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Devices that continuously or intermittently administer nitrous oxide or a mixture of nitrous oxide and air to an individual to produce conscious sedation. Unlike general anesthesia units, nitrous oxide anesthesia units are not used in conjunction with vaporizers because nitrous oxide is already in a gaseous state at normal room temperatures and pressures. Nitrous oxide anesthesia units contain hardware that allows connection to a nitrous oxide gas tank or central nitrous oxide gas system in a wall unit and usually connect to a breathing circuit (typically a face mask) into which the anesthetic gas mixture is released. Flow regulators are used to regulate the amount of gas delivered and a gas scavenging system is usually included to help prevent the escape of exhaled gases. Nitrous oxide anesthesia units may be transportable (on rolling casters) or stationary (wall- or table-mounted) and are typically used during dental procedures or sometimes during obstetric labor and other medical procedures to relieve patient anxiety. Dedicated portable anesthesia units are also available for use in the field during military or emergency use with portable tanks of nitrous oxide.
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