Fluid flow regulator
First Claim
1. An anaesthetic gas flow regulator, comprising:
- an oxygen gas flow line adapted to be connected to a supply of oxygen;
an anaesthesia gas flow line adapted to be connected to a supply of anaesthesia gas;
first and second controllable valves operatively connected to said oxygen and anaesthesia gas flow lines, respectively;
patient rebreathing circle means for delivering and exhausting a mixture of oxygen and anaesthesia gas to and from a patient;
common outlet means, operatively connected to said first and second controllable valves, for combining flow of said oxygen and anaesthesia gas for delivery of a mixture of oxygen and anaesthesia gas to said patent rebreathing circle means;
oxygen analyzer means for sensing the oxygen concentration of said mixture in said patient rebreathing circle means and for providing an oxygen signal when a minimum predetermined oxygen concentration is sensed by said oxygen analyzer means;
means for sensing the volume of gas in said patient rebreathing circle means for generating a volume signal indicative of a minimum volume threshold value;
control means, responsive to said oxygen and volume signals developed by said oxygen analyzer means and said means for sensing, respectively, and connected to said first and second controllable valves for controlling one of said first and second valves to supply a controlled amount of either oxygen or anaesthesia gas to said rebreathing circle means through said common outlet means, such that the volume in said patient rebreathing circle means is kept constant and oxygen is delivered to said patient rebreathing circle means through said first valve means only when said minimum predetermined signal is sensed by said control means, otherwise anaesthesia gas is delivered to said patient rebreathing circle means through said second valve means to maintain the volume thereof constant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An anaesthetic gas flow regulator includes an oxygen gas flow line connected to a supply of oxygen, an anaesthesia gas flow line connected to a supply of anaesthesia gas, controllable valves connected to the oxygen and anaesthesia gas flow lines, a patient rebreathing circle for delivering and exhausting a mixture of oxygen and anaesthesia gas to and from the patient to a common outlet means, an oxygen analyzer and a gas volume analyzer. The oxygen analyzer senses the oxygen concentration of the mixture of oxygen and anaesthesia gas in the rebreathing circle, and provides an oxygen signal when a minimum predetermined oxygen concentration is sensed by the oxygen analyzer. The volume sensor generates a volume signal indicative of a minimum volume threshold value in the rebreathing circle. Control circuitry is provided responsive to the oxygen and volume signals developed by the oxygen analyzer and the volume sensor to supply a controlled amount of either oxygen or anesthesia gas to the rebreathing circle through the common outlet. The control circuit assures that the volume in the patient rebreathing circle is kept constant, and oxygen is delivered to the patient rebreathing circle only when a minimum predetermined signal is sensed by the oxygen analyzer, otherwise anaesthesia gas is delivered to the patient rebreathing circle to maintain the volume of gas flow therein substantially constant.
36 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An anaesthetic gas flow regulator, comprising:
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an oxygen gas flow line adapted to be connected to a supply of oxygen; an anaesthesia gas flow line adapted to be connected to a supply of anaesthesia gas; first and second controllable valves operatively connected to said oxygen and anaesthesia gas flow lines, respectively; patient rebreathing circle means for delivering and exhausting a mixture of oxygen and anaesthesia gas to and from a patient; common outlet means, operatively connected to said first and second controllable valves, for combining flow of said oxygen and anaesthesia gas for delivery of a mixture of oxygen and anaesthesia gas to said patent rebreathing circle means; oxygen analyzer means for sensing the oxygen concentration of said mixture in said patient rebreathing circle means and for providing an oxygen signal when a minimum predetermined oxygen concentration is sensed by said oxygen analyzer means; means for sensing the volume of gas in said patient rebreathing circle means for generating a volume signal indicative of a minimum volume threshold value; control means, responsive to said oxygen and volume signals developed by said oxygen analyzer means and said means for sensing, respectively, and connected to said first and second controllable valves for controlling one of said first and second valves to supply a controlled amount of either oxygen or anaesthesia gas to said rebreathing circle means through said common outlet means, such that the volume in said patient rebreathing circle means is kept constant and oxygen is delivered to said patient rebreathing circle means through said first valve means only when said minimum predetermined signal is sensed by said control means, otherwise anaesthesia gas is delivered to said patient rebreathing circle means through said second valve means to maintain the volume thereof constant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification