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FLOWMETERS

The document presents an overview of flowmeters used in anesthesia machines, detailing their structure, mechanisms, and safety features. It outlines the high, intermediate, and low-pressure circuits, emphasizing the importance of mechanical flow control valves and the principles governing flow measurement. Additionally, it discusses safety devices designed to prevent hypoxic mixtures and ensure patient safety during anesthesia procedures.

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deepika
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17 views50 pages

FLOWMETERS

The document presents an overview of flowmeters used in anesthesia machines, detailing their structure, mechanisms, and safety features. It outlines the high, intermediate, and low-pressure circuits, emphasizing the importance of mechanical flow control valves and the principles governing flow measurement. Additionally, it discusses safety devices designed to prevent hypoxic mixtures and ensure patient safety during anesthesia procedures.

Uploaded by

deepika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM OF

FLOWMETERS, MAINTENANCE AND


SAFETY CHECKING
PRESENTER: DR. JYOTI RAINA
SENIOR RESIDENT
DEPTT. OF ANAESTHESIOLOGY
• DEPENDING ON THE PRESSURES WITHIN THE
MACHINE :
3 CIRCUITS
1. HIGH PRESSURE
2. INTERMEDIATE PRESSURE
3. LOW PRESSURE
HIGH PRESSURE CIRCUIT
• CYLINDERS
• CYLINDERS PRIMARY PRESSURE REGULATORS
OXYGEN---2200psi
NITROUS OXIDE---745psi
INTERMEDIATE PRESSURE CIRCUIT
- From regulated cylinder supply sources to
flow control valves.
- Second stage pressure regulator
LOW PRESSURE CIRCUIT
- FROM FLOW CONTROL VALVES TO COMMON
GAS OUTLET INCLUDES :
- FLOW TUBES
- VAPORISERS
- ONE WAY CHECK VALVE
• Intermediate Pressure System includes:
Flow Adjustment Control : which regulates the
flow of O2, air and other gases to the flow
indicators
2 types
Mechanical
Electronic
Standard requires that there should be only one
flow control for each gas.
INTERMEDIATE PRESSURE SYSTEM
• Mechanical Flow control valve
• Components
- Body – screws into the anesthesia machine
- Stem and seal – have fine threads so that the stem
moves only a little when a complete turn is made
- Valve is closed – pin at the end of the stem fits into the
seat – occludes the orifice – no gas passes
- Stem is turned outward – creates an opening bet the
pin and the seat – gas flows.
- Greater space between the pin and seat -- greater
volume of gas can flow
• Mechanical Flow control valve
• Components
- Control knob – rotatory style knob, with a
fluted profile, round in shape and is of same
size or larger as compared to other knobs.
- Turned counterclockwise to increase flOW.
- Stops should be there for the OFF and
MAXIMUM flow positions. This helps avoid
damage.
• Mechanical Flow control valve
- Flow control valve should be kept opened until
the gas pressure is reduced to zero after the
cylinder/pipeline system is shut off.
- Should be turned off– avoids fresh gas
desiccating the CO2 absorbent and also
conserves gas.
- Before machine resumed – check whether flow
valves are closed – otherwise sudden rise may
damage the apparatus.
LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
• The low-pressure system is downstream of
the flow control devices up to common gas
outlet.
Low pressure system includes
• Flowmeters
• Hypoxia prevention safety devices
• Unidirectional valves
• Pressure relief devices
• Common gas outlet
• Vaporizers
• Mechanical Flow control valve
• Problems
- If loose, may respond to light touch or even
accidental brushing
- Should be closed when not in use
- The stem or seat can block the flow
FLOWMETERS ( FLOW INDICATORS,
FLOW TUBES, ROTAMETERS )
• Mechanical
• Electronic
Mechanical Flowmeters measure the drop in
pressure that occurs when a gas passes through
a resistance.
• Traditional mechanical flow indicators used in
anesthesia machines have been of the
variable orifice (variable area, Thorpe tube)
type.
• Vertical glass tube is internally tapered with its
smallest diameter at the bottom. It contains an
indicator that is free to move up and down
inside the tube.
Physical principles :

1)Pressure drop across the constriction:


The loss of energy as gas passes the float is
reflected in a pressure drop across the float. This
pressure drop is given by weight of float cross
sectional area.
2)Size of annular opening:
The larger the annular opening greater the flow
of gas.
3)Physical characteristics of the gas:
Low Flow: Small annular space, therefore flow
is laminar; therefore flow is a function of gas
viscosity (Poiseuille’s Law).
High Flow: Large annular space, therefore flow
is turbulent; therefore the flow is a function of
gas density (Graham’s Law).
• Temperature and Pressure Effects:
Flowmeters are calibrated at atmospheric pressure (760
torr) and room temperature (20°C). Temperature and
pressure changes will affect both the viscosity and the
density of a gas and so influence the accuracy of the
indicated flow rate. Variations in temperature as a rule
are slight and do not produce significant change.
Hyperbaric chamber, a flowmeter will deliver less gas
than indicated. With decreased barometric pressure
(increased altitude), the actual flow rate will be greater
than that indicated.
• Flowmeter Assembly:
1. tube
2. Indicator
3. stop
4. scale
5. Lights
Stop
- Stop at the top of the flowmeter tube prevents
the indicator from plugging the outlet, which
could lead to damage to the tube.
- Prevents the indicator from ascending to a
point in the tube where it cannot be seen.
Scale
• The anesthesia machine/workstation standard
requires that the flow indicator scale either be
marked on or immediately adjacent to the tube.
• Flowmeters are calibrated in liters per minute.
• For flows below 1 L/minute, the flow may be
expressed either in milliliters or in decimal
fractions of a liter per minute with a zero before
the decimal point.
Lights
• Optional on most modern anesthesia
machines. These are useful when the machine is
used in a darkened room.
Problems with flowmeter
1.Leaks:

a) Between the glass flow tubes & the metal manifold.


b)In cracked or broken glass flow tubes.

2.Inaccuracy:
a) Dirt & static electricity can cause the float to stick.
b) Back pressure (ventilator & breathing circuit )can
cause a float to drop so that it reads less than the actual.
c) Slanting tube distorts the annular space.
SAFETY FEATURES
USE
1. Safety devices are to prevent delivery of
hypoxic mixture.
2. Regulation to prevent excessive pressure
which is traumatic to patient.
• HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM
1. Gas cylinder :
Color coding
Cylinder labels
Symbol of gas
Pin index safety system (PISS)
Safety relief valve
Filling within service pressure
Safety Relief Device
Composed of atleast one of the following
1. Frangible disc (Bursts under extreme pressure)
2. Fusible Plug (Of wood’s metal which has a low melting
point)
3. Safety relief valve (Opens at extreme pressure)
Check valves at cylinder inlet and pipeline inlet Cylinder
pressure indicator (BOURDON’s pressure gauge)
Pressure regulator
Pressure relief valves
Washer (BODOK seal) – Rubber made of neoprene
Safety features in cylinder pressure
indicator
• Gauge usually color coded
• Name and symbol of gas over dial
• If bourdon tube ruptures gas is vented from
back side
• Gauges are angled and placed in such a way
that it can be easily read
• Instructions like ‘use no oil’ / ‘open valve
slowly’ written on the gauge
Safety features of pressure regulator
• Pressure regulators have safety relief valves.
• Safety valves blow off at a set pressure of
525kpa (70psi).
Pipeline
Wall outlet- labelled and color coded
Primary valve/automatic shut off valve
Secondary valve/isolation valve
Schrader’s probes , quick connectors or
diameter index safety system (DISS) to prevent
interchangeability o Pipeline hoses – color
coded
O2 supply pressure failure devices
The anesthesia gas supply device shall be
designed so that whenever O2 supply pressure
is reduced to below the manufacturer specified
minimum , the delivered O2 conc shall not
decrease below 21% at the common gas outlet.
Fail safe valve
Downstream to the NO2 supply source.
This valve shuts off or proportionally decrease
the supply of nitrous oxide ( and other gases ) if
the O2 supply pressure declines.
Operates in threshold manner
O2 supply pressure opens the valve and the
valve return spring closes the valve
O2 failure protection device
• The pressure of all gases controlled by the
OFPD will decrease proportionally with O2
pressure.
• Consists of nozzle assembly connected to a
spring loaded piston.
Flowmeters
The O2 flow control knob is distinctively fluted,
projects beyond the control knobs of other gases
and is larger in diameter.
Knobs are color coded for appropriate gases
Name of gas is marked on each knob.
If a single gas has 2 flow tubes , the tubes are
arranged in series and controlled by a single flow
control valve.
An O2 leak from flow tube can produce a hypoxic
mixture regardless of arrangement of flow tubes.
Bobbin rotates on flow which prevents it from
sticking
Antistatic spray in flowmeters
Master and slave safety mechanism for gas delivery
between O2 & NO2 (pressure of O2 ‘master’ flow is
required to release the flow of N2O ‘slave’)
Downstream placement of O2 flowmeter
Float stop
Auxillary O2 flowmeter
Hypoxia Prevention safety system
• LINK 25
- Allows independent adjustment of either valve ,
automatically intercedes to maintain min 25% O2
conc with a maximum N2O-O2 flow ratio 3:1
- Increases O2 flow to prevent hypoxic gas delivery
- 14-tooth sprocket ( N2O flow control valve)
- 29-tooth sprocket (O2 flow control valve)
• Mandatory minimum O2 flow – 50 to 250ml/min
• O2 ratio monitor controller limit N2O flow to
prevent delivery of hypoxic gases
O2 supply failure alarm
• When O2 supply pressure falls below manufacturer
specified threshold (30psig/205kpa)
• After the fall of pressure alarm should activate within
5 seconds
• RICHIE WHISTLE –
- when O2 pressure falls below 260kpa(38psi) whistle
valve opens
- It sounds continously until O2 pressure has fallen to
approx 40.5kpa/6psi
- At 30 psi it cuts off the supply of anaesthetic gases to
patient
O2 flush valve
• Receives O2 from pipeline inlet/pressure
regulator & directs a high unmetered flow
directly to CGO ( Common gas outlet ).
• Activates regardless of master switch
• 35 to 75 ml/min
• Button is pressed in collar to prevent accidental
activation
• Activation does not increase the pressure at
vaporizer outlet > 10kpa or vapor output by >
20%
Check valve
Prevent backflow into the vaporizer during
positive pressure ventilation , thereby
minimizing the effects of intermittent
fluctuations in downstream pressure on
concentration of inhaled anesthestic.
THANK YOU

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