Anesthesia Ventilators, Monitoring and Electronics

This course provides hospital equipment service technicians with a comprehensive understanding of anesthesia workstations, focusing on their ventilation, monitoring, and electronic systems. Technicians will learn the principles and practical aspects of various ventilator drive mechanisms, including bellows, piston, and turbine systems, alongside common ventilation modes found in clinical practice. Key concepts such as fresh gas decoupling and automatic compliance compensation will be covered. The course delves into essential sensing technologies, including flow, pressure, and oxygen sensors (galvanic and paramagnetic), as well as mainstream and side-stream gas and agent analyzers. Instruction includes patient monitoring interfaces like pulse oximetry and capnography. The electronic foundation of these devices, encompassing power supplies, batteries, control boards, and display modules, will be examined. Practical diagnostic skills, including board and module-level troubleshooting and effective interpretation of service logs and error codes, are emphasized.

InstructorPatrick Powers

Prerequisites

ANE 105

Course outline

Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.

01Introduction to Anesthesia Workstations and Core Ventilation Principleslecture

02Anesthesia Ventilator Drive Systems: Bellows, Piston, and Turbine Technologieslecture

03Ventilation Modes and Their Implementation on Anesthesia Workstationslecture

04Fresh Gas Decoupling and Compliance Compensation Mechanismslab

05Flow and Pressure Sensing Technologies in Anesthesia Systemslecture

06Oxygen Sensing Technologies: Galvanic and Paramagnetic Principleslecture

07Side-stream and Mainstream Gas and Anesthetic Agent Analyzerslecture

08Midterm Review and Applied Practicelab

09Patient Monitoring Interfaces: Pulse Oximetry and Capnographylecture

10Power Management: Power Supplies, Batteries, and System Integrationlecture

11Control Systems and Display Modules: Architecture and Operationlecture

12Board-Level and Module-Level Diagnostics for Anesthesia Equipmentlab

13Service Logs and Error Code Interpretationlecture

14Capstone Service Project: Anesthesia Workstation Diagnostics and Repairassignment

Syllabus

Course Objectives:
1. Explain the fundamental operating principles and comparative advantages of bellows, piston, and turbine-based anesthesia ventilator drive systems.
2. Describe common ventilation modes available on modern anesthesia workstations, including the physiological basis and practical applications of each.
3. Analyze the function and importance of fresh gas decoupling and automatic compliance compensation mechanisms in anesthesia ventilators.
4. Differentiate the operating principles, applications, and calibration requirements for various gas, flow, and pressure sensors commonly employed in anesthesia delivery systems, including galvanic and paramagnetic oxygen sensors, and side-stream/mainstream gas/agent analyzers.
5. Interpret patient physiological data from integrated monitoring systems such as pulse oximetry and capnography, and articulate how these interface with the anesthesia workstation.
6. Diagnose common malfunctions at the board or module level within anesthesia workstations using service logs, error codes, and knowledge of power supply, battery, control board, and display module functions.

Grading for this course will be based on a combination of assessments: knowledge checks (10%), assignments and laboratory exercises (30%), quizzes (25%), and a comprehensive final examination (35%). Students must achieve a minimum overall score of 70% to pass the course.

Students are expected to become familiar with the operational controls, routine preventative maintenance procedures, and basic troubleshooting methodologies for contemporary anesthesia delivery systems and integrated patient monitoring equipment. This includes understanding the user interface, alarm management, and the proper handling of accessories and consumables.