Medical Nitrogen (N2)
Nitrogen (N2) constitutes 78% of air by volume. It is a ‘permanent gas’, colourless, tasteless, odourless, and non-combustible. N₂ is very inert in a free state and incapable of supporting life, is intensely cold in a liquid state reaching -196 ˚C. One volume of Liquid Nitrogen gives approximately 700 volumes of gas at ambient conditions. N₂ forms many important compounds, such as Ammonia, Nitric Acid, and the Cyanides and is a constituent of all organised living tissues, animal or vegetable.
• Freezing and preserving blood, tissues, semen and other biological specimens.
• Cryosurgery and cryopreservation
• A source of pneumatic pressure to power gas-operated medical devices
• As a coolant for Carbon Dioxide surgical lasers.
• As a component in many gas mixtures:
A displacement medium for sterile equipment.
A non-oxidizing displacement medium in pharmaceutical vials.
A propellant in pressurised aerosol type dispensers