Our team at Pure-Line Plumbing has extensive experience in the plumbing industry, and we have particular expertise in plumbing for medical gas lines. Because of this, we are familiar with the many types of gas used in medical applications, including nitrous oxide, oxygen, and even helium. In this article, we will focus on helium and provide a brief overview of some of its medical applications.
- Treating Respiratory Ailments- One of the chief uses for helium gas in medicine is as a treatment for various respiratory ailments, including asthma, bronchitis, and more. Medical professionals mix helium with oxygen to create a mixture known as heliox, which is then administered to patients in respiratory distress to deliver the oxygen they need. Heliox has a lower airflow resistance than the air we breathe normally, so it helps these patients get enough oxygen.
- Cooling MRI Magnets- Another use for helium in the medical field is as a coolant for the magnets used in MRI machines. These magnets need to be cooled constantly in order to ensure that their images maintain the necessary level of detail and accuracy, and helium is an ideal choice for this purpose. Liquid helium has an extremely low boiling point of -452.1 F (or -268.9 C), which means it can be used to provide consistent, rapid cooling by evaporation. The liquid helium absorbs heat from the MRI machine, which causes it to evaporate and carry that heat away. This cycle can be repeated over and over again to remove heat energy and keep the machinery properly cooled.