Adapting medical cannulas to work with an EDS?

[Bill G]

Has anyone figured this out? I want to be able to have cannulas for all my clients for flying near Aspen, but $8 a pop for someone who may only use it once is pricy. I noticed medical cannulas are only about $2-3. Has anyone figured an way to adapt them to an EDS?

Thanks!

[jfitch]

On Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 8:39:18 PM UTC-7, Bill G wrote:
> Has anyone figured this out? I want to be able to have cannulas for all my clients for flying near Aspen, but $8 a pop for someone who may only use it once is pricy. I noticed medical cannulas are only about $2-3. Has anyone figured an way to adapt them to an EDS?
>
> Thanks!

I've never used anything else. What's the problem? You have to adapt to a piece of stiff tube that fits the EDS output, using normal barb hose adapters.

[2KA]

Uh... not to sound to dumb, but where do you get exactly the right piece of stiff tube and the "normal" barb hose adapters?

Lynn Alley
"2KA"

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

Try a local medical supply, or, WWGraingers or McMaster-Carr. Just need to get some dimensions.

[Craig Reinholt]

On Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 8:39:18 PM UTC-7, Bill G wrote:
> Has anyone figured this out? I want to be able to have cannulas for all my clients for flying near Aspen, but $8 a pop for someone who may only use it once is pricy. I noticed medical cannulas are only about $2-3. Has anyone figured an way to adapt them to an EDS?
>
> Thanks!

/shrug
Perhaps a $1.96 quart of 70% isopropyl alcohol from Walmart to soak them in before being used again might do the trick?

[[email protected]]

EDS will sell you the needed bits. One of their cannulas is just a medical one with the proper bits on the end. I don't have mine in front of me but I think all you do cut off the medical connector end then plug the bare hose into the barb that comes with the EDS cannula.

But as someone else said, you can also get a box of alcohol wipes and clean it between passengers.

5Z

On Friday, June 23, 2017 at 1:13:29 PM UTC-7, 2KA wrote:
> Uh... not to sound to dumb, but where do you get exactly the right piece of stiff tube and the "normal" barb hose adapters?
>
> Lynn Alley
> "2KA"

[Tango Whisky]

That's exactly what I do. All I need for adaption is a pocket knife.

Bert TW

[[email protected]]

Be selective in the cannula you pick from medical supply companies. Some have plastic tubing that is ribbed internally to keep it from collapsing if kinked. These will NOT seal to a round tube or hose barb.

[jodom]

I would not suggest mixing medical cannabis and aviation.

[[email protected]]

And for decent cannolis, try a good Italian restaurant. But they won't help in preventing hypoxia.

[Bret Hess]

On Amazon, you can buy a 50-pack for 40 cents each.

[NG[_2_]]

On Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 11:39:18 PM UTC-4, Bill G wrote:
> Has anyone figured this out? I want to be able to have cannulas for all my clients for flying near Aspen, but $8 a pop for someone who may only use it once is pricy. I noticed medical cannulas are only about $2-3. Has anyone figured an way to adapt them to an EDS?
>
> Thanks!

I've flown overseas where it is considered normal to just cut a medical cannula tube to double arm's length, warm up the end slightly one time, press to fit directly onto the EDS regulator fitting, done. Never had a leak or problem, attaches and releases normally, though probably not 'approved'.

[Bill G]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I like the idea of just heating it and form fitting it. Still confused in where to find a piece of right size to adapt into the EDS however. If anyone can suggest a place or knows the dimensions please post! Happy Fourth of July!!

[jfitch]

On Monday, July 3, 2017 at 2:08:59 PM UTC-7, Bill G wrote:
> Thanks for all the great suggestions! I like the idea of just heating it and form fitting it. Still confused in where to find a piece of right size to adapt into the EDS however. If anyone can suggest a place or knows the dimensions please post! Happy Fourth of July!!

I had trouble with 'any old cannula' on my new EDS. The old EDS (original black box) worked flawlessly no matter what or how you connected it. I put the cannula I had been using with the old one on a brand new EDS, it beeped annoyingly practically the entire flight, pulsing oxygen at seemly random intervals. Only with very deliberate breathing could it be made to stop beeping and work. The instructions specifically say to use the supplied cannula, and not to alter its length. Next day I tried the old one on the ground, it seemed to work fine. I plugged in the new one that came with it, it seemed to work fine as well. I flew the next two days with the new one and it worked flawlessly.

I'm not sure what my conclusion is other than maybe some don't work with the new EDS boxes. And try it on the ground before you fly.

[Vaughn Simon[_2_]]

On 7/4/2017 10:26 AM, jfitch wrote:
> On Monday, July 3, 2017 at 2:08:59 PM UTC-7, Bill G wrote:
>> Thanks for all the great suggestions! I like the idea of just heating it and form fitting it. Still confused in where to find a piece of right size to adapt into the EDS however. If anyone can suggest a place or knows the dimensions please post! Happy Fourth of July!!
>
> I had trouble with 'any old cannula' on my new EDS. The old EDS (original black box) worked flawlessly no matter what or how you connected it. I put the cannula I had been using with the old one on a brand new EDS, it beeped annoyingly practically the entire flight, pulsing oxygen at seemly random intervals. Only with very deliberate breathing could it be made to stop beeping and work. The instructions specifically say to use the supplied cannula, and not to alter its length. Next day I tried the old one on the ground, it seemed to work fine. I plugged in the new one that came with it, it seemed to work fine as well. I flew the next two days with the new one and it worked flawlessly.
>
> I'm not sure what my conclusion is other than maybe some don't work with the new EDS boxes. And try it on the ground before you fly.
>
> ---
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>
I would like to hear from EDS some logical reason why their unit won't
work with any common medical cannula. Pulse oxygen delivery technology
is very common in the medical world these days. In fact, it's become a
consumer item and I can testify that those units "just work". Further,
they have only gotten better over the last decade or so. Perhaps it's
time for EDS to update their technology?

[[email protected]]

Vaughn- you are being a bit harsh about Mountain High's EDS unit and the technology required. Remember that this is intended for aviation use and not Grandma in the nursing home. Delivery in a constant environment is simple, whereas delivery on an altitude compensated system where the primary objective is oxygen conservation is more complex. Medical systems are designed to provide sufficient O2 under the "more is better" protocol. MH patented the altitude compensation part of the pulse delivery system, which is why they do not have any significant competition. I say "Good on Ya! and happily utilize the products. If it takes a special cannula, well that's OK by me. It is, after all, just my brain. And I abuse it pretty regularly with beer. Spending a bit extra for my flying safety is OK. It's one thing to be cheap with wing tape, but O2 delivery is somewhat more important to me.