METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING A MEASURED AMOUNT OF A GAS

摘要

The present invention uses a ventilator (102) and a series of valves (110, 114) to deliver a special gas into a patient. The present invention finds use in the field of MRI imaging. Attached to the tube extending from the ventilator (102) to the patient is attached a first valve (110). This valve (110) alternately connects the patient to the ventilator (102) then to a supply of the special gas (122). Between the first valve (110) and the supply of gas is a second valve (114), which controls the pressure between the first valve (110) and the second valve (114) caused by the special gas (122). The supply of special gas (122) is connected to the second valve (114). A flow regulator (112) controls the rate at which the special gas (122) enters the patient. A computer (124) is also attached to the ventilator (102) and valves (110, 114) to synchronize the opening and closing of the valves (110, 114) and the operation of the ventilator (102) with the patient's respiratory cycles.