Humidifier system for artificial respiration
First Claim
1. A humidifier system for heating and humidifying respiratory gases, comprising:
- a housing having opposite first and second ends and a chamber between said ends defining a flow path for respiratory gases, a first port at the first end for connection to a ventilator breathing circuit and a second port at the second end for connection to a patient to supply respiratory gases to the patient and to receive exhaled gases from the patient;
a body of heat moisture exchange (HME) material within the chamber, the HME material comprising a material which can retain moisture and heat;
a water permeable device of a water permeable material different from said HME material, the water permeable device located within the chamber and extending along at least part of the length of the body of HME material, the housing having a water refill inlet communicating with the water permeable device;
a water supply outside the housing connected to the water refill inlet to supply water to the water permeable device; and
a heater mounted outside the housing for heating the housing and maintaining the housing at a predetermined temperature;
wherein the water permeable device is elongate and is wound around the moisture and heat retaining material in a spiral manner along at least part of the length of the HME material body, whereby respiratory gasses contact the water permeable device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A humidifier system for heating and humidifying respiratory gases has a housing with an inner chamber, a first port at the first end for connection to a ventilator breathing circuit and a second port at the second end for connection to a patient to supply respiratory gases to the patient and to receive exhaled gases from the patient. A body of heat moisture exchange (HME) material is located within the chamber, and a water permeable device is also located within the chamber. The housing has a water refill inlet communicating with the water permeable device. A water supply outside the housing is connected to the water refill inlet to supply water to the water permeable device. A heater mounted outside the housing supplies heat to the housing and maintains the housing at a selected temperature.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A humidifier system for heating and humidifying respiratory gases, comprising:
-
a housing having opposite first and second ends and a chamber between said ends defining a flow path for respiratory gases, a first port at the first end for connection to a ventilator breathing circuit and a second port at the second end for connection to a patient to supply respiratory gases to the patient and to receive exhaled gases from the patient; a body of heat moisture exchange (HME) material within the chamber, the HME material comprising a material which can retain moisture and heat; a water permeable device of a water permeable material different from said HME material, the water permeable device located within the chamber and extending along at least part of the length of the body of HME material, the housing having a water refill inlet communicating with the water permeable device; a water supply outside the housing connected to the water refill inlet to supply water to the water permeable device; and a heater mounted outside the housing for heating the housing and maintaining the housing at a predetermined temperature;
wherein the water permeable device is elongate and is wound around the moisture and heat retaining material in a spiral manner along at least part of the length of the HME material body, whereby respiratory gasses contact the water permeable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A humidifier system for heating and humidifying respiratory gases, comprising:
-
an elongate housing having opposite first and second ends and a chamber between said ends defining a flow path for respiratory gases, a first port at the first end for connection to a ventilator breathing circuit and a second port at the second end for connection to a patient to supply respiratory gases to the patient and to receive exhaled gases from the patient; a body of heat moisture exchange (HME) material within the chamber, the HME material comprising a material which can retain moisture and heat; a water permeable device within the chamber, the housing having a water refill inlet communicating with the water permeable device; a water supply outside the housing connected to the water refill inlet to supply water to the water permeable device; a heater mounted outside the housing for heating the housing and maintaining the housing at a predetermined temperature; and the body of HME material extending along at least a major part of the length of the chamber and substantially filling the chamber, whereby respiratory gases flowing through the chamber contact the material;
wherein the water permeable device is elongate and is wound around the moisture and heat retaining material in a spiral manner along at least part of the length of the HME material body, whereby respiratory gasses contact the water permeable device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A humidifier apparatus, comprising:
-
a housing having opposite first and second ends, a first port at the first end of the housing and a second port at the second end of the housing, and a chamber in the housing communicating with said first and second ports; a heat moisture exchange (HME) material within the chamber for contact with respiratory gases flowing though the chamber between said ports; a water permeable device within the chamber for adding humidity to respiratory gases, the water permeable device being of a water permeable material which is different from said HME material, at least part of the water permeable device being located in the same region of the chamber as the HME material; the housing having a water supply port connected to said water permeable device for supplying water from an external water supply to refill said water permeable device; and a heater mounted outside the housing and surrounding the chamber;
wherein the water permeable device is elongate and is wound around the moisture and heat retaining material in a spiral manner along at least part of the length of the HME material body, whereby respiratory gasses contact the water permeable device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. A humidifier apparatus, comprising:
-
a housing having opposite first and second ends, a first port at the first end of the housing and a second port at the second end of the housing, and a chamber in the housing communicating with said first and second ports; a body of heat moisture exchange (HME) material within the chamber for contact with respiratory gases flowing though the chamber between said ports; a water permeable device within the chamber for adding humidity to respiratory gases, at least part of the water permeable device being located in the same region of the chamber as the HME material; the housing having a water supply port connected to said water permeable device for supplying water from an external water supply to refill said water permeable device; a heater mounted outside the housing and surrounding the chamber; and the body of heat moisture exchange material comprising a generally is elongate and is wound around the moisture and heat retaining material in a spiral manner along at least part of the length of the HME material body, whereby respiratory gasses contact the water permeable device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification