Premium
The digital control of anaesthetic gas flow
Author(s) -
BOADEN R. W.,
HUTTON P.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1986.tb13230.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , fresh gas flow , sevoflurane
Summary The theory and construction of a prototype digital gas flow controller are described. Using eight preset needle valves, it has the ability to deliver any flow from 50 to 12750 ml/minute in steps of 50 ml/minute. Under given conditions, the accuracy of this de vice is very high and its variation in performance with pipeline supply pressures is quantified. The required flow is requested from a BBC ‘B’ microcomputer which is interfaced with the equipment via a program written in Basic and the 1MHz bus port. The possible uses and potential of a microcomputer‐controlled flow regulator in anaesthesia and intensive care are discussed.