Stephan ABV

The Fritz Stephan GmbH company has been creating ventilation devices in Germany since 1974. Stephan ABV is an important medical device used when people go under anesthesia for surgery or have an upper-respiratory infection like COVID-19 and need the help of mechanical breathing to keep them alive. Stephan ABV ventilators are sometimes necessary in the medical field, therefore, correct care and maintenance are needed to keep these machines running properly. Situations that this device may not be needed are when a patient can breathe independently or when non-invasive methods are sufficient for their care.

The Stephan ABV ventilators have a respiratory module system that has both electronic and pneumatic components. They also have components that monitor anesthetic gases, oxygen concentration, and ventilation parameters. This respirator ABV-A is used for both adults and children in the case of respiration. This device is considered a semi-closed system, which means that it can be easily taken apart and cleaned to keep the device sterile.

Sources:

Franks Hospital Workshop User Manual Stephan ABV

Stephan GmbH Official Website Enterprise page

• The Stephan ABV A-U ventilator has a width of 530mm, a height of 120mm, a weight of 12kg, and its front-to-back size is 280mm. The device has two modules/units: the respirator and the patient component. The first unit, the respirator, is located on top and is a rectangular unit that lies horizontally. The other unit, the patient component, is longer and placed vertically underneath the other unit.

• The respirator module has an electronic control unit and a pneumatic unit. The respirator is controlled by a 230V/50 c.p.s. voltage line. The electronic component of the Stephan ABV has different tasks divided into 4 printed circuits. The circuits include: users circuit, analogue circuit, CPU circuit, and power supply circuit. The pneumatic unit pushes out compressed air that is on a 3-5 bar (1).

• On the upper left-hand corner of the ventilator unit, there will be a “Stephan” brand symbol. This is how you can verify you are working with a Stephan company device. On the upper, left side of the respirator, you find the “ON/OFF” switch. On the front face of the device, there should be a pressure monitoring gauge in the shape of a circle, called the manometer.

• The respiration parameters are adjusted at the respirator; there are several dials on the device. According to the Stephan ABV manual, the first two dials are located in the center of the top unit, (2) Breathing/time ratio, (3) frequency. (4) includes three smaller dials located on the right side of the top unit, Min. / Max. Pressure / Sensitivity. (5) Volume, is located to the far left. The last two dials are located on the bottom unit, called the Patient component. There is where dial (6) PEEP and (7) Plateau are located. The patient component is long and is placed vertically in order to incorporate the Tidal-Volume from 0-1500 ml.

• Other models similar to Stephan ABV include: EVE, SOPHIE & STEPHANIE.

Sources:

Stephan ABV Service Manual

Medacx.co.uk Product Stephan Ventilators page

Measurements

Width:  530mm

Height:  120mm

Front-to-back size:  280mm

Weight:  12kg

Fuses:  2 x 0.5 A trg.

            3 x 20mm

Line voltage:  230 V / 50 c.p.s.

Absorption of power:  18 VA

Respiration frequency:  6 - 60 breaths per minute

Breathing/time ratio:  insp. : exp. from 1 : 4 to 2 : 1

Pneumatometer:  -10 - 60 millibar

                           excess-pressure proof to 600 millibar

Power outage alarm:  acoustic for at least 30 sec.

Pressure Monitor 

Measuring range:  0 - 60 millibar

Measuring accuracy:  +/- 1 %

Measuring principle:  piezoresistent pressure pick-up

Excess pressure alarm

limit value adjustable: from 5 - 60 millibar

Minimum pressure alarm

limit value adjustable:  from 5 - 25 millibar

Alarm for

- excess pressure:  LED, red, visual

- minimum pressure:  LED, flashing red, visual

- acoustic alarm:   electronic, can be suppressed for 2 minutes

Source:

Stephan ABV Service Manual

•   Stephan GmbH Website: This is the official website for all Fritz Stephan GmbH products, the same maker of the Stephan ABV device.

•   Frank Hospital Workshop - Operating Instructions: This is an online PDF manual for Stephan ABV Ventilators. It explains how to operate the device.

•  Very Well Health Website: This webpage explains why ventilators are needed such as during surgery or when a patient has an upper-respiratory infection such as COVID-19.