SafetyMinder
Anesthesia Breathing Circuit Safety Apparatus
A combination pressure gauge, airway pressure alarm, and variable setting pressure relief valve, the SafetyMinder replaces the conventional pressure gauge incorporated into most anesthetic breathing circuits.
PROBLEM:
Barotraumas, pulmonary rupture and patient death may result if the "pop-off" valve on an anesthetic machine circle breathing circuit is left unattended in the closed position. This is likely to happen during an initial tracheal tube cuff seal check. The possibility of pulmonary damage and death is documented in scientific literature and is a significant problem in veterinary clinical anesthetic care.
SOLUTION:
The SafetyMinder can assist the DVM during an anesthesia delivery to ensure the patient does not accidentally get exposed to an excessive amount of airway pressure. This is accomplished by the SafetyMinder sounding an alarm and activates a bright red warning light when the pressure going into the patient exceeds 5cm H2O for a period greater than 8 seconds. A pressure relief valve will function to relieve excess pressure at any preset pressure. Other features include a Push to Test button that will sound the alarm and turn on the red warning light. Typical battery life is more than five years and can be replaced by the veterinary staff.
Here are a few of the manufacturers of Anesthesia machines the SafetyMinder can be retrofitted onto:
- Matrx VMS, VMC, VME
- SurgiVet CDS 2000, Vaporstick Plus
- Ohio Model 21
Most other anesthesia machines can be readily adapted to work with the SafetyMinder.