Abstract: An anesthesia system wherein the respiratory system is fitted with interchangeable patient circuit modules that allows a generic fitting in the machine to have affixed, hereto, a module that has ports suitable for connection to various patient breathing circuits. As such, the anesthesia machine can have the patient circuit modules easily changed and thus be adaptable for use with patient breathing circuits such as the circle system, the open/nonrebreathing circuit and the Bain or Mapleson D circuits. A detector system is provided that identifies that particular patient module installed in the anesthesia machine to alert the main CPU and to thus provide the correct flow sensing schemes and flows to the patient breathing circuit then being used.

Abstract: A breathing bag arm assembly that is affixed to a medical apparatus such as an anesthesia machine or component thereof. The breathing bag arm assembly comprises three moving parts, a base connector that rotatable attaches to the medical apparatus, a bent tube that is affixed to the base connector and can be rotated to a plurality of discrete locked positions with respect to the base connector and a port connector that is rotatable affixed to the other end of the bent tube. The port connector has a port for connecting to the flexible bag. By manipulation of the assembly, the clinician can locate the flexible bag in a variety of positions for convenient use, and retain the flexible bag in the desired position depending vertically downwardly. The overall assembly is readily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning or the like.

Abstract: A rotation-sensing device for providing output signals that correspond to rotary hand movement made about the device by an operator is disclosed. The device comprises a cover member including an outer surface having a generally cylindrical, longitudinally elongate, non-rotatable protusion carried thereon. The protrusion projects outwardly from the outer surface and is provided with an outer periphery thereon. The device further includes a plurality of generally longitudinally elongate, circumferentially spaced, sensing means which are positioned adjacent the outer periphery of the protrusion and are responsive to the rotary hand movement of the operator for providing output signals corresponding to such movement. In addition, the device includes means coupled to the sensing means for leading the signals generated in the sensing means away from the switch device.