Medical Technology Associates: Operating Room Testing Services

Laminar Flow Survey

WHAT IS A LAMINAR FLOW SYSTEM?
The laminar flow ventilation system was developed to provide a method of controlling the transport of air contamination by introducing the supply air into the operating room at low uniform velocities promoting a stable downward flow of air. The most effective laminar flow ventilation system would have the entire ceiling consisting of laminar flow diffusers to prevent entrainment. A complete ceiling of laminar flow panels would require much more air to develop a proper air pattern than is required to achieve the specified number of air changes per hour. The high air change rates required to produce laminar flow over the entire room normally rule out this system due to high energy costs.

By reducing the area of laminar airflow to the critical zone around the operating table, the total air requirements of the system can be reduced. Although laminar flow diffusers discharge air at low face velocity, some entrainment of room air still occurs. This entrainment, in combination with the temperature differential of the supply air, causes the air pattern to angle towards the center of the discharge air envelope. As a result, the clean zone is reduced as the distance from the face of the diffuser is increased. This should be considered whey laying out the location for the laminar flow diffusers.

MTA offers comprehensive testing, certification, and maintenance of unidirectional flow devices (laminar flow units or clean benches). Our skilled technicians are authorized to perform warranty repairs for all major equipment manufacturers. All testing is perfomed in accordance with established TSS standard operation procedures (SOPs), which are updated to remain compliant with federal and international safety guidelines, current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), and quality assurance systems.

Unidirectional flow devices are testing in accordance with IEST.