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Gas delivery units designed to deliver heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen (usually 20 to 30% in volume). These delivery units should accurately determine the flow and volume of heliox, a low-density and high-thermal-conductivity gas; they must also provide low leakage for very low-density gases, including the gas source (typically a gas cylinder) and the devices used for connection to the patient airways (e.g., tubing). Heliox delivery units may also include dedicated software with appropriate algorithms for the automated calculation of heliox flow and volume. The units may be used as components of intensive care mechanical ventilators that can usually deliver other breathing gases such as oxygen and air or for noninvasive use through sealed masks to patients that can breathe spontaneously. They are frequently combined with a nebulizer for additional administration of medications.
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