GAS HUMIDIFICATION APPARATUS

• US 3,852,385 A
• Filed: 12/06/1972
• Issued: 12/03/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Huggins
• Original Assignee: James A. Huggins
• Inventors: Huggins, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miles, Tim R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US05/312,670
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 128/185,186,188,194 261/DIG.65,77,78A,122,123 222/400.7,153
• US Class Current: 261/121.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/20 Arrangements for transferring or mixing fluids, e.g. from vial to syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

Apparatus for administering humidified gas (e.g., oxygen) to a patient includes a one-piece plastic connector having a tubular portion for connection to an oxygen supply, a tubular spike portion, and a smaller diameter oxygen supply tube within the spike portion and extending beyond the end of the spike portion for first piercing the stopper in an intravenous solution bottle. The spike portion enlarges the hole pierced by the oxygen supply tube. The oxygen from the supply tube is delivered to the bottom of the bottle and bubbles upwardly through the liquid therein. The humidified oxygen enters a chamber formed by that part of the bore of the spike portion that is not occupied by the gas tube. The humidified gas then leaves the chamber and enters a conduit on the connector that is connected to a nasal cannula.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for use in a gas humidification system that includes a container with liquid and an opening with a closure therein, said connector comprising a body having first tubular means for receiving gas from a gas supply, a thReaded coupling cooperable with said body for connecting said first tubular means to the gas supply, second tubular means, third tubular means telescoped within said second tubular means and being in communication with said first tubular means, said third tubular means having a sharp pointed end for piercing a hole in the closure, an end portion of said second tubular means being cross-sectionally larger than said third tubular means and shaped to enlarge the hole pierced by said pointed end, said end portion of said second tubular means being barbed to prevent accidental withdrawal of said connector assembly from the closure and to permit the container to be suspended from said connector assembly, said third tubular means and said second tubular means defining a chamber that is part of the bore of said second tubular means, a part of said third tubular means that includes said pointed end extending beyond end portion of said second tubular means for immersion in the liquid of the container such that gas will flow from said first tubular means through said third tubular means into the liquid to humidify the gas and the humidified gas will then flow from the surface of the liquid into said chamber, and means forming a conduit for conveying said humidified gas from said chamber, said conduit projecting laterally from said second tubular means and having a decreasing external diameter in a direction away from said second tubular means for telescopically receiving a nasal cannula.

2. A connector according to claim 1 in which said body is a one-piece plastic member that includes saId second tubular means and said conduit means.

3. Apparatus for administering humidified gas such as humidified oxygen to a patient comprising a container with liquid and having an opening with a stopper thereacross, a connector, threaded coupling means for connecting an inlet of said connector to a gas supply, saId connector including tubular means projecting through said stopper and having barb means underlying said stopper for preventing withdrawal of said connector from said stopper and for suspending said bottle from said connector, a gas supply tube in said tubular means and being in communication with said inlet, said gas supply tube lying below the liquid level and having a pointed end for piercing a hole in said stopper, said tubular means being of a cross-sectional size adjacent to said barb means that is larger than that of said gas supply tube so that the tubular means enlarges the hole pierced by said pointed end upon mounting of the connector onto the stopper, and means for conveying humidified gas through said connector to a nasal cannula, said conveying means including a conduit extending laterally of said tubular means and having a decreasing diameter in a direction away from said tubular member for telescopically receiving the nasal cannula.