Gas Blenders, Heater-Coolers and Cardioplegia
This course is designed to equip future cardiopulmonary bypass and ECMO equipment technicians with comprehensive understanding and hands-on expertise regarding three pivotal device categories: medical gas blenders, patient temperature management systems (heater-coolers), and cardioplegia delivery apparatus. Students will explore the principles of operation, intricate mechanical and electrical components, safety features, routine maintenance protocols, and advanced troubleshooting techniques for each system. Emphasis will be placed on proper setup, calibration verification, quality control procedures, and common failure modes. The curriculum integrates didactic instruction with practical laboratory sessions and culminates in a service project, ensuring technicians are fully prepared to support these vital technologies in a clinical setting, upholding patient safety and operational readiness.
InstructorJacob CalhounPrerequisites
Course outline
Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.
Syllabus
["Week 1: Lesson 1: Introduction to Medical Gas Systems & Blenders","Week 2: Lesson 2: Principles of Gas Mixing, Flow Control & Oxygen Delivery","Week 3: Lesson 3: Advanced Gas Blender Technologies & Safety Interlocks","Week 4: Hands-on Lab: Gas Blender Operation, Calibration & Troubleshooting","Week 5: Lesson 5: Foundations of Thermoregulation in Cardiopulmonary Support","Week 6: Lesson 6: Heater-Cooler System Design, Components & Fluid Dynamics","Week 7: Lesson 7: Heater-Cooler Operation, Maintenance & Infection Control Principles","Week 8: Hands-on Lab: Heater-Cooler Setup, Disinfection & Midterm Review","Week 9: Lesson 9: Introduction to Cardioplegia Delivery Systems & Myocardial Protection","Week 10: Lesson 10: Perfusion Modalities, Solution Preparation & Delivery Techniques","Week 11: Hands-on Lab: Cardioplegia System Assembly, Priming & Operational Checks","Week 12: Lesson 12: Advanced Troubleshooting for Blenders, Heater-Coolers & Cardioplegia Systems","Week 13: Lesson 13: Regulatory Compliance, Documentation & Quality Assurance for Support Devices","Week 14: Capstone Service Project: Integrated System Checkout & Simulation"]