?:definition
|
-
Respiratory flowmeters designed to measure the rate and amount of anesthetic (e.g., nitrous oxide, halothane) and/or other medical gases delivered to a patient breathing circuit during general anesthesia or diagnostic procedures. These flowmeters are electronic devices with a digital display, which measure flow using electromechanical, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic techniques, or variable area flowmeters (also known as rotameters) that consist of a vertical tapered glass tube containing a cone or ball that is pushed by the moving gas stream and lowered by gravity allowing the measurement of flow by the position of the ball in the graduated tube. One or more anesthetics gas flowmeters are typically integral components of the gas dispensing unit of an anesthesia machine or pulmonary diagnosis equipment; dedicated stand-alone breathing gas flowmeters (usually for special evaluations, calibration, and/or research) are also available. Some flowmeters may include a control valve as an attachment that regulates the flow of the gas delivery.
|