HUMIDIFICATION IN BREATHING CIRCUITS
First Claim
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1. A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit comprising:
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aerosolising a humidifying agent using an aerosol generator wherein the aerosol generator comprises a vibratable member having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface thereof; and
delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent to a ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient.
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Abstract
A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit 100, 101, 102, 105, 106 comprises aerosolising a humidifying agent such as water or saline using an aerosol generator 2 and delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent to the inspiration line 101 of the ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient. The aerosol generator 2 comprises a vibratable member 40 having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface. A controller 3 controls the operation of aerosol generator 2, for example in response to the flow of air in the inspiration line 101 as detected by a sensor 11.
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60 Claims
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1. A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit comprising:
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aerosolising a humidifying agent using an aerosol generator wherein the aerosol generator comprises a vibratable member having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface thereof; and delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent to a ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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- 23. An aerosol introducer apparatus for introducing aerosolised humidifying agent into a ventilation circuit comprising an endotracheal tube, an inspiration line extending from a ventilator, and an exhalation line extending from the ventilator, the introducer comprising an aerosol generator and control means for controlling the operation of the aerosol generator wherein the aerosol generator comprises a vibratable member having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface thereof.
Specification