Helium (He) is a very light, non-flammable, colourless, odourless and non-toxic gas. It is an asphyxiant in high concentrations. It is critical that extensive care is taken when using this product.
Medical helium is used as a vehicle for assisting respiration and gaining access to obstructed airways mainly to ensure oxygen flow into the alveoli of patients with severe respiratory obstruction. In conjunction with air and oxygen, medical helium is used for gas transfer lung function tests. Additionally liquid Helium is essential for the operation and cooling of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines.
BOC Healthcare offers medical grade helium products that meet the requirements of all healthcare providers.
HELIOX28 helium and oxygen gas mixture
HELIOX28 is a medical gas mixture of 72% helium and 28% oxygen (He/O2) that enables patients in respiratory distress to breathe more easily.
Helium and oxygen gas mixtures have been used in various medical settings for over fifty years. Up until recently, usage was often limited to ear, nose and throat surgery for conditions such as laryngeal stridor or spasm. In the past ten years HELIOX28 has increasingly been used for therapy in the treatment of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Helium is a rare, chemically and physiologically inert gas that is relatively insoluble in body fluids, more viscous and eight times less dense than oxygen. HELIOX mixtures are typically three times less dense than air. This property allows patients with respiratory conditions to breathe more freely by reducing their work of breathing and improving their comfort.