Anesthesia humidifier

• US 4,152,379 A
• Filed: 05/26/1977
• Issued: 05/01/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airco, Inc. (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Airco, Inc. (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Suhr, Manfred W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US05/800,757
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 261/64 R, 261/64 B, 261/64 D, 261/119 R, 261/120, 261/81, 261/122-124, 261/142, 261/DIG. 65, 261/62, 261/65, 55/122, 128/185-187, 128/192-194
• US Class Current: 261/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

A gas humidifying device is disclosed which includes a generally enclosed chamber defining a water reservoir, and an umbrella-shaped member positioned in the chamber with its downwardly facing peripheral edge normally extending beneath the surface of the water in the reservoir, whereby the interior of said member defines a gas accumulation space in contact with the water surface. Gas inlet means are connected to the gas accumulation space for introducing a dry gas to be humidified; and gas outlet means are connected to the chamber, and communicate with the chamber which is external to the gas accumulation space within the unbrella-shaped member. At least portions of the peripheral edge of the umbrella-shaped member are upwardly displaceable from the normal position to a position above the water surface and such displacements intermittently occur as pressure builds up in the gas accumulation space in consequence of gas flow proceeding to such space from the inlet means. Such displacements of the member peripheral edge above the water surface enable intermittent flow of gas past the member edge, where intimate gas-water contact is effected, with the humidified gas then proceeding to the gas outlet means. The displacements of the peripheral edge also serve to agitate the water and surface thereof, which promotes uniformity of temperature of water in the reservoir--which reservoir may be provided with heating means to maintain the water temperature at an elevated temperature. The unbrella-shaped member can be mounted to be vertically displaceable as a unit; or the member can be constrained against unit movement, but possess sufficient flexibility to enable elastic upward displacement of the peripheral edge to a position above the water level, with the displacements of the periphery occurring uniformly or by sections.

Claims

1. A gas humidifying apparatus, comprising in combination:

a generally enclosed chamber adapted to contain a water reservoir;

a highly flexible umbrella-shaped member mounted in said chamber with the open concavity thereof facing said water reservoir, and with the peripheral edge of said member normally extending beneath said water, whereby the interior of said member defines with said water surface a gas accumulation space;

gas inlet means communicating with said gas accumulation space for introducing gas to be humidified therein;

gas outlet means communicating with the chamber space external to said member;

at least portions of the peripheral edge of said member being upwardly displaceable by a positive pressure differential established in said gas accumulation space with respect to said chamber space in consequence of gas flow between said inlet and said outlet, and said displaced edge portions being self-restorable to said normal position upon said gas pressures being equalized across said accumulation and chamber spaces;

whereby the resultant intermittent displacements of said member edge above said water level enables intermittent flow of humidified gas from said accumulation space and through said chamber space to said gas outlet means;

said displacements of said peripheral edge from said water serving further to agitate the said water and surface thereof to promote intimate contact between said gas and said water to effect improved humidification of said gas.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including heating means disposed to flow heat into the water at the bottom of said reservoir;

said displacements of said umbrella-shaped member further serving by agitation of said water to mix the heated layers of water accumulating at the upper surfaces of said reservoir with the underlying volumes of said water, to thereby promote uniformity in the temperature in said reservoir.

3. A gas humidifying device, comprising:

a generally enclosed chamber adapted to contain a water reservoir;

a highly flexible umbrella-shaped member positioned in said chamber with the entire downwardly facing peripheral edge of said umbrella normally extending beneath the surface of said water reservoir, whereby the interior of said umbrella-shaped member defines with said water surface a gas accumulation space in contact with said water surface;

gas inlet means connected to the interior of said umbrella-shaped member for introducing gas to be humidified into said gas accumulation space;

gas outlet means connected to said chamber and communicating with the space in said chamber external to said umbrella-shaped member;

at least portions of the peripheral edge of said umbrella-shaped member being upwardly displaceable from said normal position in response to pressure build-up in said gas accumulation space resulting from gas flow through said gas accumulation space; and

said member being restorable to said normal configuration with said entire peripheral edge extending beneath said water surface when the gas build-up in said accumulation space is relieved through said gas outlet means;

whereby the resultant intermittent displacements of said umbrella edge above said water level enables periodic flow of humidified gas from said gas accumulation space to said gas outlet means, said periodic displacement of said peripheral edge from said water serving further to agitate said water and surface thereby to promote humidification of said gas.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3, further including heating means disposed to flow heat into the water reservoir;

said displacements of said umbrella-shaped member serving by agitation of said water to mix the heated layers of water accumulating at the upper surfaces of said reservoir with the underlying volumes of said water, to thereby promote uniformity in the water temperature in said reservoir.

5. A gas humidifying device, comprising;

a generally enclosed chamber adapted to contain a water reservoir;

a highly flexible umbrella-shaped member mounted in said chamber with the downwardly facing edge of said umbrella normally extending beneath the surface of said water reservoir, whereby the interior of said member defines with said water surface a gas accumulation space in contact with said water surface;

gas inlet means connected to said member interior, for introducing gas to be humidified into said gas accumulation space;

gas outlet means connected to said chamber and communicating with the chamber space external to said member;

whereby pressure build-up in said gas accumulation space resulting from flow through said inlet and outlet means effects elastic distortion of said umbrella-shaped member with resultant displacement of said umbrella edge above said water level, to thereby enable intermittent flow from said gas accumulation space to said gas outlet means, said periodic displacements further agitating said water and surface thereof to facilitate humidification of gas flowing under said edge and toward said outlet means.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5, further including heating means disposed to flow heat into the water at the bottom of said reservoir;

said periodic displacements of said umbrella-shaped member further serving by agitation of said water to mix the heated layers of water accumulating at the upper surfaces of said reservoir with the underlying volumes of said water, to thereby promote uniformity in the temperature in said reservoir.