Flow Meters

Flow: Volume of a fluid passing certain

point
over a given time
Flow Rate.
Flow meters:sets used to measure flow
either gas or liquid

Gas Flow Measurements

Rotameter:variable orifice constant

pr.device to control the flow of fresh

gas from the anesth.machine to the
pt.breath.circ.
Consists of :Flow tube_Float(bobbin)
_Control knob .

 Flow is affected by the viscosity&density

viscosity
At low flow :
density.
At high flow:
So,each type of gas requires diff.

calibrated flow tube.

The flow tubes designed for one gas
should not be interchanged with another
hypoxic mixtures.

 Flow tube :Conical glass tube.

Low flow tube

graduated/100 ml/min. up to one liter

High flow tube
graduated/1L/min.up to 10L/min.

 Control knob :when it is turned

needle valve is opened.

Gas flows into the bottom of the flow
tube & moves upward around the
bobbin upward force pushes the
bobbin up in the tube .

Float (bobbin)
It may be balls or cylindrical with

slots in its upper part & tapered base

to make it to rotate in the gas stream
.
Non spinning bobbin that may
indicate O2 is flowing while the bobbin
is stucked with no adequate flow
hypoxic mixture.

 The density of a gas is dependent on the

ambient pr .
Large diff. in atmosph. Pr. alter the
calibrat.of flow tube .
At high altitudes with hypobaric condit.
Flow meter setting is less than the actual
At hyperbaric condition flow setting is more
than the actual
hypoxic mixture

 The spinning movement of the bobbin can

be affected by dust , dirt & static electric

charges .
Static charges can be dealt with by
bimetallic strip .
Dirts & dusts by air filter proximal to the
needle valve.
Slots on the bobbin to spin resist the effect
of static charges & dust.

 The twist required to turn the knobs

must be sufficient to prevent

accidental readjustment from casual
knock .
If axial push _ pull forces are applied
to the needle valve spindle the flow
change must not exceed 10% .

O2/N2O Ratio Controllers

In modern anesth. ,there is

1.
2.

interconnect. Of N2O & O2 flowmeters

to ensure delivery of a conc.of at least
25% O2 .
There are 2 systems :Pneumatic syst.
ORMC (designed
by Drager).
Chain _link 25 proportion (by Ohmeda )

Safety Measures (additional)

1. The flow tube for oxygen has been

on the extreme rt. Side

O2 is
the last gas to be added to the
fresh gas supply.
2. A color _coded flow control knob is
located under its respective flow
tube.

3. A color_coded cylinder pr. gauge for

the gas entering the flowmeter &
located under its respective
flowmeter.
4. A plastic screen used to prevent
damage to the flowmeters.
5. In some machines , protective bar
placed infront of the flow meters to
protect from accidental bumping.

6. Lighting system for the flow meter

is valuable when the op.room light

is dimmed .
7. Flow tube pin _indexing syst. to
prevent interchange of flow meter
units
hypoxic mixture.

 O2 flow can not be completely turned

off. A minimum flow rate of 200_450

ml/min is delivered to provide sufficient
O2 for the basal metabolic needs by :

1. Applicat. Of resistor in the oxygen

pipeline.
2. OR/stop screw on O2 control valve.

 The control knob of O2 has esp.

shape:

Octagonal
Greater diameter
Project beyond the other knobs

Other types of flow meters

1. Electronic flow meter

a. Oscillations of pr. Drop across an

orifice is proportional to the flow rate

b. Thermister flow meter :

Gas flow affects thermocouple
attached to either end of flow tube

2. Coxter flow meter

3. Bubble flow meter
4. Rotor meter
Wrights
5.
6.
7.

spirometer
Pneumotachographs (Vitalograph)
Ultrasonic flowmeters
Electronic magnetic flowmeter