Biodegradable air tube and spirometer employing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air tube for use in a spirometer comprising:
- a tubular portion defining an open inlet, an open outlet and a hollow space therebetween, and being sized and adapted to be removably coupled to a housing of a spirometer;
a resistive element located in said hollow space between said inlet and said open outlet and being sized and adapted to cause a pressure difference as air flows in said hollow space across said resistive element; and
at least one through port located in said tubular portion which opens to said hollow space and is spaced apart from said resistive element, provided that at least a major portion of said tubular portion is a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard, paper and mixtures thereof.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an air tube for use in a spirometer. This air tube is disposable and is at least partially, preferably completely, biodegradable, so that is can be economically produced and discarded after use by a single spirometer user. Cross-patient contamination and expensive sterilization procedures are thus avoided. In addition, making this air tube biodegradable allows for the use of plentiful and inexpensive materials of construction, such as cardboard, paper, biodegradable polymers and the like, and reduces the environmental burden caused by disposing of this component.
51 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An air tube for use in a spirometer comprising:
-
a tubular portion defining an open inlet, an open outlet and a hollow space therebetween, and being sized and adapted to be removably coupled to a housing of a spirometer; a resistive element located in said hollow space between said inlet and said open outlet and being sized and adapted to cause a pressure difference as air flows in said hollow space across said resistive element; and at least one through port located in said tubular portion which opens to said hollow space and is spaced apart from said resistive element, provided that at least a major portion of said tubular portion is a material selected from the group consisting of cardboard, paper and mixtures thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An air tube for use in a spirometer including a housing comprising:
-
a tubular portion defining an open inlet, an opposing open outlet and a hollow space therebetween, and being sized and adapted to be removably coupled to a housing of a differential pressure spirometer, said tubular portion including a positioning assembly sized and adapted to cooperate with the housing of the differential pressure spirometer to properly position said tubular portion relative to the housing; a resistive element located in said hollow space between said open inlet and said open outlet and sized and adapted to cause a pressure difference as air flows in said hollow space across said resistive element; and a through port located in said tubular portion which opens to said hollow space, and is spaced apart from said resistive element. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification