A NEW AND VERSATILE CLOSED CIRCUIT ANAESTHETIC MACHINE WITH AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL VENTILATION

A versatile new anaesthetic machine embodying a ventilator with automatic and manual closed circuits, and with provision for semi-open circuits is described. The ventilator follows the principle of volume and time cycling and generally requires only a low flow of fresh gases (about 2 l./min). It is based on the original Smith-Clarke intermittent positive/negative pressure respirator and is both simple and practical. It is intended later to present a further paper describing clinical experience with this machine.