Means for determining a flow condition in a respiratory system

Means for determining a flow condition in a respiratory system, consisting of a valve assembly (3) having a valve disc (28) and a valve body (8), - in which - arranged with an arrangement of a magnetically permeable valve element (10) in or on the valve disc (28) and one on the valve body (8), coil (12) the position of the valve element (10) with respect to the valve seat by a detection of an air gap variation in the magnetic circuit is detected inductively and from the inductively detected position of the valve member (10) relative to the valve seat a measure of a flow is determined, or - arranged with an arrangement of an electrically conductive valve member (10) in or on the valve disc (28) and one on the valve body (8), coil (12) the position of the valve element (10) with respect to the valve seat by detecting an eddy current change in the magnetic -elektrischen circuit is detected inductively and from the inductively detected position of the valve member (10) relative to the valve seat a measure of a flow is determined, - and wherein with an arrangement of contact elements (26) and contactors (27) is detected electrically with respect to the valve seat the position of the valve disc (28) and of the electrically detected position of the valve disc (28) a measure of a direction of flow (5) is determined.