Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a sump chamber, a variable volume reservoir within the sump chamber, and an anesthetic vaporizer. The variable volume reservoir is configured to contain anesthetic agent. A pressurized gas source is connected to the sump chamber and configured to maintain a constant pressure within the sump chamber to compress the variable volume reservoir to force the anesthetic agent through the anesthetic vaporizer, which vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a sump configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a bottom of the sump and at least partially disposed within the sump; a vaporizing chamber fluidically coupled to the sump; and a heating element coupled to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase a temperature of a surface disposed within the vaporizing chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for anesthetic agent leakage diagnostics. In one embodiment, a method for diagnosing leaks in an anesthetic vaporizer includes calculating a leakage rate based on measurements of an anesthetic agent level in a sump of the anesthetic vaporizer, the measurements received from a fluid level sensor at a first time and a second time, and outputting a maintenance alert responsive to the leakage rate exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a sump configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a bottom of the sump and at least partially disposed within the sump; a vaporizing chamber fluidically coupled to the sump; and a heating element coupled to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase a temperature of a surface disposed within the vaporizing chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for anesthetic agent level sensing. In one embodiment, a system for an inductive level sensor for an anesthetic vaporizer includes a measurement target positioned around a rod that extends within a chamber configured to hold liquid anesthetic agent, the rod configured to be at least partially submerged in the liquid anesthetic agent and the measurement target configured to slide vertically along a length of the rod and rest on a surface of the liquid anesthetic agent, and a strip of inductive transmitter coils and receiver coils positioned external to the chamber, a length of the strip aligned with the length of the rod, the transmitter coils configured to generate a magnetic field that surrounds the rod and the measurement target and the receiver coils configured to sense changes in the generated magnetic field at a vertical location of the measurement target on the rod.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a vaporizing chamber configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent, and an inductive heating element positioned exterior to the vaporizing chamber and housed within a gas-tight barrier, the inductive heating element operated to selectively heat a target.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a housing defining a sump, the sump configured to hold a self-contained supply of liquid anesthetic agent, a heating element electrically coupled to an electrical mating component, a gas inlet passage and a gas outlet passage, a manifold fluidically coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, the manifold coupled to the housing and forming a gas-tight seal with the sump, and a quick disconnect pneumatic system coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, sealing the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage from atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a vaporizing chamber configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; a grid disposed within the vaporizing chamber; and a heating element positioned relative to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase the temperature of the grid.

Abstract: Liquid accumulators and methods for reducing pulsations of a liquid flow are disclosed. A liquid delivery system comprises a pump configured to drive liquid to a pipe. The pipe is configured to transmit a liquid flow. A liquid accumulator is fluidically connected to the pipe. The liquid accumulator comprises a chamber containing the liquid and a vapor column and a power source configured to input energy to the chamber to generate vapor from the liquid to form the vapor column. The vapor column constitutes a gas spring to reduce pulsations of the liquid flow in the pipe. The spring rate of the gas spring can be adjusted by changing the input energy level from the power source to the chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, a system includes an anesthetic agent reservoir, a pump fluidically coupled to the agent reservoir, an injector configured to receive pressurized anesthetic agent from the pump, a vaporizer comprising a heated chamber configured to receive and vaporize the anesthetic agent injected by the injector and supply a mix of the vaporized anesthetic agent and medical gas to a subject via a supply line, and a controller. The controller stores instructions executable to determine a concentration of the vaporized anesthetic agent in the mix and adjust one or more injector parameters based on a difference between the concentration of the vaporized anesthetic agent and a commanded concentration.

Abstract: An anesthesia vaporizer system includes a sump chamber, a variable volume reservoir within the sump chamber, and an anesthetic vaporizer. The variable volume reservoir is configured to contain anesthetic agent. A pressurized gas source is connected to the sump chamber and configured to maintain a constant pressure within the sump chamber to compress the variable volume reservoir to force the anesthetic agent through the anesthetic vaporizer, which vaporizes the liquid anesthetic agent for delivery to a patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for anesthetic agent level sensing. In one embodiment, a system for an inductive level sensor for an anesthetic vaporizer includes a measurement target positioned around a rod that extends within a chamber configured to hold liquid anesthetic agent, the rod configured to be at least partially submerged in the liquid anesthetic agent and the measurement target configured to slide vertically along a length of the rod and rest on a surface of the liquid anesthetic agent, and a strip of inductive transmitter coils and receiver coils positioned external to the chamber, a length of the strip aligned with the length of the rod, the transmitter coils configured to generate a magnetic field that surrounds the rod and the measurement target and the receiver coils configured to sense changes in the generated magnetic field at a vertical location of the measurement target on the rod.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a vaporizing chamber configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent, and an inductive heating element positioned exterior to the vaporizing chamber and housed within a gas-tight barrier, the inductive heating element operated to selectively heat a target.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a housing defining a sump, the sump configured to hold a self-contained supply of liquid anesthetic agent, a heating element electrically coupled to an electrical mating component, a gas inlet passage and a gas outlet passage, a manifold fluidically coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, the manifold coupled to the housing and forming a gas-tight seal with the sump, and a quick disconnect pneumatic system coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, sealing the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage from atmosphere.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for anesthetic agent leakage diagnostics. In one embodiment, a method for diagnosing leaks in an anesthetic vaporizer includes calculating a leakage rate based on measurements of an anesthetic agent level in a sump of the anesthetic vaporizer, the measurements received from a fluid level sensor at a first time and a second time, and outputting a maintenance alert responsive to the leakage rate exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a sump configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a bottom of the sump and at least partially disposed within the sump; a vaporizing chamber fluidically coupled to the sump; and a heating element coupled to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase a temperature of a surface disposed within the vaporizing chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a vaporizing chamber configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent; a grid disposed within the vaporizing chamber; and a heating element positioned relative to the vaporizing chamber and configured to increase the temperature of the grid.

Abstract: Liquid accumulators and methods for reducing pulsations of a liquid flow are disclosed. A liquid delivery system comprises a pump configured to drive liquid to a pipe. The pipe is configured to transmit a liquid flow. A liquid accumulator is fluidically connected to the pipe. The liquid accumulator comprises a chamber containing the liquid and a vapor column and a power source configured to input energy to the chamber to generate vapor from the liquid to form the vapor column. The vapor column constitutes a gas spring to reduce pulsations of the liquid flow in the pipe. The spring rate of the gas spring can be adjusted by changing the input energy level from the power source to the chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, a system includes an anesthetic agent reservoir, a pump fluidically coupled to the agent reservoir, an injector configured to receive pressurized anesthetic agent from the pump, a vaporizer comprising a heated chamber configured to receive and vaporize the anesthetic agent injected by the injector and supply a mix of the vaporized anesthetic agent and medical gas to a subject via a supply line, and a controller. The controller stores instructions executable to determine a concentration of the vaporized anesthetic agent in the mix and adjust one or more injector parameters based on a difference between the concentration of the vaporized anesthetic agent and a commanded concentration.

Abstract: A collimator for an imaging detector assembly of a computed tomography imaging system is provided. The collimator includes a collimator module that includes a primary collimation grid having a first edge and a second edge. The primary collimation grid includes multiple radiation absorbing elements spaced apart from each other and configured to provide primary beam collimation. A first radiation absorbing element is disposed on the first edge and a second radiation absorbing element is disposed on the second edge. The collimator module includes multiple plates located on a side of the primary collimation grid and configured to absorb scattered radiation. A respective plate of the multiple plates is disposed over a respective radiation absorbing element of the multiple radiation absorbing elements of the primary collimation grid except the second radiation absorbing element disposed on the second edge of the primary collimation grid.