BACK BAR

Typical Number in Hospital:

Cost Bands:

References: 2

On a continuous flow anaesthetic machine the intermediate pressure (60 psi) gases from the cylinders or pipelines are fed into the low-pressure circuit at the flowmeter valves, where the flow rate of each gas is controlled and metered. The gases from the rotameters are mixed in a tube which runs across the back of the machine. This is the back bar, and it can have special fittings so that one or more vaporizers can be inserted, one at a time, into the flow of gas to introduce anaesthetic vapours. The downstream end of the back bar supplies the fresh gas outlet.