Can You Use a Vacuum Pump for Medicine?

Vacuum pumps have many uses in various industries. In the medical field, these pumps have a variety of uses. These machines are present in many hospitals and healthcare facilities with a variety of applications. They are not only used for treatment purposes, but also for research and diagnostics Among the common uses in medicine for these pumps are lung and chest drainages, liposuction, cleaning endotracheal tubes, draining wounds and draining excess blood from the body during surgery among other uses. Though vacuum pumps for medicine have many uses, they are used in conjunction with other supportive equipment. In addition to the few mentioned above, here are other medical uses for vacuum pumps.

Respiratory Devices

Respiratory devices are crucial in the medical field. Patients with breathing difficulties need such life supporting machines to help them breath. Such patients include those with chronic pulmonary diseases and other respiratory ailments. Vacuum pumps have especially come in handy during the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, where most patients with severe symptoms have had to use respiratory equipment to help them breath. Vacuum pumps are used to power and support respiratory equipment.

Dental Suction Systems

In dental clinics, dental suction systems are very important. Townsville dentists use these systems to draw liquids such as water, saliva and blood when treating patients. When operating on patients, dentists have to keep on pumping out saliva and water from the patients’ mouth. This activity is important to prevent the patient from choking on their saliva or blood. Vacuum pumps are both safe and efficient for this purpose since they provide just enough pressure for this activity. The dentist is able to easily manage the air pressure using special equipment. Most dental offices use claw and rotary vane systems for these applications.

Air Beds

Air beds are an ingenious invention in the medical field. Instead of using metal beds like it is the case with many hospitals, health facilities are increasingly adopting the use of inflatable beds. These beds are convenient and comfortable. They prevent bedsores and help heal and dry patients’ skin while confined in hospitals. Doctors and nurses checking on patients can easily adjust their patients’ position when needed by simply inflating or deflating particular air chambers. The beds are connected to vacuum pumps to operate efficiently.

Autoclaving

Autoclaving is another important activity in every health center and hospital. Hospitals have to maintain high standards of hygiene. As such, washing and disinfecting medical equipment, clothing and beddings is not enough. They have to go through autoclaving to sterilize them and completely kill all harmful microorganisms. Autoclave chambers are connected to vacuum pumps that help evacuate the chambers before sterilizing hospital stuff.

Plasma Sterilization

Plasma sterilization is another alternative to sterilizing medical equipment and other hospital apparel. This method is common in large hospitals. It is highly efficient and has minimal to no damage on medical equipment. The sterilizers create plasma of hydrogen peroxide that keep the sterilizing environment at room temperature. These machines utilize rotary vane pumps, a type of a vacuum pump. They are better than their counterparts that use hot steam for this purpose.

Central Vacuum Systems

Central vacuum systems are a must in all hospitals. They are usually connected to patients’ rooms to deliver vacuum pressure for aspiration. All surgery and intensive care units need these connections for their operations. The pumps are connected to a central vacuum system that provides the rooms with the needed pressure. In most cases, single stage rotary vane pumps are used with pressure approximately 1 mbar. These pumps have to keep running for the hospital to keep running and keep patients alive.

X-Ray Machines

X-ray machines are crucial medical equipment in hospitals. These machines are used to identify a lot of medical ailments to help doctors administer correct treatment. X-rays are very sensitive. Their anodes require water-cooling and rotation for effective heat dissipation. Care must be taken to ensure that electrons are not scattered and hence the evacuation using high vacuum pressure. Vacuum pumps and especially the rotary vanes are used for this purpose.

Vacuum Cushions and Mattresses

In addition to comfort, vacuum cushions and mattresses are necessarily in surgery for patient repositioning and also during transit in ambulances. These mattresses and cushions are fitted with small plastic spheres that can be inflated or deflated using vacuum pumps. They are designed in such a manner that they can fit to the exact size and shape of the patient. These apparatus cannot operate without the use of vacuum pumps hence their need.