Abstract: In a ventilator system and a method of operating the ventilator system, the ventilator system has a ventilator and a connection system for connecting the ventilator system to a patient. Parameters for a respiration gas pattern are set on the ventilator. Due to the influence of the connection system on the respiration gas pattern, the generation of the respiration gas pattern needs to be calibrated in order to ensure that the set respiratory gas pattern is delivered to the patient. In order to obtain calibration factors a test gas pulse is generated by an inspiration system before connecting the patient. Measurements of the test gas pulse are made with parameter meters at different locations in the connection system. The parameters for the test gas pulse, as well as the measured parameters are stored in different data sets. By synchronizing and subtracting measured parameter data sets from the set parameter data set, calibration factors are obtained.

Abstract: In a ventilator system and a method for controlling the ventilator system, a hand ventilator is connectable to a patient to impose a manually generated breathing pattern on the patient. A measurement unit is arranged by the hand ventilator to measure at least one of the parameters pressure and flow of the manually generated breathing pattern. The measured parameters are supplied to a memory unit in a regulatory unit, which operates a control unit so as to regulate a valve unit for imposing a mechanically generated breathing pattern, corresponding to the manually generated breathing pattern, on the patient. The measured parameters can be re-scaled in a calculation unit before the control unit controls the valve unit.

Abstract: During the administration of NO to a patient, NO reacts with oxygen in the respiratory gas to form NO.sub.2. Since NO.sub.2 is a toxic gas, minimizing the formation of this gas is important. A previously unknown property of NO is that an initial amount of NO.sub.2 is formed when NO and O.sub.2 mix. By adding NO to respiratory gas at a number of spaced-apart mixing points, the total initial amount of NO.sub.2 formed can be reduced. In a method and a device for mixing and administering NO, the gas containing NO is supplied to a flow divider for distributing the flow and sending sub-flows to a number of various mixing points.

Abstract: An apparatus front panel has a mechanical user interface in the form of a mechanically controllable regulation and setting elements on the face of the front panel. The front panel is manufactured at least in part from a transparent material in which electrical conductors and components are arranged in order to electrically connect the controllable regulation and setting elements from the face of the front panel with the electrical equipment present in the apparatus via a front panel connection. The front panel is constructed so that it can be attached at least in part to a substantially flat indicia-bearing element such as in front of a screen, in front of a display, or over a printed base or the like.

Abstract: In order to keep a patient from being administered an incorrect anaesthetic, an erroneous concentration of an anaesthetic or a mixture of anaesthetics, an anaesthetic system can be equipped with a device for identifying anaesthetics in anaesthetic system. The device identifies anaesthetics by determining a parameter related to a physical property, such as density, of liquid anaesthetics. A floating body can be immersed in the anaesthetic fluid. The floating body then sinks to a depth which depends on the fluid's density. The identity of the anaesthetic can then be read off a measurement stick arranged on the floating body.

Abstract: In a device for transmitting information via a patient tube from a location near the patient to an intensive care or anesthetic machine, at least one signal source is arranged at one end portion of the tube to deliver information-carrying signals which propagate longitudinally through the medium inside the tube. At least one receiver is arranged at the other end of the tube to receive the signals.

Abstract: A flow regulator, suitable for use in a respirator/ventilator, has a conduit through which a medium flows whose flow is to be regulated and a choke valve arranged outside the conduit. The choke valve includes a first solenoid, a pressure actuator that is moved by the shaft end of the first solenoid, and a fixed element with the conduit disposed between the pressure actuator and the fixed element. Actuation of the first solenoid displaces the pressure actuator so as to alter the cross-section of the conduit. The shaft of the first solenoid exhibits an effective stroke length so that the pressure actuator, in a first limit position, leaves the flow cross-section of the conduit unaltered and, in a second limit position, partially compresses the conduit against the detent. The flow regulator is made lightweight and inexpensive and also has a comparatively low power consumption by using a second solenoid having a shaft which exhibits a short effective stroke length compared to the shaft of the first solenoid.

Abstract: In a device for monitoring measurement electrodes, attached to a patient in order to pick up physiological measurement signals, and a neutral electrode and associated leads at the same time as physiological measurement signals are picked up, each measurement electrode is connected to an input terminal on its associated measurement amplifier. A test signal generator is arranged to generate a pure AC signal, without any direct current component, across the neutral electrode attached to a patient during the pickup of measurement signals.

Abstract: In a valve having a mechanically journalled movable element for regulating the valve's degree of opening, and in a method for controlling such a valve, the movable element and journals are made to move in relation to each other in order to reduce friction in the journals of the movable element. The movable element is then in a position governed by the valve's prevailing degree of opening.

Abstract: An anesthetic apparatus has a dosing unit for an anesthetic agent, the dosing unit having a number of containers, each holding a liquid anesthetic agent. The containers are connected by liquid lines to a valve unit, capable of selectively connecting one container at a time to a micropump which dispenses anesthetic in the form of liquid droplets directly to a connection piece in the anesthetic apparatus, to which a patient can be connected. A control unit controls the micropump and the valve unit and regulates both the selection and dispensing of liquid anesthetic.

Abstract: A device for filtering ECG signals has an A/D converter and a filter unit connected to the converter's output. The filter unit includes a filter, or a combination of filters with a non-linear phase response such that signals with frequencies in the passband of the filter, or the combination of filters, are delayed more than signals with frequencies in the transition band between the passband and the suppressed frequency band of the filter, or the combination of filters. A method for producing an FIR filter, with a phase response opposite to the phase response of a filter for filtering out DC components, or an IIR filter, suitable for use in the above-described device, is also disclosed in which the impulse response from the filter for filtering out DC components and low-frequency components or the IIR filter is reversed in time and sampled. The sampled values are then used for determining coefficients for the FIR filter.

Abstract: An anesthetic system has an external gas reservoir and three gas bellows arranged in the external gas reservoir to alternatingly collect or deliver breathing gas from and to a ventilator unit. In this manner a completely closed system is achieved with minimal consumption of, primarily, anesthetic. The bellows are regulated by a regulatory unit which, via a valve system, can selectively connect a source of drive gas to one or more of the containers in order to compress the gas bellows respectively contained therein. When no drive gas is supplied, each bellows passively expands.

Abstract: A device for fixing and sealing a container having an open frontal side against a cover which permits detaching the container from the cover, in particular an absorber container for carbon dioxide in a respiration apparatus, allows the absorber container to be quickly detached so that it can be rapidly emptied or filled, and the absorber container can then be quickly reaffixed and sealed gas tight. For this purpose, a sealing and fixing arrangement is disposed along the longitudinal side of the container against the open frontal side thereof so as to be displaceable into two end positions, whereby in the first end position the arrangement has a shorter distance to the open frontal side of the container than in the second end position.

Abstract: A ventilator system and a tracheal tube, inserted into a patient's trachea to carry gas to and from the lungs, permit a gas mixture containing endogenous NO, which is present in the upper respiratory tract, to be supplied to the lungs. The tracheal tube has a input port which forms a connection between the interior of the tracheal tube and the upper respiratory tract. The input port draws or forces an amount of the gas containing endogenous NO into the tracheal tube and this gas accompanies the respiratory gas into the lungs during inspiration.

Abstract: A device for locating a port, facing the exterior of a patient, on a medical implant has at least one magnet and a detector arranged to sense magnetic fields. The magnet is associated with the implanted port and the detector is arranged to sense the magnetic field from the outside of the patient's body and, on the basis thereof, determine the location of the port. Alternatively, the detector is associated with the (implanted) port and the magnet is intended to be moved across the area above the detector on the exterior of the patient's body to then determine the location of the port from the magnetic field detected. The device can alternatively use a coil which is associated with the (implanted) port and a ferromagnetic element is moved on the exterior of the patient's body over the area above the coil. Changes in the inductance of the coil when the ferromagnetic means is moved are monitored and, therefrom, the position of the port is identified.

Abstract: A ventilator system has an inspiratory line, an inspiratory pressure meter arranged to sense pressure in the inspiratory line, and expiratory line, an expiratory pressure meter arranged to sense pressure in the expiratory line, and a connector device for connecting a patient to the ventilator system. The connector device includes a first gas line connected to the inspiratory line, and a second gas line connected to the expiratory line so that gas will only be able to flow in one direction through the lines. Pressure in the lungs can accordingly be directly measured by the expiratory pressure meter during inspiration and by the inspiratory pressure meter during expiration.

Abstract: A method and an analyzer for determining the concentration of and/or identifying a specific gas are described. The analyzer has a test chamber through which a gas sample is carried. The gas sample then passes across a first substrate on which a first coating and a second coating are arranged. The second coating is made of a substance which selectively absorbs a specific gas, or a specific group of gases. A light source directs a light beam with a pre-defined polarization at the substrate and coatings. Polarization of the ensuring reflected light beam changes due to reflection in and interaction with the coatings. This change is determined by a calculation unit by determining the reflected light beam's polarization in a photodetector. Adsorption causes polarization changes which are only related to the concentration of the specific gas which can accordingly be identified.

Abstract: For preventing a patient from being administered an erroneous anaesthetic, an incorrect concentration of anaesthetic or a mixture of anaesthetics, an anaesthetic system is equipped with a device capable of identifying anaesthetics in the anaesthetic system. A device for simple and reliable identification of anaesthetics does so by having a thermal element which varies the temperature of at least some of the anaesthetic to cause it to undergo a change in physical state, e.g., condensation from the gaseous state to the liquid state. A transition temperature at which the change in physical state occurred is determined and the anaesthetic is identified from the determined transition temperature. The condensation point temperature can be determined by sensing the capacitance between two conductors or sensing changes in the resonant behavior of an oscillating crystal.

Abstract: A gas-mixing system for anaesthetic apparatuses has a vaporizer unit for liquid anaesthetic, a first gas line carrying a specific first flow of gas to the vaporizer unit, and a second gas line carrying a second flow of gas past the vaporizer unit. The first gas flow and the second gas flow jointly constitute a total flow of respiratory gas. A first flow regulator is arranged to regulate total flow, and a second flow regulator is arranged to regulate the second flow according to the difference between total flow and a reference value for the first flow.

Abstract: A breathing apparatus for supplying a supportive inspiration pulse in response to a sensed inhalation effort of a subject connected to the apparatus has a supportive response controlled so that the amplitude of the inspiration pulse displays an inverse relationship to the magnitude of the sensed inhalation effort.