What Are Medical Vacuum Pumps Used For?

Medical vacuum pump systems are designed to offer suction to unwanted fluids and gases from laboratory and medical environments. The medical vacuum systems offer a controlled framework through which medical specialists protect themselves from coming to contact with medically unhealthy substances.

Common applications of medical vacuum pump systems include the following:

• Draining wounds
• Preparing assisted wound closures
• Lung and chest drainages
• Removal of excess blood from open body systems during surgery
• Collection and removal of non-blood body fluids
• Liposuction
• Cleaning of endotracheal tubes

Although medical vacuum pump systems facilitate the above procedures, they are not used solely. They are instead used with other equipment to improve their efficiency or foster healthy management of the materials being collected. Among the most common machines used with the vacuum pumps included those discussed below.

Duplex systems

A medical duplex pumping system creates a safety haven through which the vacuum pumps can be shut down for maintenance and cleaning. The duplex machine also offers a backup for negative pressure (suction) in case the main vacuum pump fails.

Collection canisters   

Once sucked from a surface, the fluids are pumped into a collection canister where they are stored awaiting clinical analysis or disposal. As a determinant of the given medical process being undertaken, appropriate canisters should be used. For example, sterilized canisters should be used in the instances where the fluids are meant to undergo further clinical analysis, while those awaiting disposal can be handled in any containers that are not necessarily sterilized.

Venturi devices

Though used as alternative source of suction in medical applications, these devices can also be attached to suction pumps. These are primarily used with vacuum pumps as alternative backups for averting failures in the pumps.

Vacuum regulators

Specific medical procedures require different levels of vacuum cleaning. As a result, regulation of the amount of vacuum created by a given pump should be effectively monitored, controlled and regulated to avoid over drainage and other harmful suction effects. The use of appropriate vacuum regulators is recommended. 

For more information about the latest technologies in medical suction, contact GlobalVac & Air to see how we can support your medical application.