FLOW METER OF
ANAESTHESIA
MACHINE
Presented by : Dr. Vivek Pandit
Moderated by : Dr. Dheeraj
What is a Flowmeter?
• Also called as flow indicators, flow tubes, rotameters.
• These indicate the rate of flow of a gas passing through them.
• They can be – mechanical or electronic
• Even electronic flowmeters may have mechanical controls for sense of
security for newer anaesthesiologists
MECHANICAL FLOW METERS
• Working Principle - flow past a resistance is proportional to pressure
• They measure the drop in pressure that occurs when a gas passes through a
resistance.
• THORPE TUBE- These are variable orifice, vertical glass tubes that are
narrow at the bottom and wider at the apex
• The indicator rests at the bottom and as the gas flow increases, the gas
moving from the bottom into the tube increases and the indicator rises
• Flowmeter contains an indicator that is free to move up and down
inside the tube.
• As gas flow increases, the number of gas molecules hitting the
indicator bottom increases, and it rises.
• When the flow is decreased, gravity causes the indicator to settle to
a lower level.
• A scale on or beside the tube indicates the gas flow rate.
• Flow rate depends on :
• Pressure across the constriction
• Physical properties of the gas
• Size of annular opening
PRESSURE DROP ACROSS CONSTRICTION
• Pressure drops occur because of frictional resistance between the air flow
and the tube.
• Pressure drop is calculated by the:
weight of float/cross sectional area
• This pressure drop is consistent for all positions of float in the tube
• Thus flowmeters are frequently referred to as constant-pressure
flowmeters.
SIZE OF ANNULAR OPENING
• Annular opening is the area around the float
that allows the passage of gases
• This area increases as the float rises, hence is
changing with the flow rate.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE GASES
• LOW FLOW – laminar flow – depends on gas viscosity (Hagen-Poussille
equation)
• HIGH FLOW – turbulent flow – depends on gas density (Graham’s Law)
• Change in temperature and altitude/atmospheric pressure will change the
flow accuracy
• More the altitude, higher than set flows encountered.
TYPES OF FLOWMETER ASSEMBLY
SINGLE TAPER TUBE DUAL TAPER TUBE
Gradual increase from bottom to top Two different tapers inside the same tube- one for
fine and coarse flows each
Used where different flow knobs for low and high Used for more precise control of flow rate and
flows controlled by a single knob
Used where single flow meter would suffice
SINGLE TAPER TUBE DOUBLE TAPER TUBE
FLOAT / BOBBIN
• Made of Aluminium
• Moves freely inside the tube
• Antistatic – prevents sticking to the tube, and prevents any sparking
• Can be ball type, rotating type or non rotating H type
• Rotating indicators have an upper rim with the largest diameter and slanted
groves with a coloured dot at one side.
THORPE TUBE COMPONENTS
• STOP – at the top of the flowmeter that prevents indicator from plugging
the outlet. This stop can break off and fall on the indicator and show less
than actual flows
• SCALE – marked on or immediately adjacent to the tube. Expressed in
L/min
• LIGHTS – Modern anethesia machine have these to see the flow rates,
especially in OT that requires dark environments like arthroscopic and
laparoscopic surgeries.
FLOWMETER TUBE
ARRANGEMENT
• Flow meter tubes are arranged side
to side.
• They meet at the common manifold
(mixing chamber)
• Tubes are arranged in series
• Might have same knob for both low
and high flows
AUXILLARY OXYGEN FLOWMETER
• Marked upto 10L/min
• Self contained flowmeter with own self control
valve, flow indicator and outlet
• Usually on the left side of the machine
• Can supply oxygen without turning on the
machine
• Works on both pipelines and cylinders
PROBLEMS AND HAZARDS
• INACCURACY – Even if one of the scale, indicator or tube is damaged, the
whole assembly need to be changed
• Flowmeter for one gas is calibrated and cannot be used for another gas
• Accuracy is highest at room temperature and sea level altitude
• Accuracy can further be increased by using 2 tubes in series – one for low
and other for high flow
• LEAKS – Leaks in the tubing can lead to lower than expected gas
concentrations. Also mixing of gases and wastage of gases can occur.
Misting can also occur that can cause difficulty reading markings
PROBLEMS AND HAZARDS
• INDICATORS – Flow indicators can be damged by wear and tear, or by
repeated mishandling.
• The Stop can break and rest on the top of the float
• Indicator markings can also wear and become unreadable with time
• Coarse float movements will suggest inaccurate readings
• WRONG FLOWMETER – Air and nitrous oxide flowmeters can get
exchanged at time of manufacture, as Oxygen flowmeter location is always
downstream
FLOWMETER CHECK
• Flowmeter is not damaged and readings visible
• Oxygen analyzer is always present
• Quality regular maintenance
• Turn flowmeter off before connecting/disconnecting pipeline/cylinders
• Float moves freely, uniformly and rotates with colored dot rotating
alongwith
• Always check flowrates with eyes at float level
ELECTRONIC FLOWMETERS
• Most of the electronic anesthesia machines available at this time use a
conventional flow control valve and an electronic flow sensor
• The flow measured by the sensor is then represented digitally and/or by a
simulated flowmeter on the anesthesia machine screen
• One advantage is that information is available in a form that can be sent to a
data management system
HYPOXIA PREVENTION MECHANISM
• Older anesthesia machines required a minimum mandatory oxygen flow of
50 to 250 mL/minute.
• This does not in itself prevent a hypoxic gas concentration from being
delivered. It is not usually found on electronic anesthesia machines.
HYPOXIA PREVENTION MECHANISM
• To protect against an operator-selected delivery of a mixture of oxygen and
nitrous oxide having an oxygen concentration below 21% oxygen (V/V), a
minimum oxygen ratio device is used. If the oxygen flow is decreased to a
point where the oxygen concentration would be less than 25%, the device
will lower the nitrous oxide flow to maintain an oxygen concentration of at
least 25%. In some cases, if the nitrous oxide is increased, the oxygen flow
will also increase by the necessary amount.
• Alarms are available on some machines to alert the operator that the
oxygen: nitrous oxide flow ratio has fallen below the minimum.
LINK 25 SYSTEM
THANK
YOU
