Medical Equipment News

There are dozens of units in today’s market for anesthesia machines, and with the ocean of features, accessories and technical jargon surrounding the field, narrowing such a broad market of equipment to the unit that’s right for your practice can prove a challenging feat. The first step in shopping for a new or refurbished anesthesia machine is research – knowing which words to use and what questions to ask. So in this post, we’re going to analyze the traits of the modern anesthesia machine and the vocabulary used to describe them.

To make this analysis as helpful and applicable to your shopping experience as possible, we’re going to compare two of the industry’s leading units: the DRE Integra SP I and the DRE Integra SP II, both available at DRE’s Home Page. We’ve chosen these two units for comparison because they each have a versatile array of features that make them both appropriate for small and large facilities alike, while remaining economical enough for practices of any size to afford. So, now that we’ve selected our specimen, let the analysis commence.

Size and Mobility Possibly the most decisive factor when choosing an anesthesia machine, the size of the machine should be determined by the workspace in which it is used and how often it must be moved. Upright anesthesia machines are inherently large so that controls and gauges are at appropriate viewing heights, but the scale upon which they are built varies from unit to unit. For instance, the Integra SP II is a full 8 inches wider than it’s SP I counterpart. The cause of this discrepancy is rooted in the features each unit offers, but we’ll get to that later; for the time being, size is all that matters. Thus, it is easy to see why some practitioners may prefer the SP I to the SP II: it’s slimmer and lighter – 50 pounds lighter to be exact. Though the SP II is among the lightest and most agile units in its class (200 lbs) due to its lightweight cast aluminum construction, the smaller SP I weighs in at just 150 pounds. While most anyone can roll 200 pounds with relative ease, if speed and frequency of movement are imperative in your practice you may want to consider the lighter, smaller unit.

Conversely, if available space is your priority, a larger unit like the SP II would certainly be optimal. With just under 400 square inches of shelf space, nearly 350 square inches of work space and 3 spacious built-in drawers, the SP II offers more than enough room for access and storage. Even if you plan to rarely move the unit, it is important to ensure the unit you purchase is equipped to accommodate mobility. Both the Integra SP I and SP II are outfitted with side handles and four 5″ anti-static castors equipped with front wheel brakes.