Puritan Bennett 840: Key Maintenance Procedures

The Puritan Bennett 840 is a great respiratory ventilator option for hospitals of any size. As a high-volume ventilator that is easy to use, the PB 840 can be found in ICU's, NICU's, Respiratory Therapy Units, and other critical care environments all over the world.  

When it comes to day-to-day testing and maintenance of the PB 840, respiratory therapists are trained to handle most common procedures. During times of peak use (e.g. flu season or the current COVID-19 outbreak), it is helpful for other hospital staff to have a basic understanding of respiratory ventilator options and maintenance. I've put together this handy video guide to help you learn a few essential procedures for maintaining your facility's fleet of Puritan Bennett 840 Respiratory Ventilators. 

Puritan Bennett 840: Key Maintenance Procedures 

Perform a Short Self-Test (SST)  
Perform an Extended Self-Test (EST)  
Replace an O2 Cell  
Install a 10K Kit 

Watch the video above to learn how to complete these basic procedures. 

Perform a Short Self-Test (SST) 

Before performing an SST, be sure to install the expiratory and inspiratory bacteria filters in place and hook up a standard adult circuit. I also recommend making sure you have a plug for blocking the Y during the SST and EST procedures. This will free up your hands to go through the test steps. Once you have your materials in place, begin the SST test by selecting that option and following the prompts. An SST should be performed between each patient. 

Perform an Extended Self-Test (EST) 

An EST is a much lengthier process than a typical SST and should be performed at least every six months. During an EST, the ventilator goes through a more rigorous testing process where the alarm indicators, LED function, battery, compressor, and other key functions are assessed. 

Replace an O2 Cell 

There are two different methods to replace an O2 cell, depending on the age of the Puritan Bennett 840 unit in your facility. Regardless of the age of your unit, it is crucial to exercise caution when screwing in the O2 cell to your ventilator. Keep in mind that the O2 cell has plastic threads and is screwed onto the housing that has metal threads. Be careful not to cross-thread the unit, which can lead to leaks. 

Install a 10K Kit 

Installing a 10K Kit on a Puritan Bennett 840 is a pretty simple procedure. Each kit consists of a spring, a center filter, an oxygen inlet filter, and a water trap filter. Whenever you replace one of these kits, be sure to fill out the PM label so the next technician can know when the kit was last serviced. 

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