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Devices that continuously or intermittently administer a mixture of gases (e.g., oxygen, nitrous oxide, the vapor of a volatile liquid such as halogenated hydrocarbon), varying the proportion of gases in order to control an individual\'s level of consciousness. These devices are also designed to facilitate spontaneous, controlled, or assisted ventilation with these gas mixtures. An anesthesia unit is typically comprised of four basic subunits: a gas supply and control circuit, a breathing and ventilation circuit, a scavenging system to help prevent the escape of exhaled gases, and a set of function and breathing circuit monitors (e.g., inspired oxygen concentration, breathing circuit integrity). Also included in some anesthesia units are a number of monitors and alarms that indicate levels and variations of several physiologic variables and parameters associated with cardiopulmonary function and/or gas and agent concentrations in breathed-gas mixtures. Most anesthesia units are also equipped with a battery back-up in case central power supplies fail. Some anesthesia units are designed specifically for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environments (i.e., MRI-compatible anesthesia units) and are made from nonmagnetic materials so that they can be safely used in an MRI suite. Dedicated anesthesia units that are used on research animals and units that do not need a vaporizer and deliver mixtures of air and nitrous oxide gas (nitrous oxide anesthesia units) are also available. Anesthesia units are the main component of an anesthesia systems that may include more enhanced capabilities than those that are required for the minimum standards for anesthesia units.
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