Calibration atmosphere generator for operating theatre pollution studies. A system for the controlled production of trace concentrations of inhalation anaesthetics.

The design and performance of an apparatus for producing accurately known trace concentrations of anaesthetic agents in air is described. The generator was constructed to facilitate the testing and calibration of equipment used in measuring the personal exposure of operating theatre staff to waste anaesthetic gases, and operates on the principle of the controlled injection of the pure anaesthetic agent into a diluting air stream. It is compact, simple to construct and easy to operate. Furthermore, it has a short stabilization time and can provide a wide range of predetermined concentrations with very good repeatability. It appears to be considerably more flexible than systems which have been described previously and should be of interest to groups involved in monitoring pollution in the operating theatre.