Abstract: Apparatus for artificial pulmonary ventilation during anaesthesia and resuscitation in which the gaseous transfer occurs by diffusion. The apparatus which is highly reliable, has a long working life, and achieves more active alveolar exchange, includes an on-off valve in a line for supplying air to the lungs. The valve has a valve body, a shutter seat in the body, respective air inlet and outlet ports in the valve body which open into the seat, a shutter sealingly rotatable in the seat under the action of drive means, and at least one duct in the shutter for interconnecting the ports periodically in accordance with the rotation of the shutter.

Abstract: A mixing evaporator is disclosed, of the kind in which a breathable gas mixture is admixed, in the desired proportions, with vapors of an anaesthetic liquid, said gas mixture being compelled to sweep over the liquid level of the anaesthetic to strip vapors therefrom, the improvement consisting in that the gaseous mixture sweeping the anaesthetic liquid is compelled to travel along a sinuous path thereon. The result is obtained by a system of radial paddles having staggered openings so that the gaseous mixture becomes more and more enriched with anaesthetic liquid vapors as it proceeds towards the outlet port.