Gas-treatment devices

• US 7,363,925 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smiths Group plc (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Group plc (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pagan, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US11/001,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20050133028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.26, 128/201.13, 128/204.17, 128/205.12, 128/207.14, 128/207.15, 128/207.29, 128/200.24, 623/9
• US Class Current: 128/200.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0427 with removable and re-insertable liner tubes, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/047 Masks, filters, surgical pads, devices for absorbing secretions, specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas

Abstract

An HME for a tracheostomy tube has a flexible outer housing of a gas-permeable material containing an HME element of discrete particles, granules or the like of a hygroscopic material. The particles are contained between the outer housing and an inner wall of a foam. The inner wall has a ciliated surface facing the end of the tube, which acts to distribute gas over the surface of the HME element. The HME is attached to a flange on an inner cannula by means of a removable adhesive. The HME may include a suction port through a self-closing aperture, which makes a wiping seal with a suction catheter inserted in the tube.

Claims

1. A gas-treatment device comprising an externally-closed housing having an inner surface that defines a shape, a gas-treatment element and an inlet for connection to a machine end of a patient breathing tube, wherein said gas-treatment element is substantially entirely enclosed by said housing and wherein both of said housing and said gas-treatment element are flexible and porous, such that said device is conformable and said gas-treatment element contacts and conforms to the shape and size of substantially the entire inner surface of said housing, and such that substantially all gas flow to said patient breathing tube through is through the thickness of the wall of the housing and through the gas-treatment element.

2. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said housing is of a fabric.

3. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said gas-treatment element is an HME element.

4. A gas-treatment device according to claim 3, wherein said HME element includes a discrete material.

5. A gas-treatment device according to claim 4, wherein said discrete material is in the form of particles, granules or small balls.

6. A gas-treatment device according to claim 3, wherein said HME element includes a zeolite.

7. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said housing contains a gas-disperser arranged to disperse gas over said gas-treatment element.

8. A gas-treatment device according to claim 7, wherein said gas-disperser includes a ciliated surface.

9. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said patient breathing tube is a tracheostomy tube.

10. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said tube has a flange at its machine end, and wherein said gas-treatment device is supported on said flange.

11. A gas-treatment device according to claim 10, wherein said gas-treatment device is removably attached with said flange.

12. A gas-treatment device according to claim 10, wherein said gas-treatment device is attached with said flange by means of an adhesive.

13. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said breathing tube has a coupling extending within said gas-treatment device, and wherein said coupling has at least one side port.

14. A gas-treatment device according to claim 1, including a self-sealing port arranged to be aligned with a machine end of said breathing tube such as to enable an elongate member to be inserted through said port and said device, into said tube.

15. A gas-treatment device according to claim 14, wherein said port is arranged to make a wiping seal with said elongate member.

21. An assembly comprising a breathing tube and a gas-treatment device according to claim 1, wherein said breathing tube includes an outer tube and a removable inner cannula inserted within said outer tube, and wherein said gas-treatment device is mounted at a machine end of said inner cannula.

25. An assembly comprising:

a breathing tube having a patient end and a machine end;

a flange at said machine end; and

a gas-treatment device according to claim 1 mounted on said flange and presenting a conformable external surface.

26. An assembly according to claim 25, wherein said gas-treatment device is an HME.

16. A gas-treatment device comprising an outer, closed wall of a gas-permeable material having an inner surface that defines a shape, a gas-treatment element substantially entirely enclosed within said outer wall and conforms to the shape and size of the entire inner surface of said outer wall, and a port for connection to a patient breathing tube such that substantially all gas passes to and from said patient breathing tube via said port, said gas-treatment element and through the thickness of said outer wall.

17. A gas-treatment device according to claim 16, wherein said wall is of a fabric.

18. A gas-treatment device according to claim 16, wherein said gas-treatment element is an HME element.

19. A gas-treatment device according to claim 18, wherein said HME element includes a discrete material.

20. A gas-treatment device according to claim 19, wherein said discrete material is in the form of particles, granules or small balls.

22. An HME comprising:

an outer flexible, closed wall of gas-permeable material;

an inner porous wall within the outer flexible wall;

said walls having respective inner surfaces;

an HME element of a discrete material between said outer and inner walls that contacts and conforms to the shape and size of the respective inner surfaces of said walls and is substantially entirely enclosed between said walls;

a inner cavity divided from said HME element by said porous wall; and

an opening into said cavity by which gas can be supplied to and from said cavity and through the thickness of said inner wall, through said HME element and said outer wall.

23. An assembly comprising:

a breathing tube having a patient end and a machine end;

a gas-treatment device comprising an outer, closed flexible wall of a flexible gas-permeable material, said wall having an inner surface that defines a shape a gas-treatment element substantially entirely enclosed within and contacts and conforms to the shape and size of substantially the entire inner surface of said outer wall, and a port connected to a patient breathing tube such that substantially all gas passes to and from said patient breathing tube via said port, said gas-treatment element and through the thickness of said outer wall.

24. An assembly according to claim 23, wherein said gas-treatment device is an HME.