Airgas operates its own dedicated blending facilities as well as maintains a national network of blending technology to ensure accurate, consistent production.
Applications
Respiratory Therapy: Mixed with oxygen to create Heliox mixtures which can be used to treat patients with obstructive airway conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and bronchiolitis
Medical Imaging: Utilized as a cooling agent in MRI machines to maintain the superconducting magnets at very low temperatures
Pulmonary Function Testing: Utilized in certain diagnostics tests to measure lung volumes and diffusion capacity to diagnose and monitor lung diseases
Anesthesia Delivery: Employed as a carrier gas in the administration of anesthetics gases, particularly in cases where nitrogen or nitrous oxide might pose a risk
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Occasionally used in hyperbaric medicine, especially in divers suffering from decompression sickness, as part of breathing gas mixtures to facilitate the elimination of inert gases from the body
Safety
Always use in accordance with the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Cylinder must be stored and used in an upright, secured position in a well-ventilated or monitored area.
Major Hazards: Suffocation, High pressure, compressed gas