AirLife Nafion EtCO2 Sampling Tubing for High Humidity and Extended Use

Nafion is a selective polymer tubing used in the EtCO2 sample path for moisture management. Water vapor moves through the Nafion wall toward drier surrounding air, while the CO2 sample continues down the lumen to the monitor.² That reduces condensate forming inside the line (rainout) during extended monitoring, humidified oxygen, high-humidity environments, and longer ground or air transport—conditions where standard sample tubing is more likely to collect water and degrade the EtCO2 waveform. AirLife specifies Nafion options for extended use and high-humidity applications.²

Rainout is condensate that forms in the EtCO2 sample tubing when humid exhaled gas cools in the line. It can obstruct or dilute the sample and degrade the waveform. Nafion tubing is specified by AirLife for moisture management in high-humidity and extended-use settings.²

Not always. For short monitoring intervals in controlled environments, standard filtered lines may be enough. Stock Nafion for humidified care, longer continuous monitoring, and extended ground or air transport.

Non-intubated patients: divided EtCO2/O2 cannula with Nafion (e.g. 4MSF1-L). Intubated patients: sampling line with 15 mm ETT adapter and Nafion (e.g. 4MSF5-L).²

This is the AirLife Reflective Series EtCO2 connector (SalterSTAT reflective), used with sidestream monitors that require a reflective gas-sample connection—not a standard Luer-only sample port.^C1 Common reflective-compatible platforms include:

• Stryker / Physio-Control LIFEPAK 12, 15, 20, 20e, and 35
• ZOLL Propaq and X Series
• Philips Tempus (and other Philips reflective-port configurations)
• Other reflective-port monitors in the AirLife compatibility set, including selected Philips, Medtronic / Covidien Microstream, Mindray, Datascope, HP, and Respironics systems

Always confirm your monitor’s sample-inlet type and cable before stocking; reflective lines will not fit a plain Luer inlet without the correct adapter path.