Fast response humidity and temperature sensor device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airway humidity sensor for measuring the humidity of a gas flow, comprising:
- a psychrometer including first and second spaced thermocouples, each formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of said gas flow;
means for containing a supply of water;
tubing having one end connected to said water supply means and the other end adjacent the junction of said first thermocouple for delivering water to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom, said tubing having a sufficiently small inner diameter to draw water from said supply by capillary action as water evaporates from said first thermocouple junction.
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Abstract
An airway humidity sensor incorporating a small, dry thermocouple and small, wet thermocouple to measure cyclical humidity in inspiration and expiration by the psychrometric principle, the psychrometric component incorporating dialysis micro-tubing in contact with the wet-bulb thermocouple junction, the thermocouples being offset from one another across the cross-sectional plane of the airway in a direction normal to the airflow.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An airway humidity sensor for measuring the humidity of a gas flow, comprising:
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a psychrometer including first and second spaced thermocouples, each formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of said gas flow; means for containing a supply of water; tubing having one end connected to said water supply means and the other end adjacent the junction of said first thermocouple for delivering water to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom, said tubing having a sufficiently small inner diameter to draw water from said supply by capillary action as water evaporates from said first thermocouple junction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An adapter for the base of the Y-piece of an anaesthesia airway circuit, containing a psychrometer comprising first and second thermocouples in said adapter, each thermocouple formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of gas flow through said Y-piece, said thermocouples being offset from one another across the cross-sectional plane of the airway in a direction normal to the airflow, said adapter including:
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means for containing a supply of water; and means for delivering water from said supply to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom.
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14. A base for the Y-piece of an anaesthesia airway circuit, containing a psychrometer comprising first and second spaced thermocouples, in said base, each formed by the junction of the similar materials, for measuring respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of gas flow through said Y-piece, said thermocouples being offset from one another across the cross-sectional plane of the airway in a direction normal to the airflow, said base including:
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means for containing a supply of water; and means for delivering water from said supply to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom.
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15. An airway humidity sensor for measuring the humidity of a gas flow, comprising:
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a psychrometer including first and second spaced thermocouples, each formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of said gas flow; means for containing a supply of water; water permeable dialysis micro-tubing connected to said water supply means for delivering water to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom, said tubing having a sufficiently small inner diameter to draw water from said supply by capillary action as water evaporates from said first thermocouple junction.
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16. An airway humidity sensor for measuring the humidity of a gas flow, comprising:
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a housing; a psychrometer in said housing including first and second spaced thermocouples, each formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of said gas flow; a container of water for placement in said housing; a conduit for connecting to said container of water, said conduit being sufficiently rigid to pierce said container when said container is placed on said housing; tubing connected via said conduit to said container of water for delivering water to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom, said tubing having a sufficiently small inner diameter to draw water from said supply by capillary action as water evaporates from said first thermocouple junction.
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17. An airway humidity sensor for measuring the humidity of a gas flow, comprising:
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a housing of a size to connect to the base of the Y-piece of an anesthesia airway circuit and having a reservoir for a supply of water; a psychrometer in said housing including first and second spaced thermocouples, each formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of said gas flow; tubing connected to said water supply means for delivering water to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom, said tubing having a sufficiently small inner diameter to draw water from said supply by capillary action as water evaporates from said first thermocouple junction.
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18. An airway humidity sensor for measuring the humidity of a gas flow, comprising:
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a housing constituting at least a portion of the base of the Y-piece of an anesthesia airway circuit and having a reservoir for a supply of water; a psychrometer in said housing including first and second spaced thermocouples, each formed by the junction of dissimilar metal wires for measuring, respectively, the wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperatures of said gas flow; tubing connected to said water supply means for delivering water to the junction of said first thermocouple whereby to coat said first thermocouple junction while enabling evaporation therefrom, said tubing having a sufficiently small inner diameter to draw water from said supply by capillary action as water evaporates from said first thermocouple junction.
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Specification