[Problems] To provide a driving method for a metering pump, a driving apparatus for a metering pump, a vaporizer and an anesthesia apparatus which are capable of suppressing a pulsation in the metering pump, and lowering the costs and reducing the sizes of the vaporizer and the anesthesia apparatus.

[Means for solving the Problems] A metering pump 16 is joined to the stepping motor 15, includes an eccentric mechanism converting a revolving motion of the stepping motor 15 into a reciprocating motion of a plunger 16A, and makes a constant liquid delivery by sucking and discharging an anesthetic agent through variations in the cubic volume of a cylinder 16D caused by the reciprocating motion of the plunger 16A. The control section 12: calculates a suction and discharge cycle T of the metering pump 16 on the basis of a set anesthetic-gas concentration and a fresh-gas flow rate; sets a discharge period T2 of the cycle T to be longer than a suction period T1 of the cycle T; and controls the revolution speed of the stepping motor 15 so that the travelling speed of the plunger 16A is kept constant during the discharge period T2.

An anesthetic dispenser (100) includes an anesthetic tank (7) and a mixing unit (9) that mixes an anesthetic from the anesthetic tank with a carrier gas. Liquid anesthetic (Nm) can be refilled into the anesthetic tank through a refill opening (6). In one operating mode, a specified operating pressure is maintained. A closure (16) is moveable from a closed position via an intermediate position to an open position and closes the refill opening in both the closed position and the intermediate position. When the closure is moved from the closed position to the intermediate position, a transition time period elapses. A position sensor (22) detects the event that the closure has been moved out of the closed position. In response to this detection, pressure in the anesthetic tank is lowered during the transition period to a refill pressure that is still above ambient pressure. The closure is then opened.

An apparatus and method for supplying anesthetic agent to an anesthesia system. The system is connecting detachably with at least two such apparatuses. The apparatus includes a storage volume for a liquid anesthetic agent and a space for evaporating the liquid agent. The apparatus also includes a gas inlet port for receiving a fresh gas for mixing with evaporated agent and a gas outlet port for conducting the gas mixture including evaporated agent to the system. The apparatus also includes a logic circuit for controlling anesthetic agent supply and an apparatus signal connector to exchange information. The apparatus signal connector includes at least one first apparatus contact for receiving from the system a signal indicating whether anesthetic agent supply is allowed or prevented, and a second apparatus contact to indicate that this apparatus is configured to supply anesthetic agent.

An anesthetic vaporizer system includes a reservoir containing anesthetic agent, an agent level sensor measuring an agent level of the anesthetic agent in the reservoir, a display, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive agent level measurements from the agent level sensor over a time period, and determine the anesthetic agent is being added to the reservoir from an agent source based on the agent level measurements over the time period. A filling status is determined based on the agent level measurements and a filling status indicator is displayed based on the determined filling status.

Systems and methods are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a housing defining a sump, the sump configured to hold a self-contained supply of liquid anesthetic agent, a heating element electrically coupled to an electrical mating component, a gas inlet passage and a gas outlet passage, a manifold fluidically coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, the manifold coupled to the housing and forming a gas-tight seal with the sump, and a quick disconnect pneumatic system coupled to the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage, sealing the gas inlet passage and the gas outlet passage from atmosphere.

An anesthetic evaporator locking structure for detachably connecting an anesthetic evaporator to an anesthesia main machine is disclosed. The anesthetic evaporator includes a main body and a securing member provided on the main body. The anesthesia main machine includes a driving element and a mating member provided on the anesthesia main machine. The securing member and the mating member mate with each other to form a primary locking mechanism, and when the anesthetic evaporator is in an activated state, the driving element limits the primary locking mechanism to realize secondary locking. The anesthetic evaporator further includes a handle provided on the main body and an unlocking device provided on the handle, and the unlocking device is used for unlocking the primary locking mechanism. The anesthetic evaporator locking structure can realize the double locking and has relatively high safety, and both the locking and unlocking processes can be operated by one hand, which is convenient and quick.

Systems and methods are provided for delivering anesthetic agent to a patient. In one embodiment, an anesthetic vaporizer includes a vaporizing chamber configured to hold a liquid anesthetic agent, and an inductive heating element positioned exterior to the vaporizing chamber and housed within a gas-tight barrier, the inductive heating element operated to selectively heat a target.

In a method and system of regulating multiple anesthetic agents in a breathing circuit of an anesthetic breathing apparatus is disclosed, a primary anesthetic agent added to the breathing circuit is regulated to a set desired value of the amount of the primary anesthetic agent, and a secondary anesthetic agent in the breathing circuit is regulated to an amount of said secondary anesthetic agent that it is equal to or less than a defined threshold level, e.g. of the concentration, of the secondary anesthetic agent.

A connection device allows connection of an anesthetic container (400) to an anesthetic vaporizer (300) in a fluid-tight manner. A port section (1000) of the anesthetic vaporizer can be detachably connected to an adapter (1100) of the port section. With the adapter connected to the port section, a vaporizer-side channel section and a container-side channel section together form a continuous channel for anesthetic. The area of the surface of the port section that points towards the adapter is formed by a vaporizer-side contact profile (K.1, K.8), and the area of the surface of the adapter that points towards the port section is formed by a container-side contact profile (K.25, 28, 31). One contact profile has a projection (1), and the other contact profile has a corresponding recess (25) that contact with one another without an intermediate space. The projection positive-lockingly meshes with the recess.

A filler adaptor assembly includes a base, an outer ring, and iris members. The base has a central opening. The outer ring is disposed circumferentially about the base and is rotatable relative to the base. The iris members are pivotably coupled to the base. The iris members cooperate to define an iris opening and are movable to vary the iris opening. The iris members are coupled to the outer ring, and move between an open position and a closed position when the outer ring is rotated relative to the base.