ADVANCED HOME CARE Helios User manual

Liquid Oxygen- Helios & Helios Marathon
A Guide for Patients in the Home
Contact Name: _____________________________
Phone number: _____________________________

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Table of Contents
Contents
Receiving Liquid Oxygen in the Home ............................................. 2
Instructions for Liquid Oxygen-Helios in the Home.......................... 3
Checking the contents and attaching the nasal cannula. ................. 5
REFILLING YOUR PORTABLE UNIT.................................................... 7
Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................... 10
Troubleshooting............................................................................ 12
Troubleshooting continued.. ......................................................... 13
How to replace the 9-volt battery in the Helios stationary. ........... 14
Moisture Container:...................................................................... 15

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Receiving Liquid Oxygen in the Home
our doctor has ordered for you to receive Liquid Oxygen at
home. Receiving Liquid Oxygen in the home is safe and
effective. We would like to share some basic information with
you in this booklet. Please contact your local Advanced Home Care
branch if you have more questions.
What you should expect?
Liquid Oxygen is very cold and can cause injury and damage if not used
properly. You will still have an oxygen concentrator for use while at
home. The Liquid Oxygen stationary unit may be set-up in a garage,
breezeway or basement out of the way, and will be used as your
portable. Liquid oxygen should not be set-up in areas where heat may
be excessive. Liquid Oxygen is cooled to -170C degrees. It becomes a
liquid that is light blue in color.
What can I expect after Liquid Oxygen is set-up in the home?
You will receive a bi-weekly call from our Oxygen Follow-up
team. You will be asked how much oxygen is in your
stationary. How to read the stationary will be covered later in
this guide.
You will need to go to your doctor appointments as
scheduled.
Always use oxygen at the prescribed amount and duration.
For example: 2 liters continuous (all the time)
or: 1 liter PRN (as needed)
Chapter
1
ICON KEY
What to Expect
What to do
Questions & Answers
Y

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Instructions for Liquid Oxygen-Helios in the
Home
What you should do?
USING THE Liquid Oxygen Helios portable. You will
need to determine which Liquid Oxygen reservoir
you have received. Both the Companion and Helios
reservoir will fill the Helios Liquid Oxygen portable.
Let us review the Helios Liquid Oxygen
stationary.
Chapter
2
Liquid Oxygen Fill Connector:
Used to fill the Helios
portable with liquid oxygen.
Contents Indicator: Displays
amount of liquid oxygen
remaining in the Reservoir.
Moisture Container: Used to
collect water that may
accumulate.
Release Button: Used to
disengage the portable
from the reservoir after
filling.

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Let us review the Companion Liquid Oxygen stationary.
How do I read the contents
indicator?
If you have the Helios statinonary tank, you will need to
see how many green lights apear. Press the blue button
to see the lights. The Helios has eight lights. As you use
the liquid oxygen conteitns, the number of lights shown
will decrease.
If you have the Companion liquid oxygen stationary, you
will need to see how far down the green line is.
1/1- Full
½- Half full
0- Empty, you will need a refill.
Liquid Oxygen Fill Connector:
Used to fill the Helios
portable with liquid oxygen.
Release Button: Used to
disengage the portable
from the reservoir after
filling.
Contents Indicator:
Displays amount of
liquid oxygen
remaining in the
Reservoir.
This gauge indicates that this particular stationary is ½ full.

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Checking the contents and attaching the nasal
cannula.
The following step-by-step instructions will help you operate your
portable liquid oxygen unit.
Step 1: Check the amount of liquid oxygen in your unit. The Helios
liquid oxygen portable contents are checked just like a produce
scale in a supermarket. Hold the strap with one hand. Allow the
weight of the contents to pull the portable down towards the
ground. When the portable unit is not in use, the liquid oxygen it
contains will evaporate within 24 hours. Be sure your unit has
enough oxygen in it to accommodate your expected usage time. If
your Helios portable needs to be filled, continue to Step 1 on page
6.

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Step 2: Attach the oxygen tubing to the oxygen outlet on the side
of the unit.
Step 3: Adjust the oxygen flow by turning the knob until the
prescribed liter number appears and the switch clicks into position.
Be sure not to set the control knob between number positions or
no oxygen will flow. Your doctor has prescribed the oxygen flow
rate for you. Never change this liter flow without instructions
Helios Marathon- Counter
clockwise is continuous mode.
Clockwise is conserving. DO NOT
USE setting unless you have talked
to your doctor.
Note: Dual-Lumen Cannula
An oxygen cannula delivers oxygen from the
portable unit to your nose. The cannula has two
connections. One is to sense when you inhale, the
other is to deliver oxygen to you while you inhale.

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from your doctor.
REFILLING YOUR PORTABLE UNIT
To refill your portable liquid oxygen unit from the stationary
reservoir, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Wipe the filling connectors on both the portable unit and
the stationary reservoir with a clean lint-free cloth. These fittings
must be dry. Moisture could cause the units to freeze together.
Helios Marathon Helios
Step 2: Turn the flow control knob on the portable unit OFF.

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Step 3: Attach the portable unit to the stationary reservoir at the
filling connectors. Center the portable unit connector over the
reservoir connector.
Step 4: Lower the unit into the shaped recess or onto the
connector. Once the unit is resting on the connector, hold down
firmly until the filling process is complete.
Step 5: Open the fill valve by pulling the fill lever down on the back
of your portable unit. This will start the filling process. About 30
seconds into the filling process, close and the vent lever one or
more times to break up any ice that may began to form around
the valve stem. This will help prevent the vent valve from freezing
open. As the unit is filling, you will hear a hissing noise. When the
unit is full, the hissing noise will change and you will see a small
cloud of white vapor at the connection. Always remain with the
units while filling.

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Fill time is approximately one minute for the Helios, and two
minutes for the Helios Marathon.
Step 6: When the unit is full, slowly close the fill valve.
Step 7: Disengage the portable unit from the stationary reservoir.
If the unit does not separate easily, do not force it. The units may
be frozen together.
Wait until the units warm up and they will separate easily.
DO NOT TOUCH any of the frosted parts of the connectors.
Liquid oxygen can cause frostbite to the skin.
Step 7: Reattach the nasal cannula to the oxygen outlet on the
portable unit. Your unit is now ready for use.
Liquid oxygen will slowly evaporate from a portable unit. To
avoid excess waste, fill the portable unit about an hour before
your outing.
Always keep your portable in an upright position or flat on its back
side . If the liquid portable is accidentally tipped in improper
position , you may hear hissing and see oxygen vapor escaping.
Always store the portable unit in a well-ventilated area.

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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions & Answers
Can I continue to lead a normal life with my oxygen?
Yes! You can still be active and mobile with your oxygen.
It is possible to continue working, shopping,
vacationing…do all the things you normally do!
What if I have difficulty breathing, even while using my
oxygen?
Difficulty breathing is not always associated with lack of
oxygen. It is true that your oxygen needs may change.
However, your physician should evaluate any shortness of
breath you may experience. You should NOT increase
your oxygen flow-rate without your physician’s
authorization.
Will I become addicted to oxygen if I use it
continuously?
No! Oxygen is not addicting. When oxygen is no longer
needed to supplement your body’s needs, your physician
will discontinue it.
Is oxygen a drug? Yes!
Oxygen is a drug and should only be used as instructed.
As with any drug, too much can be harmful and not
enough may not have the beneficial effect desired. Be
sure to always follow your physician’s instruction.
Chapter
3

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Will my oxygen tank explode?
No! Oxygen does not burn or explode. However, it does
support combustion and therefore, it causes materials to
burn faster.
What do I do if my nose gets dry?
Lubricate with Surgilube, nasal air jelly, or saline spray.
How can I clean the Helios portable or liquid oxygen
stationary?
Do NOT use alcohol, solvents, polishes, or any oily
substance on oxygen equipment. If cleaning is necessary,
use only warm water and a mild dish washing detergent.
Dampen a cloth in the detergent and water solution and
wipe the outside surfaces of the equipment until clean.
CAUTION
• Do not allow water into any of the controls, the fill
connector, or the oxygen supply connector.
• Never attempt to repair or disassemble this equipment.
You could create a hazardous condition or cause
equipment failure. If you have problems, questions, or
are unsure if equipment is operating properly, please
contact Advanced Home Care.

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Troubleshooting
Chapter
4
Trouble
Probable cause
Remedy
Liquid oxygen portable will
not allow any oxygen to
come out of the nasal
cannula.
•
The portable may have been overfilled.
•The liter flow is on “0”
•Nasal cannula is not on liquid portable
correctly.
•
Let the portable set for 45 minutes,
and attempt to use the portable
again.
•Set liter flow to prescribed amount.
•Place nasal cannula on liquid portable
correctly.
Liquid oxygen portable was
filled the night before and
is empty by the next day.
•
Liquid portable needs to be filled one
hour before using.
•
Never fill the liquid portable a day
ahead of time.
•
Liquid oxygen evaporates quickly.
Liquid oxygen portable
seems to not last as long as
it use to.
•
Patient may be taking more breaths.
•Portable is not filling up completely.
•
Other arrangements may have to be
made to accommodate the patient.
•Make sure the liquid portable is full
by checking for a hissing, gargling
noise while filling the liquid portable.
When I press the blue
button on the Helios tank,
nothing comes on.
•9 volt battery is dead.
•Replace 9 volt battery.
Liquid oxygen tank is
spraying out oxygen when
the liquid portable is taking
off the lox tank.
•
Crystals have formed around the filling
port.
•
Use a long stick, broom, to tap the
nipple on the filling port.
Liquid oxygen tank is
empty, but the patient has
only used it a hand full of
times.
•
Liquid oxygen evaporates quickly.
•
All liquid oxygen tanks will evaporate
about 1lb- 2lb a day.
Liquid oxygen tank
continues to make a
hissing sound.
•Liquid oxygen tank may have been just
filled by one of our liquid drivers.
•
Liquid driver has overfilled the lox tank.
•Allow liquid oxygen tank to set for 24-
48 hours. You may continue to fill
liquid portables.

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Troubleshooting continued..
A few things you should know about the filling ports above…….
#1, the Companion filling port. This will be the filling port
that you will find on the Companion 100lb and the 50lb
stationary. This port will fill any of the 4 liquid portables that
Advanced Home Care offers. You should have either the
Helios or Helios Marathon.
#2, the Helios Universal. This fill port will fill any liquid
oxygen portable that Advanced Home Care offers.
#3, the Helios non-universal. YOU MUST USE A HELIOS OR
HELIOS MARATHON BRAND LIQUID PORTABLE.

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How to replace the 9-volt battery in the Helios
stationary.
A yellow light appears on the Reservoir contents indicator when
the battery needs to be replaced. This should happen very seldom.
Advanced Home Care will change the battery on your next
scheduled refill date. If you need to see how much liquid oxygen is
in your stationary, you may use a coin to open the battery door as
shown above. Use only a 9-volt alkaline battery as pictured.

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Moisture Container:
If moisture is collected, empty by pulling out the moisture
container and pouring the water into a sink for disposal. To
reinstall the moisture container push it into the Reservoir housing
until it is held firmly in place. Empty the container when the water
reaches the full (1/1) line or water may spill onto your floor.