Fluted heater wire

• US 9,205,220 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SunMed Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Korneff, Neil, Varga, Christopher M
• Primary Examiner(s): SKORUPA, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/250,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20130081620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 12820011-20013, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/203.16, 128/203.17, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 128/204.14, 128/204.13, 128/204.17, 128/204.21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/164 including a liquid inlet valve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6009 for matching patient with his treatment, e.g. to improve transfusion security
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/025 : For medical applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 : Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 : Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 : Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/032 : Heaters specially adapted for heating by radiation heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/54 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/804 : Water heaters, water boilers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 : Heater type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A heater wire for removing condensation from a respiratory gas conduit. The heater wire includes at least one groove disposed thereon. The heater wire is positioned in a respiratory gas conduit.

Claims

1. A respiratory gas conduit comprising:

a heating wire comprising a sheathing having at least one groove disposed thereon and a heating component, said heating wire being positioned in said respiratory gas conduit,

wherein said at least one groove is configured for wicking water into the groove in regions of condensation in said respiratory gas conduit and then transporting said wicked water along a length of said groove away from said regions of condensation to a re-evaporation region defined by a length of said heating wire that is hotter than lengths of said heating wire in said regions of condensation, and

wherein said at least one groove extends along a length of said sheathing of said heating wire from said regions of condensation to said re-evaporation region.

2. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein said heating wire

is configured for heating a gas inside said respiratory gas conduit.

3. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein a surface of said sheathing of said heating wire comprises a hydrophilic component.

4. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises a V-shape.

5. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises a square shape.

6. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein a first width of said at least one groove at an exterior surface of said sheathing of said heating wire is less than a second width of said at least one groove, wherein said second width is a maximum width of said at least one groove, when viewed in cross-section.

7. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises six grooves.

8. The respiratory gas conduit of claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves of said at least one groove comprises a plurality of shapes.

9. A method for automatically removing condensation from a breathing circuit, said method comprising:

wicking water into at least one groove disposed on a sheathing of a heater wire in a region of condensation in a respiratory gas conduit, said heater wire being positioned within said respiratory gas conduit; and

transporting, following the wicking and by said at least one groove, said wicked water along a length of said groove away from said region of condensation to a re-evaporation region defined by a length of said heater wire that is hotter than a length of said heater wire in said region of condensation,

wherein said at least one groove extends along a length of said sheathing of said heating wire from said region of condensation to said re-evaporation region.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

evaporating said wicked water by a hot surface along said heater wire in said re-evaporation region.

11. A method of manufacturing a device for removing condensation from a breathing circuit, said method comprising:

providing a heater wire, said heater wire configured for heating gas inside and between an input and output end of a respiratory gas conduit;

disposing a sheathing on a wire component of said heater wire, wherein said sheathing comprises a hydrophilic component; and

disposing at least one groove on said sheathing, said at least one groove configured for wicking water into the groove in a region of condensation in said respiratory gas conduit and then transporting said wicked water along a length of said groove away from said region of condensation to a re-evaporation region defined by a length of said heater wire that is hotter than a length of said heater wire in said region of condensation,

wherein said at least one groove extends along a length of said sheathing of said heater wire from said region of condensation to said re-evaporation region.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said disposing at least one groove on said sheathing comprises:

disposing at least one groove on said sheathing, wherein said at least one groove comprises a V-shape.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said disposing at least one groove on said sheathing comprises:

disposing at least one groove on said sheathing, wherein said at least one groove comprises a square shape.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said disposing at least one groove on said sheathing comprises:

disposing at least one groove comprising a first width at an exterior surface of said sheathing of said heater wire that is less than a second width of said at least one groove, wherein said second width is a maximum width of said at least one groove, when viewed in cross-section.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said disposing at least one groove on said sheathing comprises:

disposing a plurality of grooves on said sheathing.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said disposing a plurality of grooves on said sheathing comprises:

disposing a plurality of grooves on said sheathing, wherein said plurality of grooves comprises a plurality of shapes that are different from each other.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

disposing an additive on said sheathing.

18. A breathing circuit comprising:

a respiratory gas conduit comprising an input end and an output end, said respiratory gas conduit configured for receiving gas at said input end and configured to transport said gas to said output end;

a heater wire disposed inside said respiratory gas conduit, said heater wire comprising;

a sheathing; and

at least one groove disposed on said sheathing, said at least one groove configured for wicking water into the groove in a region of condensation within said respiratory gas conduit and then transporting said wicked water along a length of said groove away from said region of condensation to a re-evaporation region defined by a length of said heater wire that is hotter than a length of said heater wire in said region of condensation, and wherein said at least one groove extends along a length of said sheathing of said heater wire from said region of condensation to said re-evaporation region.

19. The breathing circuit of claim 18, wherein said re-evaporation region is a hot surface along said heater wire.