Method and apparatus for identifying an anesthetic fluid container and/or for detecting a connection between the container and a conduit supplying a gas to a patient

A method for identifying which one of a plurality of anesthetic containers containing anesthetics of different properties is connected to a connecting element of a body member of an anesthetic apparatus, said method further determining whether the container has been placed in a position in which the container has a desired operative connection to the connecting element, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a magnetic-field producing means in association with each of the containers, said magnetic-field producing means establishing a unique magnetic characteristic to each of the containers;
• providing a magnetic-field detecting means in association with the body member;
• bringing a selected one of the plurality of anesthetic containers into proximity with the body member to magnetically couple the magnetic-field producing means and the magnetic-field detecting means;
• relatively moving at least one of the container and body member to move the container toward the operative connection position and to establish a particular magnetic coupling state between the magnetic-field producing means and the magnetic-field detecting means only when the container is in the operative connection position;
• detecting, with the magnetic-field detecting means, the magnetic coupling state of the magnetic-field producing means and the magnetic field detecting means and the magnetic characteristic of the magnetic-field producing means of the container proximate to the body member;
• identifying by means of the detection carried out by the magnetic-field detecting means which one of the plurality of anaesthetic containers is proximate to the body member;
• and
• determining whether the container is in the operative connection position from the magnetic coupling state of the magnetic-field producing means and the magnetic-field detecting means.