Datascope 90T Balloon Pump Helium Supply

Some of the misconceptions operators have about their equipment are quite interesting. A while back we ran into a case of near paranoia about keeping enough helium on hand to power our intra-aortic balloon pumps (our hospital uses the Datascope model 90T) . Yes, I said POWER, one department thought the helium tank somehow powered the device. My assurances that the tanks will last quite a long time did not seem to be too comforting, so I did some research, after finding nothing in the operators or service manuals on the subject, I called Datascope and received the desired information. After a brief inservice on changing tanks, and using the small (backup) tank, the following information was provided to the appropriate departments to post:

LARGE HELIUM TANK:

LIFE: Will run balloon pump for approx 4000 hours of continuous pumping (2000 autofill cycles)

REPLACE: When pressure gauge drops below 70 PSI

NOTE: Pressure gauge will read 80 PSI from when tank is new, until it is nearly empty.

SMALL HELIUM TANK:

LIFE: Will run balloon pump for approx 280 hours (140 autofill cycles). New tank will read 140 PSI on guage.

REPLACE: When pressure gauge drops below 20 PSI.

HELIUM USE:

The balloon pumps consume helium at a very slow rate. Helium is only drawn from the tank during fill cycles, which are performed when pumping is started, and at 2 hour intervals (autofill). Each cycle uses only enough helium to fill the balloon. A low helium tank will still run the pump for a significant period of time.