibration Gases: NO/N2, He/N2, CH4/Ar, F2/He/Ne, B2H6/He, PH3/He 

 >>Equipment &Engineer: 1-900Ltr Steel Cylinders, Aluminum Cylinders, Gas Tanks, GB/ISO/DOT Approved.