1. When I close my regulation knob, why doesn't the vacuum completely shut off?

Most likely, the quad ring has been damaged. Replace the quad ring and recheck.

2. Do you have fittings to adapt your regulators to our current system?

We have patient and wall fittings for all types of connections. They are sold separately but can be attached to the regulator before shipping unless otherwise specified.

3. What are the specific design benefits of the pediatric regulators?

The Pediatric Regulators have a range of 0-100 mm Hg, as opposed to 0-200 mm Hg. They are designed without the option of applying full line vacuum. There is no "Line" mode on either of the models that feature selector valves. As with all Boehringer regulators, their construction allows many methods of sterilization (see below), which is a key feature for infection control concerns.

4. How do you disinfect the regulators?

One of the most valuable safety features of Boehringer Laboratories' Suction Regulators is their all-metal construction. This construction allows many different types of disinfection methods: Autoclave, ethylene oxide gas and Sterrad®. It is important to clean the regulator components prior to exposure to disinfection cycles.

5. Why don't you set the timing to the industry standard: 15 and 7?

The timing of Boehringer Intermitting Regulators is factory-adjusted to approx. 4 seconds off/ 8 seconds on at a typical hospital supply. The "ON " time should be a short as necessary to provide effective drainage. Time settings in a clinical environment are sometimes adjusted to 8-10 seconds "ON".

Boehringer regulators can be easily adjusted by the clinical staff should a longer time cycle be clinically indicated. Competitive models are not easily adjusted by the clinical staff and are typically set-up to accommodate the longest "ON" time that is expected.

6. I am turning the high-pressure regulator up as high as it goes, but it stops at 550 mm Hg. Why won't it go to 760 mm Hg?

The maximum indicated output of the high-pressure regulator cannot exceed the vacuum available at the wall outlet. In this scenario, the system itself is only providing 550 mm Hg vacuum.

7. What do I do if the needle on the gauge appears to be stuck and won't go back to zero?

Minor adjustments (<40 mm Hg) are made by removing the plug in the window of the gauge and adjusting the zero position of the pointer with a screwdriver. Major adjustments (>40 mmHg) require factory calibration.

8. Why do the 3700 series have a different looking gauge than any of the others I have seen?

Our patented linear design has distinct advantages for accuracy and durability. It is a rugged, yet simple mechanism that never requires calibration, will not travel beyond zero and will provide consistently accurate readings. The linear design provides a very robust gauge that and is intended to tolerate a wide range of abuse in the clinical environment.

9. Who performs repairs on Boehringer equipment?

Because of our personal commitment to quality, our factory is the only authorized service center for our suction regulators and other instruments. Contact us at 800-642-4945 for a Return Authorization Number.

Ship to:Boehringer Laboratories, Inc.
Attn: Repair Department, 500 East Washington Street, Norristown, PA 19401

Please be sure to mark the RA# on the outside of the package.

10. How long will it take if I send a regulator in to the factory for repair?

Generally, our repair turnaround for products under warranty is 5 days.

11. Can I buy Boehringer regulators through a distributor?

You may order direct from the factory or, if you prefer, you may call the factory for a distributor in your area.

12. What is the warranty on your suction regulators?

Our 3700 Series regulators carry a 10 YEAR Warranty.

Our 7700 Series regulators carry a 5 YEAR Warranty on the body and 1 year warranty on the gauge.

13. What, if anything, could I be charged for in the next 10 years?

We do charge a fee for decontaminating devices that are sent in for repair. You should always be sure to clean the inside of the regulator before shipping. Also, evidence of abuse may result in charges for repair.

14 .Do you have a fee for doing repair estimates? Is this fee refundable if we repair the unit?

We charge a $25 fee for our repair estimates. We will always call with an estimate before performing any repair that is not covered under warranty. If the customer approves the repair, the estimate fee is waived.

15. Are you on Premier Contract?

At this time, we are not under contract with Premier.

16. What does it mean when you say that your intermitting regulators "vent to atmosphere"?

The design of Models 7702L, 3704, and 3714 utilizes large ports to effectively return the collection circuit to atmosphere, thus allowing fluid backflow to irrigate the catheter tip.

17. The ASTM recommendation for gastric drainage is 10 LPM, do Boehringer regulators meet this recommendation?

Boehringer intermitting regulators will exceed a 10 LPM flow rate.

The reason for the ASTM recommendation is based on more of a historical convention than a clinical need. The older Wagensteen apparatus that were employed in gastric drainage were typically low air flow devices. This low air flow has been adopted by some manufacturers.

Presumably, there is some concern that rapid decompression of the gastric space creates a comfort issue for the patient. In the twelve or more years that Boehringer has been selling Intermitting Regulators, there has never been a complaint of patient discomfort.

There have been theoretical concerns raised such as this. In a clinical setting, the fluid flow through the catheter is always the rate-limiting characteristic. Any decompression that could be imposed upon the gastric space will be significantly affected by the much slower flow of viscous fluid in the collection tube or catheter. We believe that a high flow to the canister should affect more effective drainage from the space since the canister will reach the suction setting quicker thus initiating the movement of fluid through the line sooner.

18. Is annual lubrication of your regulators recommended?

We recommend that each institution determine a maintenance schedule based upon an initial annual inspection and verification of function. This is a very typical and reasonable recommendation. We also instruct how to clean and service regulators that become contaminated. A part of this servicing is lubrication. Obviously, this would only be done in instances where a significant event occurred such as complete fouling of the unit with aspirate. Please note that this capability does not exist on many other competitive products.

19. When I first set up a regulator in the intermittent mode, I find the high pressure limit can be exceeded as much as 4 times the setting I have designated, why is this happening?

What you describe here is most likely an overshoot of the indicated output when the Intermitter cycles on. This occurs when there is no collection circuit attached to the regulator and the inlet to the regulator is occluded. Attaching a canister to the regulator inlet should prevent this occurrence.

20. We often hear Boehringer refer to "Droop." What is droop and how is it relative to promoting Boehringer Suction Regulators?

Accuracy of regulation depends primarily on gauge accuracy and ability to provide a consistent level of vacuum under changing flow conditions, which we measure and specify as "droop".

"Droop" is the variation in the vacuum as flow changes from a flowing condition to an occluded condition. We measure droop as the change in vacuum measured from full flow to dead-ended on a typical collection circuit with a 14 French catheter.

In other words, with a regulator set at 100 mm Hg, occlude the 14 Fr. catheter. The change in gauge indication is defined as droop.

Involuntary pneumatic biopsy, or tissue damage, can occur when high levels of vacuum are applied to delicate tissue. With a Boehringer regulator, you can depend on very low "droop" compared to our competitor's models.

Our regulators are checked on the assembly line to meet a specification of less than 10 mm Hg droop at a 100 mm Hg setting. We have made a sizeable investment in regulator design to achieve this safety feature.

The practical application of this feature is simply stated: An evaluation of a regulator's droop allows one to determine whether the device is truly "regulating" or if it is functioning as a needle valve. A safe and reliable regulator should regulate to its set position regardless of pressure changes.