Dual port medical oxygen humidifier

• US 6,189,870 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gordon Withall
• Original Assignee: Gordon Withall
• Inventors: Withall, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): BUSHEY, CHARLES S
• Application Number:
  US09/285,138
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 261/62, 261/63, 261/65, 261/121.1, 128/203.12, 128/203.16, 128/203.22, 128/203.24, 128/204.14
• US Class Current: 261/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/2202 Mixing compositions or mixers in the medical or veterinary field
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/12 with vaporisation of a liquid disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air A61L9/00

Abstract

An improved disposable bubble oxygen humidifier is provided having a humidifying chamber included for the blending of oxygen and moisture. A slide switch on the top of the humidifier directs pure oxygen to the patient, or alternately, routes the oxygen through the humidifier and on to the patient. Hoses are attached at an inlet supply port and an outlet discharge port.

Claims

1. An improved medical oxygen humidifier comprising:

a generally cylindrical humidifying chamber forming an internal volume for holding humidifying fluid, said chamber further having a threaded upper opening;

a lid, said lid having a top, and said lid being attachable to said threaded upper opening;

an inlet supply port in fluid communication with said internal volume for attachment to an oxygen supply hose;

a first outlet discharge port in fluid communication with said internal volume for discharging humidified oxygen;

a second outlet discharge port in direct fluid communication with said inlet supply port for discharge of pure oxygen;

a rotatable slide switch on said top of said lid in communication with said inlet supply port, said first outlet discharge port, and said second outlet discharge port, said slide switch for switching the flow of oxygen, either bypassing said humidifying chamber directly and directing pure oxygen to said second outlet discharge port, or alternately, routing the oxygen through said humidifying chamber and to said first outlet discharge port;

a slide switch locking means, said slide switch locking means designed to secure said slide switch in one of two positions, corresponding to passage of non-humidified oxygen or humidified oxygen to a patient;

slide switch indicia, said slide switch indicia designed to instruct an operator how to turn said slide switch to effectuate the discharge of either pure oxygen or humidified oxygen; and

an oxygen switching assembly, said oxygen switching assembly designed to facilitate movement of pure oxygen from said inlet supply port to said second outlet discharge port and the movement of pure oxygen from said inlet supply port to the humidifying fluid in said chamber and then to said first outlet discharge port.

2. The improved medical oxygen humidifier described in claim 1, wherein said oxygen switching assembly further comprises;

an oxygen transfer cylinder, of a generally upstanding, cylindrical configuration, said oxygen transfer cylinder attached to said slide switch and having a first cylinder inlet hole, a second cylinder inlet hole and a cylinder outlet hole;

a cavity, said cavity formed within said lid, and designed to hold said oxygen transfer cylinder;

an oxygen inlet channel, located inside of said lid, said oxygen inlet channel running from said inlet supply port to said oxygen transfer cylinder;

a generally y-shaped channel, said y-shaped channel located inside of said oxygen transfer cylinder and designed to pass oxygen to either said first discharge port or said second discharge port, depending upon which of two cylinder inlet holes is aligned with said oxygen inlet channel;

a humidifying entry tube, of a generally linearly elongated, hollow configuration, said humidifying entry tube attached to and in fluid communication with said cylinder outlet hole, located inside said lid, and extending downward into said humidifying fluid located in said humidifier chamber; and

a humidifying exit tube, of a generally linearly elongated, hollow configuration, said humidifying exit tube attached to and in fluid communication with an exterior end of said first outlet discharge port, and said humidifying exit tube extending downward from said lid, inside said humidifying chamber, but not extending into contact with said humidifying fluid.

3. The improved medical oxygen humidifier described in claim 2, wherein said oxygen transfer cylinder is attached to said slide switch so that by rotating said slide switch, an oxygen inlet chamber rotates, and one of said cylinder inlet holes aligns with said oxygen inlet channel.

4. The improved medical oxygen humidifier described in claim 1, wherein if pure oxygen is desired, said operator rotates said slide switch clockwise so that said second cylinder inlet hole aligns with said inlet channel and said cylinder outlet hole aligns with said second outlet discharge port;

if humidified oxygen is desired, said operator rotates said slide switch counterclockwise, aligning said first cylinder inlet hole with said inlet channel and said cylinder outlet hole with said first outlet discharge port.

5. The improved medical oxygen humidifier described in claim 1, wherein said humidifying chamber is composed of a beaker for holding humidifying fluid.

6. The improved medical oxygen humidifier of claim 1, wherein said humidifying chamber is comprised of clear or translucent medical grade plastic.

7. The improved medical oxygen humidifier described in claim 2, wherein said slide switch on said top of said humidifier lid is integral with said first outlet discharge port for humidified oxygen, and said second outlet discharge port for pure oxygen, such that to switch the flow of oxygen, either bypassing said humidifying chamber directly and directing pure oxygen to said patient, or alternately, routing the oxygen through said humidifier and on to said patient, said operator merely rotates an integrated slide switch, to which delivery hoses are directly attachable.