Oxygen humidifier
First Claim
1. A method of providing a source of breathable humidified oxygen comprising:
- directing a gas having a first level of humidification past a first side of a water transfer member; and
directing a breathable oxygen gas having a second level of humidification with the second level of humidification less than the first level of humidification past a second side of the water transfer member while maintaining the pressure of the gas on the first side of the water transfer member substantially equal to the pressure of the oxygen gas on the second side of the water transfer member to humidify the oxygen gas to a humidity level substantially equal to or less than the first level of humidification of the gas trough a transfer of water from the gas to the oxygen gas through the water transfer member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for separating breathable oxygen gas from a source of gas and then humidifying the oxygen gas while preventing over humidification of the oxygen gas, the apparatus comprising a gas pathway located on a first side of a water transfer member, an oxygen gas pathway located on a second side of the water transfer member and a separator for separating the breathable oxygen gas from a gas located on the first side of the water transfer member and directing the breathable oxygen gas past the second side of the water transfer member while maintaining the pressure of the gas substantially equal to the pressure of the breathable oxygen gas to thereby humidify the breathable oxygen gas while preventing a moisture condensation in the breathable oxygen gas.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of providing a source of breathable humidified oxygen comprising:
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directing a gas having a first level of humidification past a first side of a water transfer member; and directing a breathable oxygen gas having a second level of humidification with the second level of humidification less than the first level of humidification past a second side of the water transfer member while maintaining the pressure of the gas on the first side of the water transfer member substantially equal to the pressure of the oxygen gas on the second side of the water transfer member to humidify the oxygen gas to a humidity level substantially equal to or less than the first level of humidification of the gas trough a transfer of water from the gas to the oxygen gas through the water transfer member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of providing a source of breathable humidified oxygen gas comprising:
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directing a gas containing oxygen past a first side of a water permeable membrane; separating the oxygen gas from the gas; and directing the oxygen gas past a second side of the water permeable membrane while maintaining the pressure of the gas on the first side of the water permeable membrane substantially equal to the pressure of the oxygen gas on the second side of the water permeable membrane to enable water transfer from the gas to the oxygen gas to humidify the oxygen gas to a humidity level substantially equal to or less than a humidity level of the gas on the first side of the water permeable membrane. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing a source of breathable humidified oxygen gas comprising:
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directing a gas having a first level of humidification past a first side of a water permeable membrane; and directing a breathable oxygen gas having a second level of humidification with the second level of humidification less than the first level of humidification of the gas past a second side of the water permeable membrane while maintaining the pressure of the gas on one side of the water permeable membrane substantially equal to the pressure of oxygen gas on the second side of the water permeable membrane to transfer water from the gas on the first side of the water permeable membrane to the oxygen gas on the second side of the water permeable membrane to humidify the oxygen gas to a humidity level substantially equal to or less than a humidity level of the gas.
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Specification