Abstract: A method of separating water from a gas sample. The gas sample is conducted from a patient to a water separating chamber having a tapered lower end. A continuous branch flow is produced from the gas sample for the separation of water, and the branch flow with the separated water is discharged from the lower end of the chamber to a first outlet by applying a vacuum to the first outlet. The gas is continuously withdrawn from the upper end of the chamber through a second outlet by applying a vacuum to said second outlet. The flow through the respective outlets is regulated so that the flow through the first outlet is preferably less than the flow through the second outlet.

Abstract: A water separator for a gas analyzer comprising a container defining a water separation chamber and having a generally conical bottom. An inlet conduit is connected to the chamber for conducting a gas sample to the chamber, and a water outlet conduit communicates with the lower end of the chamber and collected water is continuously drawn from the chamber by a pump. A gas outlet conduit is connected to the upper end of the water separation chamber and a second pump is connected to the gas outlet conduit to continuously draw gas from the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a gas analyzer, for instance a CO.sub.2 analyzer, comprising a measuring chamber for the gas to be examined, a reference chamber from which the gas to be measured has been drawn off, a light source and a chopper disk, which chops the light beam to make it pass alternatingly through the measuring and reference chambers and so that in between there is a period during which no light is passed through at all, and an automatic gain control which maintains a constant difference between the "dark" signal and the signal delivered by the reference chamber. An attenuation member is positioned adjacent the reference chamber so the light beam passing through the reference chamber is attenuated to cause a shift of the operating point of the gain control circuit into the gently ascending part of the absorption versus concentration curve.