Anaesthesia Machine
Anaesthesia Machine
Anaesthesia Machine
Dr P N Viswanathan
Prof and HOD,
Department of Anaesthesia,
Mysore Medical College,
Mysore
Anaesthesia machines are evolved from simple pneumatic to sophisticated, computer
based fully integrated anaesthesia systems. It is essential for the anesthesiologist to achieve a
thorough understanding of anaesthesia machines for the safe practice of anaesthesia.
Dr. H. Edmund. G. Boyle ( 1917 ) in Britain introduced the early version of Boyles
apparatus after using Gwathmeys machines, in France during the first world war, He found
that Gwathmeys machine hnd several defects, mainly leakage at gas unions. He suggested
changes which were put in to effect by coxeters. The early Boyles machine was designed on
a wooden frame mounted on castors. It had a triple sight feed water bubble flow meter for
delivering nitrous oxide, oxygen and carbon dioxide and measuring their rates of flow. There
were chloroform and ether bottle mounted their outlet was connected to a two gallon rubber
bag with a Barth 3 way or similar stop cock and rubber padded face piece. Breathing circuits
incorporating Heidbrink expiratory valves were used much later. A metallic chain from the
back bar up to the ground level was an accessory of the machine as antistatic.
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1953 - Colour coding of the cylinders was introduced.
1955 - Pin index safety system was added.
1958 - The Bodok seal was added.
Other older machines :
Merret machine was manufactured in 1958. The anaesthetic head was capable of
being adjusted to give practically any closed or semi closed breathing circuit. A
safety trilene interlock was present.
Ohio machine ( 1958 ) incorporated within the breathing circuit a water manometer to
measure the positive pressure in the breathing circuit, with a facility for closed circle
system.
Gillis machine : It was the British version of the machines of 1950’s. It was a
portable machine with facilities for closed circuit anaesthesia.
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A typical machine consists of :
1. A rigid metal box frame work on wheels, to this a surface of compressed gas either
pipeline or cylinders are attached.
2. Pressure regulators to reduce the high pressure to working pressure of the machine
and keep the pressure constant.
3. Secondary pressure regulators.
4. Pressure gauges to show pipeline and cylinder pressures.
5. Flow meters to measure and adjust various gas flows.
6. Vapourizers for addition of volatile anaesthetic agents.
7. Oxygen failure warning devices to warn of failure of O2 supply and to avoid hypoxic
mixture delivery.
8. High flow oxygen flush, a flow meter bypass system for administration of high flow
pure O2 in an emergency.
9. Common gas outlet. A single outlet delivering the gases and vapours in to an attached
breathing system.
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Schematic of flow arrangements of a contemporary anesthesia machine.
Pneumatic System :
The pneumatic part of the machine can be divided into
High pressure system
Intermediate pressure system
Low pressure system.
a) Hanger Yoke
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Its functions are to orient and support the cylinder, provide a gas tight seal and to
ensure a unidirectional flow of gases in the machine.
Body : The body of the yoke is threaded into the frame of the machine. It provides
support for the cylinder.
Retaining Screw : This is threaded to the distal end of the yoke. Tightening the screw
presses the outlet of the cylinder valve against the washer and the nipple so that a gas
tight seal is achieved. The cylinder is then supported by the retaining screw, the
nipple and the pin index pins.
Nipple : It is that part of the yoke through which the gas enters the machine. If
it is damaged, it is impossible to obtain a tight seal with the cylinder valve.
Index pins : The pins of the pin index safety system are below the nipple. The
holes in to which the pins fit must have specific depth. If they extend too far in to the
body of the yoke it may be impossible to insert an incorrect cylinder in to the yoke.
Pins on the yoke fit into the holes on the cylinder valve. It consists two pins, 4 mm
& 6mm on the yoke of the anaesthesia machine.
A 9 / 16 inch circumference semi circle is made and six equidistant points are made
on the arc ( 7th if entonox is to be used ). The pin index for gases that can be used are:
Oxygen 2, 5
Nitrous oxide 3, 5
Cyclopropane 3, 6
Air 1, 5
Nitrogen 1, 4
Entonox ( 50% air + 50% nitrous oxide ) 7
Carbon dioxide ( < 7.5% ) 2, 6
Carbon dioxide ( > 7.5% ) 1, 6
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Hanger yoke for an oxygen tank showing pin – indexed safety system.
Washer / Bodak Seal : It is placed around the nipple to effect a seal between the
cylinder valve and the yoke. Broken washers should not used. No more than one
washer should be used as they may prevent establishment of a tight seal or nullify the
pin index safety system.
Filter : ( 100 µ maximum ) This is installed between the cylinder and the reducing
device to prevent particulate matter from entering the machine.
Check valve assembly :
The check valve assembly allows gas from a cylinder to enter the machine but
prevents gas from exiting the machine when there is no cylinder in the yoke.
This allows an empty cylinder to be replaced with a full one without having to
turn off the in use cylinder. It also prevents the transfer of gas from one
cylinder to another with a lower pressure in a double yoke.
It consists of a plunger that slides away from the side of greater pressure.
When the cylinder pressure exceeds the pressure of the machine, the plunger is
pushed to right and gas passes around it and in to the machine. When the
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machine pressure exceeds cylinder pressure, it moves to left, blocking the flow
of gases.
Check valves are not permanent seals for empty yokes and may allow a small
amount of gas to escape. As soon as the cylinder is exhausted it must be
replaced by a full one, if not available, a yoke plug ( dummy cylinder block or
plug ) should be placed in the empty yoke.
c) Pressure reducing
device ( Regulator )
It is a device that reduces
a high variable input gas
pressure to a constant,
lower out put pressure. Cylinder O2 enters the machine at pressure of upto 1900 Psig
(depends on how full the cylinder is) and this is reduced to a constant output pressure of 45
Psig by the O2 cylinder pressure regulator. Reducing devices are preset at factory and located
under the machines work surface. Failure of the pressure regulator can transmit excessively
high pressures to machine low pressure system. To protect against this there is a pressure
relief valve incorporated into the regulator, where by excess pressures are vented to
atmosphere.
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Intermediate pressure system
This includes
a) Pipeline inlet connections
b) Pipeline pressure indicators
c) Piping
d) Gas power outlet
e) Oxygen pressure failure devices
f) Oxygen flush
g) Secondary pressure regulators
h) Flow control valves.
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b) Pipeline pressure indicators :
These are usually found on the front of the machine on a panel and are colour coded.
If it is on the pipeline side of the check valve it measures only pipeline pressure and if
the hose is disconnected it reads zero even if the cylinder valve is open. If the
indicator is on the machine side of the check valve it cannot be depended on to give
true indication of the pipeline pressure unless the cylinder valves are closed.
O2 pressure - 420 Kpa
N2 O pressure - 310 Kpa
c) Piping :
Connections between components inside the machine are made from metal tubings.
These must be intended to withstand four times the intended service pressure without
rupturing. The leaks between the pipeline inlet or cylinder pressure reducing system
and the flow control valve should not exceed 25 ml min-1 at normal service pressure.
If the pressure reducing system is included, the leak should not exceed 150 ml min-1 at
maximum inlet pressures.
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ii) Oxygen supply failure alarm.
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Limitations :
Both O2 failure safety device and alarm depend on pressure and not flow, they have
some limitations.
These do not offer total protection against a hypoxic mixture being delivered because
they do not prevent anaesthetic gas from flowing if there is no flow of oxygen.
h) Flow control valve : ( Needle valve, pin valve, flow adjustment control )
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This controls the rate of flow of a gas through its associated flow indicator by manual
adjustment of a variable orifice.
Current standards requires one flow control valve for each gas that must be adjacent
to or identifiable with its flow indicator.
Components :
Body
Stem and seat
Control knob
Control knobs are labelled and colour coded. The O2 control knob should look and
feel different from others. Turing counter anticlockwise increases flow and clockwise
decreases flow. They should operate smoothly.
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Float
Indicator
Stop
Scale.
i) Tube :
It is made of glass. Gas passes between the ball and the inner wall of the tube.
Because the tube is tapered the flow increases from below upwards. The tubes can be single
taper or dual taper tubes. Dual tapers have one for fine and one for coarse flows.
ii) Float :
The float or bobbin is a free moving device within the tube. Three types of floats are
available.
Non rotating floats.
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Rotating floats ( rotameter )
Ball floats.
iii) Stop :
This is at the top of the flow meter and prevents the float from plugging the outlet,
which could lead to tube damage, also prevents the indicator from ascending to a point where
it can not be seen.
iv) Scale :
The machine standard requires that the flow indicator scale be marked on the tube or
be located on the right side of the tube when viewed from front. It should be calibrated in
liters min-1. Flows upto 1 L min-1 may be expressed in milliliters or in decimal fractions of a
liter per minute with a zero before the decimal point.
v) Lights :
These are optional.
Safety devices :
One of the hazards with flow meters is the possibility that the operator will set flows
so that a hypoxic mixture will be delivered.
1) The oxygen flow control knob is touch coded.
2) Mandatory minimum oxygen flow : Some machines require a minimum flow
of O2 before other gases will flow ( 50 to 250 ml min-1 )
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whenever a setting of nitrous oxide concentration mare than 75% is attempted, the O2 flow is
automatically increased to maintain at least 25% O2 in the resulting mixture.
It only interconnects O2 and N2 O flow control valves. If the anaesthesia machine has
flow controls for helium or air, a gas mixture containing less than 25% O2 could be set at the
level of flow meters.
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North American Drager Oxygen Ratio Monitor Controller
Other flow meters ( optional )
Auxiliary oxygen flow meter for attaching a nasal canula or other supplemental O2
delivery devices.
Common gas outlet flow meters.
Scavenging flow meters.
Vaporizers :
A vaporizer is designed to add a controlled amount of an inhalational agent, after
changing from liquid to vapour, to the fresh gas flow. They are located in the low pressure
system between the flow meters and the common gas outlet. They are mounted on the back
bar of the machine using vaporizer mounting devices. These can be permanently mounted or
may be changed.
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Positive pressure from the breathing system is transmitted back to the machine when
ventilation is assisted or controlled use of oxygen flush valve may also create a positive
pressure. Such an increase in pressure may affect the concentration of the volatile anesthetics
issuing from the vaporizer, can increase leaks and can cause inaccurate flow meter reading.
To minimize these problems unidirectional valve is incorporated between the vaporizer and
the common gas outlet, upstream of where the O2 flush flow joins the fresh gas flow.
Electrical system :
Many modern machines are powered by electricity supplied through the anaesthesia
machine. These includes :
a) Master switch – Activates both pneumatic and electric functions on
the machines.
b) Power failure indicator – Visual or other indicators to alert loss of
power.
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c) Batter back up – A back up source of power.
d) Electrical outlets – To power monitors that may be attached to the
machine.
e) Circuit breakers – It is activated when the maximum electric load is
exceeded.
2) Ventilator : Piston ventilator with tidal volume corrected for leaks, patient and breathing
circuit compliance and fresh gas flow. Various modes like SIMV, volume control, pressure
control, manual / spontaneous are available.
3) Machine checklist : From cold start up, 1 minute power on self test, then 5 minute
ventilator self test or manual FDA check list.
6) Breathing circuit : The absorbed head is warmed ( most of the machines ) and the
circuit can be of lower, medium or higher volume with 1.5 L absorbent volume.
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8) Electrical power failure : Most machines have 30 minute battery reserve with fresh gas,
vaporizers and ventilator operational. Patient monitoring is not preserved in most of the
machines.
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Modulus SE Anaesthesia Gas Machine
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Check pipeline pressure gauge – should read 50 Psi.
Not necessary to unhook pipeline connections at wall.
4) Check initial status of the low pressure system.
Remove oxygen analyzer sensor.
Check liquid level and fill vaporizers if needed.
Check vaporizer interlock.
5) Perform leak check of low pressure system.
Leaks as low as 100 ml min-1 may lead to critical decrease in the concentration
of the volatile anaesthetic or permit hypoxic mixtures.
Negative pressure leak test 10 seconds is recommended.
Repeat for each vaporizer.
6) Turn master switch on.
7) Test flow meters.
Check for damage, full range, hypoxic guard.
8) Calibrate oxygen monitor.
9) Check initial status of the breathing system.
10) Test ventilation systems and unidirectional valves.
11) Perform leak check of the breathing system.
The usual high pressure check.
Let the gas out of the circuit through the APL valve.
12) Adjust and check scavenging system.
13) Check, calibrate, set alarm limits of all monitors.
14) Check the final status of the machine.
Vaporizer off
Bag / vent switch to bag mode.
APL open.
Zero flow of flow meters.
Suction adequate.
Breathing system ready.
NOTE : May omit or abbreviate # 1 – 9 between cases.
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Situations do arise in anaesthesia where there is neither time nor opportunity to fully
check the anaesthesia gas machine.
The following check list is recommenced for such situations.
1) High pressure test of the breathing circuit.
2) Check suction.
3) Observe and / or palpate breathing bag during preoxygenation.
Ensures :
Adequate flow of oxygen.
Good mask fit
Patient is breathing.
The bag / vent switch is on ‘Bag’ not ‘Vent’ mode.
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The machine must have at least one oxygen cylinder attached.
The hanger yoke must be pin indexed, have a clamping device that resists leaks and
contain a filter. It must have a check valve to prevent transfilling and a cylinder
pressure gauge. The machine must use pipeline gas as long as pipeline pressure is
greater than 50 Psi.
Flow meters.
Single control for each.
Each flow control next to a flow indicator.
Uniquely shaped oxygen flow control knob.
Valve stops such that excessive rotation will not damage the flow meter.
Oxygen flow indicator to the right side of a flow meter bank.
Oxygen enters the common manifold down stream of other gases.
Oxygen flush, capable of 35.75 L min-1 flow, and not passing through any vaporizers.
Vaporizers.
Concentration calibrated.
Interlock must be present.
Liquid level indicated, designed to prevent over filling.
Should use keyed filler devices.
No discharge of the liquid anaesthetic occurs at even maximum fresh gas flow.
Only one common outlet at 22 mm external land 15mm internal diameter.
Pipeline gas supply
Pipe line pressure gauge.
Inlets for at least O2 & N2 O.
DISS protected
In line filter
Check valve.
Check list must be provided
Digital data interface must be provided.
An auxiliary oxygen flow meter is strongly recommended.
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REFERENCES :
1. The evolution of the Boyle apparatus, 1917 – 67, Anaesthesia Vol 23 No. 1
January 1968.
2. Anaesthetic Devices ( 1900 – 1925 ) Indian J. Anaesth. 2003 ; 47 ( 4 ) : 263 – 264.
3. Anaesthetic Equipments ( 1950 – 1975 ) Indian J. Anaesth. 2004 ; 48 ( 1 ) : 25 – 27.
4. The Anaesthesia Gas Machine, www.udmercy. Edu/crna/agm/.
5. Understanding Anaesthetic Equipment. Dorsch and Dorsch 4th Edition.
6. Anaesthetic Equipment. Principles and Applications. Jan Ehrenwerth and
James B.Eisenkraft.
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