Airway adaptor for measurement of gas concentration

• US 6,216,692 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nihon Kohden Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamori, Shinji, Todokoro, Noriaki, Dainobu, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Aaron J.
• Application Number:
  US09/334,564
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 128/204.23, 128/205.12, 128/205.23, 600/532
• US Class Current: 128/205.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0836 Measuring rate of CO2 production
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/085 Gas sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

Windows 2 which allow infrared light to be transmitted therethrough are opened at opposed positions of side walls of a flow tube 1, respectively. A hexagonal frame 6 is air tightly attached to each of the apertures. Each frame 6 is protruded from the inner face of the flow tube 1. A transparent window on which an anti-fogging layer 5 is formed stretches on the inner face of each of the frame 6, so that waterdrops flowing through the flow tube 1 are caused to flow along both the sides of the frame 6, thereby preventing the waterdrops from flowing over the anti-fogging layer 5.

Claims

1. An airway adaptor for measurement of a gas concentration comprising:

a flow tube through which a respiratory gas flows;

transparent windows formed at opposed positions of side walls of said flow tube, and allowing infrared light to be transmitted therethrough; and

a water path formed on said side walls for diverting waterdrops around said transparent windows.

2. The airway adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water path is formed by a frame protruded from an inner surface of said side wall.

3. The airway adaptor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transparent windows are positioned at inner surfaces of said protruded frame, respectively.

4. The airway adaptor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said frame includes portions formed beyond a narrowed portion of said flow tube.

5. The airway adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein a taper portion formed on said side walls of a narrowed portion of said flow tube diverts said waterdrops.

6. The airway adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein an anti-fogging layer is formed on inner surfaces of said transparent windows.

7. A flow tube adapter for measuring a concentration of respiratory gases in a respiratory flow tube, said flow tube adapter comprising:

a body portion;

apertures formed in said body portion, wherein each aperture is positioned on opposing walls of said body portion;

windows made of transparent material disposed in said body portion to cover said apertures; and

liquid path diversion sections disposed along an inner wall of said body portion for diverting liquid present in said body portion around said windows.

8. The flow tube adapter according to claim 7, wherein said liquid path diversion sections each comprise a frame protruding from said inner wall of said body portion around said apertures, wherein said windows are mounted on respective frames.

9. The flow tube adapter according to claim 8, further comprising an anti-fog material disposed over said windows.

10. The flow tube adapter according to claim 8, wherein a section of said body portion having opposing apertures has a narrowed cross section with respect to sections of the body portion without said apertures, and wherein said frame being substantially located on the inner wall of said narrowed cross section has tapered ends thereof extending beyond the narrowed cross section along axial directions of said body portion.

11. The flow tube adapter according to claim 8, further comprising an attachment portion for fixing an infrared detection unit to said flow tube adapter.

12. The flow tube adapter according to claim 7, further comprising an attachment portion for fixing an infrared detection unit to said flow tube adapter.

13. A respirator having flow tube adapter for measuring a concentration of respiratory gases in a respiratory flow tube, said flow tube adapter comprising:

a body portion;

apertures formed in said body portion, wherein each aperture is positioned on opposing walls of said body portion;

windows made of transparent material disposed in said body portion to cover said apertures; and

liquid path diversion sections disposed along an inner wall of said body portion for diverting liquid present in said body portion around said windows.