How to Use Aerochamber Plus Z Stat

By: Kevin Cleary

When it comes to administering our children’s respiratory medicine, it is not always an easy chore. Sometimes they don’t want to sit down and take a break or they just don’t like it…period!! Many children (and adults) who need respiratory medication can experience asthma attacks that occur suddenly and can even be life-threatening, so getting their medication into their lungs quickly is of paramount importance!! While nebulizers are good for long-term maintenance of asthma and other respiratory issues, a Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) can be the fastest way for life-saving medicine to be administered.

What Are MDIs Used For?

For those with respiratory issues, the need to open our lungs and airways to breathe properly can be a matter of life or death. One of the quickest ways to do this is with a metered dose inhaler (MDI). These are small handheld devices that contain medication to treat COPD, asthma, as well as other respiratory problems. When the MDI is triggered (the canister is pressurized) while holding it in your mouth, the user inhales the released mist medication directly into the lungs for quick breathing relief. Seems simple enough, right? Improper usage can lead to the metered dose of medication not fully reaching the lungs, therefore minimizing its efficacy. Since this medication can be critical, it is important to know how much medication you have left in case of another emergency. Familydoctor.org has some suggestions to keep in mind. They include:

·   Plan Ahead: If you use your MDI as a rescue inhaler (when it’s difficult to breathe the most) you should consider asking your doctor to write a prescription for two inhalers. Never be caught shorthanded!!

·   Start Fresh: You should always start with a full inhaler. Your canister should have a label to tell you approximately the amount of puffs available, so make sure you start from new so you don’t get caught without your medication.

·   Mark Your Calendar: By marking your calendar you will have a visual reference of approximately when your medication will need to be refilled. You should mark one or two days before your medication needs to be refilled to avoid any sudden panic.

·   Mark Your Canister: Besides marking a calendar, you should also mark (with permanent marker) your canister with the refill date. The more reminders the better!!

Using the Monaghan AeroChamber to Open Airways

If your doctor prescribes an MDI for you, finding an effective method of distributing the medicated mist into your lungs is crucial. Many times your doctor may prescribe a holding chamber for your MDI. The AeroChamber Z STAT improves the delivery of this medication to the patient. Monaghan offers not just the AeroChamber itself, but it offers two different types with different masks. The Comfort Seal Mask is ideal for smaller patients (including children) while the Large Comfort Seal Mask may be more suitable for adults. If you don’t require a mask, the Monaghan AeroChamber is available without a mask and offers many of the same benefits. For those who may have an impaired coordination, this simplifies the matter. This minimizes the need to inhale at an exact time when dispensing medication, therefore allowing the user to inhale at their own pace. The mask makes a nice comfortable seal and the chamber minimizes drug deposition into the mouth and throat. The new generation of AeroChambers delivers 22% more medication than the original for a more efficient respiratory therapy. The inhalation valve also filters out larger aerosol particles, allowing more medication to be inhaled (not to mention minimizing any negative taste). Taking the icky taste of the medication out of the equation, patients (including children) may become more compliant with their therapy. Many leading MDI manufacturers recommend the Monaghan AeroChamber due to its efficient and simple delivery of medication. Using the AeroChamber is simple, just follow some easy directions:

1. Examine product for any damage or missing parts. If anything is damaged or missing the product should be replaced immediately.
2. Read all instructions and remove red caps.
3. Be sure to shake your MDI fully and insert into back of chamber.
4. Place silicon mask securely on face for proper seal and exhale through mask.
5. Depress MDI and inhale slowly and hold breath for approximately 10 seconds. If a slow breath is difficult to achieve, user should keep face tight to mask and inhale 2-3 times. Medicine should be administered one puff at a time.
6. If Flow Signal Whistle sounds, inhalation should be slowed.
7. Any instructions included with your MDI should be followed on time between inhalations.

Regular cleaning of the Monaghan AeroChamber Z STAT is recommended to prolong the life and efficacy of the holding chamber. The AeroChamber is completely dishwasher safe and is easy to clean. By keeping your holding chamber clean and working properly you can minimize the cost of your respiratory therapy. Use this quick overview to clean your AeroChamber:

Benefits of the Monaghan Z STAT System

The use of an MDI will help you breathe better faster, but when a holding chamber is used your respiratory therapy becomes more efficient. The diagram above shows how an aVHC benefits the user. Comparing the Monaghan AeroChamber Z STAT system to other holding chambers, the benefits jump out at you. First, this system is cost-effective when delivering aerosol medications and can be used directly out of the package. Nothing complicated to keep you from breathing easily sooner. Not only is it compatible with all the most commonly prescribed MDIs, it is recommended by most manufacturers and is manufactured here in the United States (except for the silicone components).

Monaghan AeroChamber Parts

You should understand the parts of your AeroChamber and how they work in order to efficiently use it. The AeroChamber Z STAT has 5 important components:

    Anti-Static Chamber: By minimizing static charge, the chamber increases aerosol suspension time therefore making more medication available for inhalation. Made of clear plastic the user can visually see when the medication is present in the chamber.

    Comfort Seal Mask: A snug fit is crucial to maximum drug delivery and the seal on this mask fit snugly and comfortably on the face. It’s by creating this seal that the proper amount of medication is delivered and is less dependent on coordination for use. It also makes it easier for children to receive their medication.

    Inhalation Valve: This low resistance valve opens easily to allow the patient to inhale easily, while only allowing the proper size particles to exit the chamber through inhalation. This prevents any accidental exhalation of medication, making each treatment more efficient.

    Exhalation Valve: After inhalation, the user can easily exhale (normal part of breathing) without re-breathing and focuses any exhalation away from the face.

    Flow Signal Whistle: This alerts the user to breathe slowly.

By understanding how these parts operate, the user can determine if the AeroChamber is working properly. This device is intended to be used only by patients who are directed to by a doctor and to administer an aerosol medication from an inhaler. They can be used not only in a medical environment but in the home or out and about, so users can take them anywhere they need to.

Using the Invacare Perfecto2 Oxygen Concentrator

By: Kevin Cleary

For those that have respiratory issues, the need for supplemental oxygen can be extremely important. These folks have a need to increase the body’s ability to utilize oxygen due to issues such as COPD. This usually leads to the need to have large, heavy oxygen tanks which can be extremely cumbersome to move about, if at all. Another option available is an oxygen concentrator. An oxygen concentrator works by concentrating oxygen from the surrounding ambient air, therefore creating a supply of oxygen enriched gas for inhalation. Invacare offers respiratory patients a great option in the Perfecto2 Oxygen Concentrator. Understanding the unit and its proper use can easily make your oxygen therapy more efficient.

All the Features You Want

Since many patients who require supplemental oxygen for the respiratory therapy can be of advanced age and oxygen tanks can be heavy, there needs to be another option. The Invacare Perfecto2 Oxygen Concentrator is just this option. It weighs just 39 lbs. and is 23 “H x 13 “W x 11.5 “D, which makes it easily portable (especially since its on wheels). It can provide an oxygen purity rate of 87%-95.6% at all flow rates. Not only is it compact but it is also quiet with a noise rating of 43 dB. This concentrator uses a pressure-based system which is superior to a time-based system to provide an unlimited, worry free oxygen supply. One nice feature is the patient accessible, reset button which can avoid costly emergency service calls. This unit has a 5 L capacity and a design that is user-friendly and easy to see control panel for ease-of-use. This unit also has a humidifier bottle holder as well as easy filter access for simple maintenance. With a flow rate of 5 LPM, you can adjust the flow range from 0.5-5 LPM. Your doctor will prescribe what flow rate you need and you should never adjust it unless directed by your doctor.

Simple Operation

Invacare has designed this oxygen concentrator to make it easy for patients to use this concentrator in their home. Patients simply and securely connect their oxygen hose (or cannula) to the nipple for oxygen therapy. So how does the Invacare Perfecto2 work? This device utilizes a molecular sieve to absorb gases such as nitrogen. It’s this principle of rapid pressure swing absorption that allows the nitrogen in the air to be absorbed onto zeolite minerals and eventually purge the nitrogen. This leaves predominantly oxygen. These types of oxygen providers are useful in situations where the use of oxygen tanks can be either hazardous or inconvenient. All the user needs to do is to connect their cannula to the oxygen outlet nipple and adjust the flow control valve to the appropriate flow rate as prescribed by your doctor. The center of the ball should be directly over the number prescribed by your doctor. Do not change this unless directed to by your doctor!! The front of the Invacare Perfecto2 has a spot for a humidifier if your doctor should prescribe one for you. Just simply attach the bottle lead to the oxygen outlet of the unit and then place your cannula on the output of the humidifier. Easy peasy!!

Make sure you use distilled water in any humidifier. At this point simply turn on the switch on the front of the unit and breathe easy. When the unit is initially turned on a yellow light will come on and after the warm up period is done a green light will appear. This shows that the unit is in normal operating mode. The front of the unit has an easily assessable panel for filter changes to make home maintenance simpler. If for some reason your unit should stop working the first diagnostic step is the circuit breaker directly above the on/off switch. This can cut down on costly service calls.

Below is an illustration of the Invacare Perfecto2 unit and controls:

	A. Oxygen Outlet B. Flowmeter C. Elapsed Time Meter D. Oxygen Purity Indicator Lights/Fault and Power Indicator Lights E. Circuit Breaker F. Power Switch G. Power Cord H. HomeFill Outlet Fitting I. Cabinet Filter The Invacare Perfecto2 Oxygen Concentrator is a stylish piece of equipment to blend into any home decor as well as being a simple to use, effective oxygen delivery system with no more heavy tanks that need to be refilled. This unit uses the air around you every day and has a compressor life expectancy of 25,000 hours of worry free operation.