An anesthetic agent cassette is provided for selectively communicating
with an anesthesia machine using either analog or digital communication
techniques. The anesthetic agent cassette includes an input contact that
receives an input signal from an anesthesia machine. Based upon the input
signal, the control circuit in the anesthetic agent cassette determines
whether the anesthetic agent cassette is coupled to an anesthesia machine
that utilizes either digital communication or analog communication. The
anesthetic agent cassette includes an output circuit that selectively
connects either a digital output line or an analog output line to a
single output contact.