As at June 2020, many hospitals are housing far more ICU beds than normal. Many may also be using new makes or models of ventilators they are unfamiliar with. In order to work out the total amount of oxygen required under these changed circumstances, it is necessary to know how to calculate the oxygen consumption for a particular ventilator.

While the basic principle applies to most makes and models, the calculation depends on several parameters that may differ.
To calculate the estimated oxygen consumption for your Hamilton Medical ventilator, you need to take these parameters into account:
- Fraction of inspired oxygen (%Oxygen)
- Expiratory minute volume (ExpMinVol) (x2 for patients < 8 kg)
- Base flow (see table below)
- In the case of leaks: leak flow (Mvleak)
The calculation is as follows:
(ExpMinVol + Base flow + MVleak) * ((%Oxygen – 20.9) / 79.1)
Base flow rates for Hamilton Medical ventilators
Patient group | HAMILTON-C1/T1/MR1 | HAMILTON-C2/C3/C6 | HAMILTON-G5/S1 |
---|---|---|---|
Adult/pediatric | 3 l/min | 6 l/min | Flow trigger setting ≤ 2 l/min: 4 l/min Flow trigger setting > 2 l/min: 2*Flow trigger IntelliSync+: variable Range: 2 to 30 l/min |
Neonatal | 4 l/min | 6 l/min | Flow trigger setting ≤ 1 l/min: 2 l/min Flow trigger setting > 1 l/min: 2*Flow trigger (max. 6 l/min) Range: 2 to 6 l/min |
All | Not applicable | Not applicable | Pressure trigger or trigger off: 1 l/min |
Note: This calcuation provides you with an estimate only and the actual consumption may be higher.
Tip: HAMILTON-C1/T1/MR1 ventilators offer oxygen consumption as a measured parameter. When activated, the O2 consumption is displayed in the System > Info window.
Example: Calculation of the estimated oxygen requirement for a HAMILTON-C1 ventilator based on the following parameters:
Expiratory minute volume (ExpMinVol) | 8 l/min |
Total minute volume leakage (MVleak) | 1 l/min |
Base flow | 3 l/min |
Set duration (FiO2) | 60% |
Planned duration of transport | 120 min |
O2 consumption (in l/min): (8.0 l/min + 3.0 l/min + 1.0 l/min) * (60.0 – 20.9) / 79.1 = 5.93 l/min
Total oxygen requirement (in liters) for 120 minutes: 5.93 l/min * 120 = 711.6 liters
Therefore, the estimated oxygen consumption for the planned transport duration of 2 hours is approximately 712 liters.
Disclaimer:
The content of this Knowledge Base is intended for informational purposes only. Hamilton Medical AG provides no warranty with respect to the information contained in this Knowledge Base and reliance on any part of this information is solely at your own risk. For detailed instructions on operating your Hamilton Medical device, please refer to the official Hamilton Medical Operator’s Manual for the respective device.
Disclaimer:
The content of this Knowledge Base is intended for informational purposes only. Medin Medical AG provides no warranty with respect to the information contained in this Knowledge Base and reliance on any part of this information is solely at your own risk. For detailed instructions on operating your Medin Medical device, please refer to the official Medin Medical Operator’s Manual for the respective device.