Insulated breathing tube

• US 5,623,922 A
• Filed: 01/03/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Smith
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Asher, Kimberly L.
• Application Number:
  US08/367,733
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.17, 128/204.18, 128/911, 128/912, 128/201.13, 128/207.14, 604/163, 604/171, 604/263, 138/122
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/00 Component parts for respiratory or breathing apparatus A62B19/00, A62B21/00, A62B23/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/003 Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/911 Unilimb inhalation-exhalation breathing tubes

Abstract

The present invention includes a method for preventing heat loss from the inhalent gas in a recirculatory aided breathing circuit thereby reducing internal vapor condensation commonly associated with such breathing circuits while also stabilizing the relative temperature and humidity within such breathing circuits. A thin flexible partially longitudinally compressed casing is provided to surround a thicker corrugated tube to provide an insulating dead air space therebetween. In another arrangement selected enlarged corrugations are provided in spaced relation along the corrugated tube to engage the inner surface of the casing in a preselected spaced arrangement with respect to said corrugated tube to compartmentalize insulating dead air spaces between the tube and the casing.

Claims

1. An insulated breathing tube arrangement having an air impervious corrugated tube for carrying respiratory gases and an outer casing of first internal diameter constituting means for insulating the corrugated tube said corrugated tube being located within said casing and having an outer diameter substantially less than said internal diameter of said casing, said casing being of an overall length greater than the length of said corrugated tube and being sealed at its ends to the ends of the corrugated tube thereby defining an annular insulating dead air space between said corrugated tube and said casing, said casing further being in a slightly longitudinally compressed state relative to said corrugated tube thereby causing said annular dead air space to be of irregular cross section and further providing means for facilitating sharp bends in said tube arrangement said casing further being of a thickness which is less than the thickness of said corrugated tube.

2. The insulating breathing tube arrangement of claim 1 where the ratio of diameters of said corrugated tube and said casing are in the ratio of 1 to 2.20.

3. An insulated breathing tube arrangement having an air impervious corrugated tube for carrying respiratory gases and an outer casing of first internal diameter for insulating the corrugated tube said corrugated tube being located within said casing and having an outer diameter less than said internal diameter of said casing, said casing being of an overall length greater than the length of said corrugated tube and being sealed at its ends to the ends of the corrugated tube such that the casing is in a slightly longitudinally compressed state relative to said corrugated tube thereby defining an annular insulating dead air space of irregular cross section between said corrugated tube and said casing, the volume of the dead air space between said corrugated tube and said casing per unit length being in ratio to the volume of the corrugated tube per unit of length of in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 to approximately 6.0 to 1.0, said casing further being of smooth of sidewall construction and being of a thickness which is less than the thickness of said corrugated tube arrangement.