Method and apparatus for self-contained anesthetic gas reclamation
First Claim
1. A method of removing and separating gaseous anesthetics from a waste anesthetic gas stream to prevent atmospheric venting of gaseous anesthetics from a healthcare facility, said method comprising the steps of:
- collecting said waste anesthetic gas stream from an anesthetizing machine (312, 612), cooling said gas stream by passing said gas stream over a cooling surface (236, 436A, 436B, 536) characterized by a surface temperature gradient such that said gas stream passes thereover in a direction from a warmer to a colder temperature, said gas stream exchanging heat conductively through said cooling surface with a heat transfer fluid, said heat transfer fluid being warmed by said exchange of heat with said gas stream, said heat transfer fluid being cooled thereafter in a refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670), condensing said gaseous anesthetics from said gas stream, separating said condensed anesthetics from said gas stream, venting to atmosphere (346, 446, 546, 646) said gas stream absent said condensed anesthetics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. With minimal reliance on the utility infrastructure and supplies of a healthcare facility, the method and apparatus needs only electrical or mechanical power, a source of waste anesthetic gases, and an atmospheric vent in order to operate. A heat exchanger/condenser, which uses a dedicated heat transfer fluid as a refrigerant, is employed to condense anesthetic gas components from the waste anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. The warmed heat transfer fluid is cooled in a separate refrigeration unit and recycled back to the heat exchanger/condenser. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a self-contained, packaged unit which can be easily accommodated in a physician'"'"'s office, small animal clinic, dental office or other healthcare facility requiring effective waste anesthetic gas management.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of removing and separating gaseous anesthetics from a waste anesthetic gas stream to prevent atmospheric venting of gaseous anesthetics from a healthcare facility, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting said waste anesthetic gas stream from an anesthetizing machine (312, 612), cooling said gas stream by passing said gas stream over a cooling surface (236, 436A, 436B, 536) characterized by a surface temperature gradient such that said gas stream passes thereover in a direction from a warmer to a colder temperature, said gas stream exchanging heat conductively through said cooling surface with a heat transfer fluid, said heat transfer fluid being warmed by said exchange of heat with said gas stream, said heat transfer fluid being cooled thereafter in a refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670), condensing said gaseous anesthetics from said gas stream, separating said condensed anesthetics from said gas stream, venting to atmosphere (346, 446, 546, 646) said gas stream absent said condensed anesthetics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for preventing venting to the atmosphere of anesthetic gas components of waste anesthetic gas from a healthcare facility comprising:
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a collection intake (316, 616) for drawing said waste anesthetic gas from a waste anesthetic gas collection unit (315, 330, 615, 630) into a compressor (342, 642), a compressor (342, 642) consisting of at least one compression stage for elevating said waste anesthetic gas to a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure, a heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) having an inlet fluidly coupled to a flow line (239, 339, 439, 539, 639) from said compressor (342, 642) and an outlet, said heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) also having a cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536) positioned therein with an outlet of said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536) fluidly coupled to a flow line (227, 337, 427, 527, 627) to a refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670), said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536) having an inlet, said heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) having at least one vessel (224, 324, 424, 524A, 524B, 624) for collecting liquefied anesthetic components from said waste anesthetic gas within said heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622), and a refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670) having an inlet fluidly coupled to a flow line (227, 327, 427, 527, 627) from said outlet of said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536) and an outlet fluidly coupled to a flow line (221, 321, 421, 521, 621) to said inlet of said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536), said refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670) for cooling a heat transfer fluid flowing through said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for preventing venting to the atmosphere of anesthetic gas components of waste anesthetic gas from a healthcare facility comprising:
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a waste anesthetic gas collection unit (315, 330, 615, 630) which collects waste anesthetic gas from an anesthetizing machine (312, 612), a collection intake (316, 616) for receiving said waste anesthetic gas from said waste anesthetic gas collection unit (315, 330, 615, 630), a first stage (422A) of a heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) having an inlet fluidly coupled to a flow line (239, 339, 439, 539, 639) from said collection intake (316, 616) and an outlet, said first heat exchanger/condenser stage (422A) also having a first cooling coil (436A) positioned therein with an outlet of said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536) fluidly coupled to a flow line (227, 327, 427, 527, 627) to a refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670), said first cooling coil (436A) having an inlet, and a second stage (422B) of said heat exchanger/condenser stage (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) having an inlet which is fluidly coupled to said outlet of said first heat exchanger/condenser stage (422A) and an outlet, said second heat exchanger/condenser stage (422B) also having a second cooling coil (436B) positioned therein with an outlet of said second cooling coil (436B) fluidly coupled to said inlet of said first cooling coil (436A) and an inlet of said second cooling coil (436B) fluidly coupled to a flow line (221, 321, 421, 521, 621) from said refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670), said heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622) having at least one vessel (224, 324, 424, 524A, 524B, 624) for collecting liquefied anesthetic components from said waste anesthetic gas within said heat exchanger/condenser (222, 322, 422, 522, 622), and a refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670) having an inlet fluidly coupled to a flow line (227, 327, 427, 527, 627) from said outlet of said first cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536) and an outlet fluidly coupled to a flow line (221, 321, 421, 521, 621) to said inlet of said second cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536), said refrigeration unit (270, 370, 570, 670) for cooling a heat transfer fluid flowing through said cooling coil (236, 436A, 436B, 536). - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification