as shown in fig1 the volume ventilator comprises five basic building blocks including a control module 1 , a driving and air / oxygen mixing module 2 , a gas flow control apparatus 3 , an automatic mode control and cpap ( continuous positive airway pressure ) structure 4 , and a patient breathing apparatus 5 . control module 1 is equipped with a plurality of controls 6 through 9 for respectively adjusting minute volume , respiratory rate , inspiration - to - expiration ratio , and the oxygen concentration for the system . module 1 is furnished with additional control dials and buttons , namely ; 105 for sensitivity control in assisted breathing , 106 for patient pressure control , 107 for inspiratory plateau percentage control , switch 108 for timed nebulizer operation , 109 for sigh frequency control , button 110 for manual sigh control , 111 button for manual cycling , 112 for cpap dial control , and switch 90 for mode selection . briefly , module 1 performs several principal functions . a primary function is to deliver an appropriate flow of the driving gas , oxygen , from a source ( not shown ) via tubes 10 and 11 , a check valve 12 and a tube 13 into an interior chamber 14 of a drive cylinder 15 . another function of module 1 is that is furnishes the logic and timed electrical signals for strategically operating the various electromechanical valves utilized in the volume ventilator system . the mixing module 2 comprises two cylinders 15 and 16 having a respective interior chamber 14 and 18 , each of which houses a respective flexible bellows 19 , 20 . ends 21 , 22 of each such bellows are affixed to a surface 23 , 24 of block 17 . free , or movable , ends 25 , 26 of each of the bellows 19 and 20 are secured to respective plate members 27 and 28 , thus to provide respective inner chambers 29 , 30 . to fix the interior volume of the two bellows chambers 29 , 30 , a rigid rod 31 extends through a bore 32 in block 17 and is secured at its ends 33 , 34 to facing surfaces 35 and 36 of plate members 27 and 28 . the bore 32 has a slightly larger diameter than that of rod 31 so that chambers 29 and 30 are effectively sealed off from one another and so that the bellows 19 and 20 are free to move up and down within the cylinders 15 and 16 . thus , the interior volume of each of the cylinders 15 and 16 is the same . significantly , the inner volume of the two bellows 19 and 20 is fixed and , because of the interconnecting rod 31 , they must move in unison , but in opposite directions . as a consequence , when the volume of bellows 19 is decreasing during an upward travel , the volume within bellows 20 is increasing by the same amount . during a downward travel of bellows 19 , its volume increases while that of bellows 20 decreases during its concurrently downward travel . the operations of module 2 are subdivided into a driving function for both the patient breathing apparatus 5 and the automatic mode control and cpap structure 4 and an air / oxygen mixing function . the driving function involves inspiration and expiration cycles controllable by the control module 1 . the mixing function is effected during the inspiration cycle and is performed in the mixing cylinder 16 . during this time the inner chamber 29 of bellows 19 is filled , as explained later , with a prescribed mixture of air and oxygen preparatory to an inspiration cycle . referring to fig1 and 2 , an inspiration cycle is now described . proximate to the start of such a cycle , the control module 1 supplies an electrical signal to complete a circuit path through a winding 37 of an exhaust electromagnetic valve 38 to a negative battery potential for actuating and closing that valve and thereby precluding an exhaustion of oxygen from the interior chamber 14 of cylinder 15 . at about the same time , oxygen is applied via the control module 1 and tube 13 into chamber 14 so that the pressure in that chamber and on plate member 27 increases for causing a compression of bellows 19 . as soon as the pressure in bellows 19 becomes higher than the opening pressure of a check valve 39 therein , that valve moves upward for closing a communicating bore 40 extending between the inner chamber 30 and chamber 29 via valve 39 . the contents of bellows 19 are concurrently extended through a channel 41 in block 17 and a tube 42 to the gas flow control apparatus 3 for delivery to either the cpap bellows structure 4 or the patient breathing apparatus 5 as explained later . the inspiratory cycle consists of a flow portion as explained above which may be followed by a shorter period , also part of the inspiratory cycle , during which there is no flow . this no - flow period is referred to as inspiratory plateau . at the termination of the flow portion of the inspiration cycle , the check valve 12 closes to seal the interior chamber 14 of cylinder 15 . concurrently , the control module 1 causes the deactuation of the exhaust valve 38 by withdrawing the aforementioned actuating signal . resultingly , as depicted in fig1 and 3 , the weights of plate members 27 and 29 urge the bellows 19 and 20 downward for effecting an opening of check valve 39 and , in turn , allowing an air / oxygen mixture in chamber 30 to be communicated through bore 40 for filling chamber 29 . as the bellows 19 descends , it displaces the previously delivered oxygen from chamber 14 through the exhaust tube 44 , valve 38 and tube 43 into chamber 18 of cylinder 16 and until the bellows reach their lower excursion limit and as illustrated in fig4 . the delivered oxygen remains in chamber 18 for the duration of the inspiratory plateau period and the expiration cycle preparatory to a mixing - with - air operation which occurs on the next inspiration cycle . the expiration cycle is defined as the period from the end of inspiratory plateau to the start of inspiratory flow . module 2 is equipped with facilities for selectively transferring some or all of the oxygen stored in chamber 18 to either the interior chamber 30 of bellows 20 or the atmosphere exterior to the equipment . the transfer occurs during the inspiration cycle when both the check valve 39 for bellows 19 and the exhaust valve 38 are closed as priorly explained during the inspiration cycle . an oxygen transfer from chamber 18 to chamber 30 occurs in response to both an upward movement of bellows 19 and 20 as priorly described and an actuation of valve 45 for a predetermined time period of the inspiration cycle . the valve actuation is effected in response to an electrical signal supplied by module 1 over conductor 46 , as hereinafter explained , to complete a path through a winding 47 of valve 45 to negative battery potential . upon actuation , valve 45 completes a channel 48 ( fig5 ) for communicating the oxygen from chamber 18 through tube 49 , opened check valve 50 , tubes 51 and 52 and a conduit bore 53 in block 17 into chamber 30 of bellows 20 . a simplified schematic illustration of the structure for the oxygen transfer to chamber 30 is depicted in fig5 . the check valve 50 opens automatically and remains open as long as a predetermined differential pressure exists between tubes 49 and 51 . upon module 1 withdrawing the electrical actuating signal from conductor 46 , valve 45 is deactuated and closes for , in turn , interrupting further transfer of oxygen to the bellows chamber 30 . oxygen is expelled from chamber 18 to the atmosphere when valve 45 is not actuated during the inspiration cycle . the channel for expelling the oxygen extends from chamber 18 through tube 49 , opened check valve 50 , tube 51 , and a check valve 54 to the atmosphere . valves 50 and 54 automatically open and remain open as long as a predetermined differential pressure persists between the atmosphere and the expelling channel . during the oxygen expelling to the atmosphere and in response to the expansion of bellows 20 upward during the inspiration cycle while the mixing valve 45 is closed , air is drawn into bellows chamber 30 via the check valve 55 and tube 52 to mix with the oxygen contents therein . valve 55 automatically opens and remains open as long as a differential pressure persists between the atmosphere and the bellows chamber 30 . a simplified diagram illustrating the oxygen expelling and air intake structure is shown in fig6 . module 1 controls the duration of the inspiration time during which both bellows 19 and 20 move upward . it also controls the desired concentration of oxygen by simply controlling the opening and closing of the mixing valve 45 for prescribed lengths of time during the inspiration cycle . illustratively , in a case where an inspiration time is two seconds , and the mixing valve 45 is open half the time , or one - second , the gas entering bellows 20 is half oxygen and half air . resultingly , a mixture is produced in chamber 30 which is approximately sixty percent oxygen concentration ( air being twenty - one percent oxygen ). the mixed gas in bellows chamber 30 is transferred during the succeeding expiratory cycle from chamber 30 to chamber 29 via bore 40 and check valve 39 and thereafter to the gas flow control apparatus 3 during the next following inspiration . apparatus 3 performs gas flow switching , the patient expiratory valve driving , safety , sensing , and display control functions . the switching function involves conveying a gas mixture from the input tube 42 either to the patient breathing apparatus 5 or to the automatic mode control and cpap facilities 4 . this switching action is effected by operations of an electromechanical valve 56 under control of module 1 as explained hereinafter . another function is switchably to drive an expiratory valve 57 in the patient breathing apparatus 5 by means of a multiport electromechanical valve 58 actuated under control of module 1 as later described . apparatus 3 is equipped for safety functions . one safety function is provided by means of a spring loaded safety valve 59 which enables a patient to inhale from the atmosphere in the event of machine failure to deliver prescribed gas mixtures at predetermined pressures in the gas flow conduit . another safety function is to limit the pressure in the gas flow conduit to the patient breathing apparatus 5 and the automatic mode control and cpap facilities 4 by means of variable pressure limiting valve devices 60 and 61 . valve 61 opens to vent the gas flow conduit to the atmosphere when the conduit pressure exceeds a predetermined value fixed by its adjustable spring . valve 60 performs two functions . one is to limit the patient pressure within the patient breathing apparatus 5 to a maximum safety limit . the second function is to control the pressure to a level set by dial 106 of control module 1 . valve 60 is electrically operated via its winding 60 &# 39 ;. apparatus 3 is furnished with transducer sensors 62 and 63 which function to monitor the gas flow through its input tube 42 and through a patient inspiratory tube 64 . a pressure gauge 65 is provided in apparatus 3 for visually displaying the pressure in tube 64 to the patient breathing apparatus 5 . a pressure transducer 66 is included for continuously monitoring pressure in tube 64 and providing electrical signal information to the control module 1 for enabling it to regulate the maximum patient pressure in accordance with the dial setting 106 . a pressure transducer 116 is included for continuously monitoring pressure in tube 118 and providing electrical signal information to the control module 1 for enabling it to regulate cpap pressure . before further describing the operations of the flow control apparatus 3 , it is advantageous first to explain the structural configuration of both the patient breathing equipment 5 and of the automatic mode control and cpap facilities 4 . a patient is connectable to a conventional t - piece 67 which is connected to the patient breathing tube 64 of the flow control apparatus 3 via corrugated hoses 68 and 69 and a gas delivery system 70 . the latter is suitably a commercially available heated humidifier arrangement . the other end of the t - piece advantageously is connected to a controlled expiratory valve 57 which controls patient expiration to the atmosphere via an expiration transducer 71 in response to flow pressures in the expiration control tube 72 . in fig1 and as functionally depicted in fig7 and 8 , the expiratory valve 57 is constructed with an inlet 73 attached to the t - piece 67 , and outlet 74 connected to transducer 71 , and advantageously , a flexible inflatable &# 34 ; mushroom &# 34 ; diaphragm 75 inflatably connected to the expiration control tube 72 . functionally , diaphragm 75 is inflated when the pressure in tube 72 is equal to the pressure in the inlet 73 . the inflation occurs as hereinafter explained during inspiration and during portions of the expiration time . during inflation , diaphragm 75 occludes the orifice of inlet 73 as shown in fig7 . this occurs because the total surface area of diaphragm 75 facing the orifice of inlet 73 is larger than the surface area of the inlet lumen . resultingly , the inflated diaphragm 75 presses with more force against the orifice of inlet 73 than the opposing force produced by the pressure at inlet 73 through t - piece 67 . as a consequence , the opening pressure of the expiratory valve 57 is controlled by the pressure applied from the inside of diaphragm 75 . when that pressure is lower than that at inlet 73 , diaphragm 75 deflates to open the expiratory passageway from the inlet 73 to the outlet 74 for expelling a patient expiration through transducer 71 to the atmosphere external to the ventilator . transducer 71 senses the expired gases and provides signals to the control module 1 for determining expiration flow and volume . the automatic mode control and cpap facilities 4 comprise a flexible bellows 76 attached at a lower end 77 to a supporting block 78 . the latter is constructed with a bore 79 affixed to a tube 80 coupled to a control valve ( cpap fill valve ) 56 . bellows 76 receives a gas mixture from bellows 19 upon an opening of valve 56 , as explained later , and resultingly moves upward for storing prescribed volumes of the received gas within its internal chamber 81 . an upper end 82 of bellows 76 is secured to an enclosing plate 83 against which is applied an adjustable force from a source 84 . the latter suitably comprises a constant torque motor , pneumatic cylinder and piston , a simple weight or bellows 76 may be enclosed in a housing . source 84 , under control of motor 113 , blower 114 and a servo valve 115 and transducer 116 , produces a positive cpap pressure upon the gas mixture stored within the bellows chamber 81 . motor 113 operates the blower 114 to supply air flow from inlet 166 via conduit 117 , servo valve 115 , conduit 119 to the atmosphere . valve 115 , under control of module 1 , as later explained , closes or opens until the pressure in conduit 118 , as sensed by transducer 116 is equal to the setting of dial 112 of module 1 . changes in the setting of dial 112 cause valve 115 to adjust to maintain the cpap pressure . any changes of the motor speed , air density , atmospheric attitude and the like , are all accounted for by the servo control to maintain the dialed - in cpap pressure . an electrical ground potential is applied to plate 83 for extension to a wiper arm 85 affixed thereto . wiper 85 is arranged slidably to move across four fixed and independent vertically aligned conductors 86 , 87 , 88 and 89 in response to the vertical movement of bellows 76 . one of the conductors 86 - 89 receives the ground potential from wiper 85 upon the elevation of bellows 76 and so as to signal the control module 1 of the volume of gas within bellows chamber 81 . the ground potential on wiper 85 is extended to conductors 86 , 87 , 88 and 89 , respectively , to specify the following : ( 1 ) fill bellows 76 due to patient breathing more than set minute volume , ( 2 ) bellows 76 adequately filled for spontaneous patient breathing , ( 3 ) bellows 76 filled by greater amount due to patient breathing less than the set minute volume and breathing assistance required by patient , and ( 4 ) bellows 76 filled excessively due to very little patient breathing and switching to controlled patient breathing required . the ventilator of fig1 is designed to operate in three modes ; namely , a standby mode , a control mode and an automatic mode . preparatory to operating in one of these three modes , the controls 6 - 9 and 107 of module 1 are set to establish the vital parameters of prescribed minute volume ( 6 ), respiration rate ( 7 ), inspiratory plateau ( 107 ), inspiration - to - expiration ratio ( 8 ), and oxygen concentration ( 9 ). resultingly , oxygen is delivered through modules 1 and 2 to the inlet tube 42 of the gas flow control apparatus 3 as priorly explained and at the prescribed air / oxygen mixture , minute volume , respiration rate , inspiratory plateau , and inspiration - to - expiration ratio established by the setting of controls 6 - 9 and 107 . in the standby mode , a selector switch 90 of the control module 1 is moved to its standby position for disabling the control module circuitry from effecting a delivery of any gas to the driving and oxygen module 2 while the patient monitoring operations continue to function as hereinafter described . for the control mode of the ventilator operation , a selector switch 90 of module 1 is moved to a position which opens the actuating circuit for the magnetic valve 56 and thereby causes its closing . as a result , all of the gas delivered from bellows 19 to tube 42 during the inspiration cycle of the driving module 2 , as priorly described , is directed to the patient via a passageway including transducer 62 , check valve 91 , tube 92 , check valve 93 , tube 94 , transducer 63 , tube 64 , hose 68 , humidifier 70 , hose 69 and t - piece 67 . check valves 91 and 93 automatically open when the pressure of the delivered gas mixture exceeds that within the described passageway leading to the patient . at the same time , the control module 1 actuates the magnetic valve 58 via its energizing winding 97 for connecting the expiratory valve 57 via tube 72 to tube 92 of the described passageway to the patient . as a consequence , pressure within the mushroom diaphragm 75 is the same as in the patient passageway and thereby inflates diaphragm 75 for closing the lumen of inlet 73 so that all of the gas supplied by bellows 19 and the described passageway is delivered to the patient . during the expiratory cycle of the driving module 2 operating , the control module 1 actuates valve 58 via its second energizing winding 98 for switching the expiratory valve diaphragm 75 from tube 92 into connection with the cpap bellows 76 via tubes 72 and 80 . accordingly , the opening pressure of the expiratory valve 57 decreases to the cpap pressure maintained in bellows 76 . thus , diaphragm 75 deflates for opening valve 57 and the patient exhales through transducer 71 to the atmosphere until the pressure at inlet 73 becomes proximately equal to the cpap pressure of bellows 76 . if , during operation in the control mode , the volume of gas in bellows 76 drops sufficiently for any reason , wiper 85 slides onto the bellows fill conductor 86 for signaling the control and driving modules 1 and 2 to actuate and open valve 56 so that a predetermined larger volume of gas is delivered to bellows 76 via tube 80 for maintaining the prescribed cpap function with wiper 85 on the spontaneous breathing conductor 87 . the automatic mode of the ventilator operation is established by operating the selector switch 90 of control module 1 to a second position for thereby effecting an operation of valves 56 and 58 of fig1 . valve 56 operates over a path extending from negative battery potential through the valve energizing winding 95 and conductor 96 to an electrical signal ( not shown ) supplied by module 1 . upon operating , valve 56 provides a conduit for extending the prescribed minute volume of gas mixture from the interior chamber 29 of bellows 19 to the interior chamber 81 of bellows 76 via a path from chamber 29 through opening 41 , tube 42 , transducer 62 , check valve 91 , tube 92 , valve 56 , tube 80 and bore 79 . the last - mentioned operation of valve 58 is effected over a path from negative battery potential through a second one of the valve energizing windings 98 and conductor 99 to an electrical signal ( not shown ) supplied by module 1 . in operating , valve 58 is effective to couple the interior chamber 81 of bellows 76 to the inflatable diaphragm 75 of the expiratory valve 57 over a path including tube 72 , valve 58 , tube 80 and bore 79 . resultingly , diaphragm 75 is inflated due to equal pressures in tube 72 and the inlet 73 of valve 57 . thus , the airway pressure and the opening pressure of the expiratory valve 57 are the same as the pressure in chamber 81 of the cpap bellows 76 . thereafter , a patient connected to the t - piece 67 can breathe freely from the cpap bellows 76 via tube 80 , check valves 167 and 93 , tube 94 , transducer 63 , tubes 64 and 68 , humidifier 70 , tube 69 and t - piece 67 , advantageously at any time rather than under control of the control module 1 and driving and mixing apparatus 2 . bellows 76 functions essentially as a reservoir for the gas mixture breathed by the patient . it is replenished in bellows 76 by the driving apparatus 2 continuously delivering the set minute volume of gas mixture at the respiration rate and inspiration - to - expiration ratio set by controls 6 - 9 of module 1 . during patient exhalation , the expiratory valve 57 is opened for enabling the patient to exhale through transducer 71 to the atmosphere . the valve opens as a result of the pressure at its inlet being greater than that in tube 72 . the pressure differential across check valve 93 during patient exhalation also causes it to close which insures that all of the exhalation is through exhalation valve 57 and transducer 71 to the atmosphere . several conditions may occur during patient breathing . for example , the patient may breathe more or less than the minute volume set by control 6 . if the patient breathes more , the level of bellows 76 drops as priorly explained , and wiper 85 extends ground to conductor 86 and over a lead 101 of cable 100 for signaling the control module 1 to supply a preprogram larger volume of gas mixture through apparatus 2 and 3 to bellows 76 so that it operates in the spontaneous breathing range with wiper 85 on conductor 87 . when wiper 85 rests on that conductor , ground is supplied over lead 102 of cable 100 for signaling the control module to supply the gas mixture needed for patient breathing . automatic breathing assistance is given to the patient when bellows 76 excessively fills and resultingly signals that the patient is breathing less than the prescribed minute volume . when bellows 76 fills to the extent that wiper 85 slides into contact with conductor 88 , the control module 1 is signaled over lead 103 of cable 100 to that effect and , if the control module concurrently senses a flow signal through transducer 63 , module 1 deactuates and closes valve 56 by withdrawing the energizing signal from the conductor 96 . concurrently , module 1 deenergizes winding 98 and energizes winding 97 of valve 58 as priorly explained for connecting the expiratory valve diaphragm 75 via tube 72 to tube 92 . this switchover operation causes the remaining portion of the tidal volume to be delivered from the driving bellows 19 directly to the patient . consequently , the patient triggered the inspiration by breathing less and the ventilator increases the depth of the breath in synchronism with the patient breathing . switchback to the automatic mode of the ventilator operation is effected when the bellows fill decreases to the point where wiper 85 rests again on conductor 87 and a ground signal is applied thereover to conductor 102 for causing module 1 to reenergize valves 56 and 58 to again establish the automatic mode of operation , as already explained . if the patient breathes very little or not at all , bellows 76 fills to a level which causes the ventilator tow switch automatically to its control mode of operation . this action occurs when bellows 76 fills to the point where wiper 85 slides over contact 88 to contact 89 . as wiper 85 slides over contact 88 , it effects the automatic switchover to assisted breathing , as already described . when wiper 85 slides onto conductor 89 , it effects the automatic switchover to control breathing . when wiper 85 slides onto conductor 89 , it extends the ground signal over lead 104 of cable 100 to the control module 1 for signaling it to switch the ventilator into its control mode of operation with subsequent patient breathing directly from the driving bellows chamber 29 . turning now to fig9 the circuitry of control module 1 for controlling its flow control valves as well as the strategic flow valves in the driving and oxygen mixing module 2 , gas flow control apparatus 3 and the automatic mode control and cpap module 4 is now described . module 1 is equipped with a scaler and calculations circuit 120 which receives dial - in , switch and pushbutton electrical data on input conductors 121 through 128 for scaling and conversion into calculated output voltages and other electrical signals on conductors 129 through 133 for the flow control and timing operations . a tabulation of the dial , switch and pushbutton devices , together with illustrative range or setting information and the conductor on which the functional data is received is as follows : ______________________________________ range or functional inputdevice setting conductor______________________________________minute volume dial 6 2 to 30 liters / minute 121respiratory rate 6 to 40 breaths / minute 122dial 7inspiration - to - 1 : 1 to 1 : 4 123expiration dial 8inspiration plateau 0 to 40 % of inspiratory 124dial 107 time , during which time there is no flow and no patient exhalation . nebulizer switch 108 controls a connection 125 of a nebulizer to the patient inhalation line for a timed period . sigh frequency off , 32 , 64 and manual 126rotary switch 109 positions operatively corresponding to every 32 or 64 breaths auto - matically or manually under control of push - button 110 and conduc - tor 127 . sigh has the effect of increasing the tidal volume of a par - ticular breath by 50 % with a maximum 2 - liter tidal volume . manual cycle manual initiation of a 128pushbutton 111 start of a respiratory cycle . ______________________________________ a tabulation of the calculated outputs from circuit 120 together with a brief description of the output signals and the conductors on which they are supplied is as follows : ______________________________________calculated outputoutput description conductor______________________________________tidal volume a voltage corresponding 129voltage to the tidal volume and proportional in magni - tude to minute volume / rate . voltage limited to the value correspon - ding to 2 liters . rate timing a short pulse ( approxi - 130pulse mately 10 milliseconds nominal ) which is used to initiate a breathing cycle . the interval be - tween successive pulses is related to the rate dial setting by interval in seconds equal to 60 / rate . binary flow multidigit binary number 131signal voltages corresponding to the actual flow re - quired during the flow portion of the inspira - tory cycle . this flow signal is proportional to ## str1 ## when the nebulizer is &# 34 ; off &# 34 ; and proportional to ## str2 ## nebulizer flow when the nebulizer is &# 34 ; on &# 34 ;. illustratively , the nebulizer flow is approximately 10 liters / minute . the binary num - ber is in 2 liters / minute steps and has a value which is limited to 100 liters / minute . the signal is on 6 lines represented by conductor 131 and corres - ponds to 2 , 4 , 8 , 16 , 32 and 64 liters per minute . inspiratory gate a voltage whose duration 132signal is equal in seconds to 60 / rate ( 1 + expiration / inspiration ) which is the total inspiratory period including any inspiratory plateau . ______________________________________ turning now to fig1 , it illustrates a somewhat idealized waveform of a cycle of breathing for illustrating the inspiratory pause portion of the inspiratory time in relation to the actual flow portion of inspiration . thus , inspiration time is divided into two parts , namely flow time and inspiratory pause . during flow time actual flow takes place and during the pause , there is no flow . during the total inspiratory time , the exhalation valve 57 of fig1 is closed . this action serves to keep the patient &# 39 ; s lung expanded for the inspiratory pause . the inspiratory pause is expressed as a percentage of the total inspiratory time i . using the parameters f = flow , mv = minute volume , and e = expiratory time and t = inspiratory pause , the following relationship is derived : ## equ1 ## with no inspiratory pause , t = 0 and the relationship reduces to the range of t / i as utilizable in the ventilator is 0 to 40 % and is controlled by the inspiratory plateau dial 107 of fig1 . for a given setting of mv and i : e ratio by controls 6 and 8 of fig1 the flow f is increased with the increasing percentage of inspiratory plateau as the actual flow is &# 34 ; on &# 34 ; for a shorter portion of the inspiratory time . the inspiratory plateau control 107 is illustratively a potentiometer which forms part of a voltage divider ( not shown ) circuitwise incorporated into the scaler and calculations circuit 120 of fig9 . utilization of the foregoing in the control module 1 is , by a derivation of two flows , as follows : ## equ2 ## the first flow f 1 defines the &# 34 ; i &# 34 ; time by an integration of an electrical value of f 1 until the calculated tidal volume tv = mv / rate is reached . the second flow f 2 defines the actual output flow from the valves 12 . flow f 2 is greater than f 1 causes the tidal volume to be reached before the inspiratory time i and is the actual inspiratory portion of i . the three different modes of the ventilator operation are selected by the mode selection switch 90 depicted by a block in fig9 . in the standby mode , switch 90 supplies a signal for disabling the operation of the scaler and calculations circuit 120 and the fill monitor circuit 134 . resultingly , output 131 of circuit 120 controls the valve logic 135 and valve driver 136 for deactuating the flow valves 137 through 142 and thereby blocking the flow of gas via tube 11 , check valve 12 and tube 13 to the driving and oxygen mixing module 2 . the remainder of the ventilator operations for patient monitoring such as inhalation , exhalation , breathing rate and the like are functional as hereinafter described for the automatic and control modes of operation . in the automatic mode and with the cpap wiper 85 in contact with bar conductor 87 of fig1 the operation is as follows : starting at the beginning of an inspiration cycle , the scaler and calculations circuit 120 supplies a rate timing pulse over conductor 130 for resetting the actual flow integrator 144 and , in turn , its output to zero . comparator 145 compares the calculated tidal volume signal received from circuit 120 over conductor 129 with the output of integrator 144 . initially , the integrator output is less than the calculated tidal volume and , resultingly , comparator 145 generates a flow gate voltage at its output for controlling the exhaust valve 38 of module 2 , valve enable logic 135 , and fill monitor 134 of fig9 . the flow gate voltage actuates and closes the exhaust valve 38 and thereby precludes an exhaustion of oxygen from chamber 14 of module 2 , as priorly explained . concurrently , the flow gate voltage enables the logic circuitry 135 to pass the binary number signals from circuit 120 to activate the valve driver 136 and , in turn , to actuate prescribed ones of the flow valves 137 - 142 which supply oxygen to module 2 of fig1 via tube 11 , check valve 12 and tube 13 . the digital signals from the logic circuitry 135 are summed with a nebulizer signal from a nebulizer switch 108 in a summing circuit 146 . the resultant sum output signal which is proportional to the actual flow is directed to the input of integrator 144 . flow from module 1 to module 2 via tube 11 , check valve 12 and tube 13 continues until the output of integrator 144 is equal to the calculated tidal volume , at which time the flow gate signal is withdrawn by comparator 145 . as a result , logic circuitry 135 is disabled and , in turn , deactivates the valve driver 136 to close the actuated ones of the valves 137 - 142 . this action represents the end of the flow . at about the same time , valve 38 of fig1 deactuates in response to the removed flow gate signal . no further flow from module 1 to module 2 occurs until after the integrator 144 is reset to zero by the rate timing signal pulse for initiating another cycle . the aforementioned nebulizer switch 108 is effective to produce a reduced flow signal from scaler and calculations circuit 120 to the valve enable logic 135 and driver 136 whenever the nebulizer is &# 34 ; on .&# 34 ; the magnitude of the reduction is essentially equal to the magnitude of the flow introduced by the nebulizer into the patient inhalation path via the patient breathing apparatus 5 of fig1 . driving gas for the nebulizer is supplied from valve 143 which is controlled by nebulizer flow logic 165 . in order for valve 143 to be actuated , two conditions exist : ( 1 ) nebulizer control switch must be closed (&# 34 ; on &# 34 ;) and ( 2 ) flow must be present at inspiratory flow sensor 63 . at the aforementioned beginning of the inspiration cycle , the control module 1 is effective to actuate the oxygen mixing valve 45 of module 2 ( fig1 and 9 ) for enabling a transfer of a prescribed concentration of oxygen from chamber 18 to chamber 30 , and selectively , from chamber 18 to the atmosphere , as priorly described . in fig9 valve 45 is actuated in response to an output signal from a tidal volume comparator 147 , which signal is generated just following the resetting of the flow integrator 144 of fig9 by the rate timing pulse on conductor 130 at the beginning of the inspiration cycle , as already explained . comparator 147 compares the flow integrated output of integrator 144 with a compensated value of the calculated tidal volume signal on conductor 129 . the compensation is effected by the oxygen concentration dial circuitry 9 which suitably comprises a variable voltage divider serially between conductor 129 and one of the compare inputs 148 of comparator 147 . the dial 9 is settable between 21 and 100 % oxygen as hereinbefore described , which setting actually sets a voltage on input 148 that is a proportion of the calculated tidal volume on conductor 129 . if the latter voltage is equal to the tidal volume voltage on conductor 129 , dial 9 is set to 100 % for 100 % oxygen . if voltage on input 148 is equal to zero , dial 9 is set to 21 % for air concentration in chamber 30 . as long as the tidal volume voltage output of the flow integrator 144 is less than the voltage on input 148 , the output of comparator 147 actuates and maintains actuated the valve 45 . at the point where the voltages are equal , the comparator 147 output changes state for effecting a deactuation of valve 45 and causing oxygen from chamber 18 to be expelled to the atmosphere via check valve 50 and 54 of module 2 , fig1 as priorly explained . concurrently , air is drawn into bellows chamber 30 of module 2 via check valve 55 of fig1 as already described , and for the duration of the flow gating signal from the output of comparator 145 . the latter signal occurs as priorly described until the prescribed tidal volume has been supplied . the foregoing describes ventilator operations when the patient is breathing the same amount as the minute volume set by dial control 6 and effectively , the gas in chamber 81 of fig1 is essentially constant , and wiper 85 is in contact with bar conductor 87 . the following description explains ventilator operations for situations where the patient breathes more and less than the minute volume set by dial control 6 . when the patient breathes more than the set minute volume , the wiper 85 of fig1 contacts the low fill level sensor conductor 86 as bellows 76 descends due to the emptying of chamber 81 , as priorly described . as a consequence , ground potential is applied over conductor 101 for operating the fill monitor circuit 134 of fig9 to produce an output fill signal on conductor 149 immediately upon the removal of the flow gating signal of comparator 145 which theretofor had maintained the fill monitor 134 reset . the fill signal on conductor 149 is effective to : ( 1 ) activate the scaler and calculations circuitry 120 of fig9 for setting the calculated tidal volume signal on conductor 129 to 2 liters and to initiate a new breathing cycle , ( 2 ) operate the valve enable logic circuitry 135 of fig9 for producing 100 liter / minute binary signals ( 64 , 32 and 4 liter binary signals ) to the valve driver 136 , thus to override the binary flow signals supplied by circuitry 120 and to produce a 100 liter per minute flow from module 1 to module 2 , and ( 3 ) actuates the control valves 56 and 58 of fig9 via inverter 150 and the and gate 151 so that the flow in fig1 from chamber 29 is only directed to chamber 81 , as priorly described . this fill action serves to cause bellows 76 to return rapidly to a filled state . this fill cycle prevents the bellows 76 from becoming empty which , in turn , would cause the patient to receive inhalation via bypass valve 59 of fig1 . if the patient breathed through valve 59 , the oxygen percentage would be that of air , and any cpap pressure from source 84 of fig1 would not be available to the patient , and the patient would be inhaling at atmospheric pressure . when the fill cycle is completed , the wiper 85 of fig1 has moved from bar conductor 86 to 87 and , in turn , controls the fill monitor 135 for withdrawing the fill signal from conductor 149 . at the completion of this priorly described fill cycle , the aforementioned operations for patient breathing while wiper 85 rests on bar conductor 87 are resumed . when a patient breathes less than the minute volume set by dial control 6 , patient assist breathing is prescribed , and the ventilator takes such action in response to wiper 85 contacting assist level sensor conductor 88 of fig1 as a result of continuous gas delivery to chamber 81 exceeding the patient inhalation . essentially , chamber 81 receives more gas than the patient inhales and bellows 76 rises . the signal from sensor 88 is directed to and gate 152 and when the patient next initiates a breath , this effort is detected by flow sensor 63 of fig1 and 9 . the output of sensor 63 is extended over conductor 153 to the inspiratory logic and comparator 154 which integrates the sensed flow and compares the resulting volume output signal voltage to a preset voltage . ( typically corresponding to 100 to 200 cc . of volume .) when the preset volume is reached and the flow through sensor 63 is greater than a threshold voltage derived from the sensitivity dial 105 , the output of comparator 154 in conjunction with the signal from sensor 88 causes output of and gate 152 to be directed over conductor 155 through or gate 156 to and gate 151 . the latter gate is fully enabled in response to an inspiratory gate enable signal on conductor 132 , the absence of a fill signal on conductor 149 , and the aforementioned output of or gate 156 causing valves 57 and 58 to close during the inspiratory cycle . closure of valve 56 serves to direct the tidal volume from chamber 29 directly to the patient via tube 42 , transducer 62 , valve 91 , tube 92 , check valve 93 , sensor 63 , tube 64 and the humidifier 70 . closure of valve 58 causes the pressure in mushroom chamber 75 of valve 57 to assume the same pressure existing at inlet 73 of valve 57 , causing inlet 73 to be occluded . resultingly , the aforementioned tidal volume from chamber 29 is delivered directly to the patient . if the patient does not initiate a breath for the foregoing &# 34 ; assist &# 34 ; breathing , wiper 85 with control level sensor conductor 89 thereby supplies a signal to conductors 104 and 157 for extension through or gate 156 to and gate 151 . upon enablement , gate 151 causes valves 56 and 58 to close for directing the flow directly from chamber 29 to the patient as described in the immediately preceding paragraph . the signal on conductor 104 is extended through or gate 158 for enabling the sigh function ( 50 % increase in tidal volume ). this action occurs at the inspiratory period immediately following the wiper 85 contact with conductor 89 independent of the patient &# 39 ; s effort to initiate a breath . the action is that of completely controlled ventilation rather than assisted ventilation . if the patient starts to breathe more than the dial settings on module 1 , the bellows 76 will fall , and the ventilator operations will return to those previously described . turning now to the control mode of the ventilator operation , the selector switch 90 of fig9 is moved to its control position for effecting patient breathing in a controlled manner . the mode selector switch extends a signal over conductor 159 to or gate 156 for overriding the effects of all the inputs to that gate as previously discussed . in order to maintain cpap operation , bellows 76 of fig1 must not be empty and the &# 34 ; fill &# 34 ; cycle , as already explained , functions in a manner as previously described . a signal on conductor 159 also is extended via gate 158 to enable the sigh function . when the ventilator is in the control mode , the sigh function ( 50 % increase in tidal volume ) operates in accordance with dial control 109 . in the standby , or automatic mode of the ventilator , the sigh function is inoperative because the flow is directed to the cpap bellows from which the patient is normally initiating breaths . the sigh function is also interlocked with the signal from sensor 89 via or gate 158 so that if the patient lapses into a controlled breathing as sensed by sensor 89 , the sigh is enabled . the manual sigh button 110 initiates a sigh cycle as described whenever the sigh function is enabled and button 110 is actuated . anytime the manual cycle button 111 is depressed , a controlled breath is delivered to the patient under control of circuit 120 , or gate 156 and and gate 151 as well as valves 56 and 58 , as previously described . fig9 shows a cpap servo control circuit 160 which receives two voltage inputs , the first of which is derived from the pressure transducer 116 of fig1 and the second from the circuitry including the cpap electrical control dial 112 . the latter illustratively is settable in the range from 0 to 20 centimeters h 2 o . if the cpap dial 112 voltage is different than the voltage from pressure transducer 116 , circuit 160 causes servo valve 115 to alter the restriction of the flow for causing the pressure directed to source 84 to change so that the transducer 116 voltage is equal to the dial 112 setting voltage . fig9 shows a patient pressure limit control system comprising relief valve 60 , comparator 168 , pressure limit dial circuit 106 and a patient pressure transducer 66 . if the pressure transducer voltage exceeds the voltage corresponding to the setting of dial 106 , comparator 168 actuates relief valve 60 which causes a reduction of pressure in tube 94 ( fig1 ) by venting the gas in that tube to the atmosphere . the design of this ventilator is such that all of the input and output parameters of the scaler and calculations circuit 120 of fig9 are available for compiling a record of the settings and derived parameters by means of a suitable recorder ( not shown ). the flow sensors 63 and 71 of fig1 are monitorable for determining and recording the flow to and from the patient . these flows are integratable and processed for displaying volumes . a comparison of the volumes to and from the patient allow for a detection of any leak in the patient connection and the actuation of an alarm . a list of the available monitored signals from the ventilator include : set minute volume , set rate , set inspiration - to - expiration ratio , set inspiratory plateau , nebulizer signal on - off , sigh setting ; mode : standby , auto or control , set % oxygen , cpap setting , calculated tidal volume , calculated flow , actual flow ( binary signals ) from circuit 120 of fig9 sigh activation , cpap pressure via transducer 116 , patient pressure via transducer 66 , actual flow , total inspiratory period , signals to indicate a fill , assist and control cycle . the front panel of the ventilator is suitably equipped with devices for furnishing visual indications of mode and operation status of the ventilator and for certain alarm functions . these include : standby , assist or control modes of operation , spontaneous breathing , cpap on - off , airway pressure meter , sigh indicator for when sigh is taking place , oxygen enriched ( when oxygen is greater than 21 %), nebulizer on , patient breath trigger of ventilator , patient pressure alarm to indicate when patient tried to exceed the setting of dial 106 of fig1 ( transducer 66 signal utilizable for comparison with dial 106 setting ), dial setting exceeds specifications alarm when settings call for greater than 2 liters per minute , temperature readout of airway to patient , fill empty humidifier , power failure , and ventilator inoperative .