Transporting liquid in a respiratory component

• US 9,272,113 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SunMed Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Varga, Christopher M., Korneff, Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): MATTER, KRISTEN CLARETTE
• Application Number:
  US13/436,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20130255672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 12820316-20317, 12820326-20327, 128/204.13, 128/204.17, 128/205.27, 128/205.12, 128/206.22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0465 Tracheostomy tubes; Devices for performing a tracheostomy; Accessories therefor, e.g. masks, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• 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 2205/0227 Materials having sensing or indicating function, e.g. indicating a pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A respiratory component coupled with a breathing circuit, the respiratory component including at least one groove disposed upon a surface of the respiratory component, wherein the respiratory component is not a heater wire.

Claims

1. A respiratory component comprising:

grooves configured for transporting a liquid from a first region to a second region, wherein all of said grooves are disposed in an internal wall surface of said respiratory component and are not disposed on a heater wire, each groove having a semi-circular cross-section and a first cross-sectional width at said internal wall surface that is less than a second cross-sectional width of said groove, said second cross-sectional width being a maximum cross-sectional width of said groove,

wherein said respiratory component and all of said grooves, when viewed in a cross section, are (i) covered by an outer layer comprising said heater wire and (ii) continuously surrounded by the heater wire, such that said internal wall surface and grooves are radially inward of, and separated from, said outer layer comprising said heater wire.

2. The respiratory component of claim 1, wherein said grooves are configured for wicking up liquid from said first region and transporting said liquid to said second region.

3. The respiratory component of claim 1, wherein said grooves are configured for evaporation of said liquid.

4. The respiratory component of claim 1, wherein said grooves comprise a surface with a hydrophilic character.

5. The respiratory component of claim 1, wherein said first region is a region of condensation.

6. The respiratory component of claim 1, wherein said second region is a region configured for evaporation of said liquid.

7. The respiratory component of claim 1, wherein said respiratory component comprises a liquid transporting device comprising a porous material configured for wicking up liquid.

8. A respiratory component coupled with a breathing circuit, said respiratory component comprising:

a tube having an internal wall surface comprising grooves that extend longitudinally along the internal wall surface, each groove having a semi-circular cross-section and a first cross-sectional width at the internal wall surface that is less than a second cross-sectional width of the groove, said second cross-sectional width being a maximum cross-sectional width of said groove, wherein the tube, when viewed in cross section, is (i) covered by an outer layer comprising a heater wire and (ii) continuously surrounded by the heater wire, such that said internal wall surface and grooves are radially inward of, and separated from, said outer layer comprising said heater wire.

9. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein the grooves are further configured for transporting said liquid from a condensation region to a heated region for evaporation.

10. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said surface of the internal wall comprises smooth surface characteristics.

11. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component comprises a filter.

12. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component comprises a heat and moisture exchanger.

13. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component comprises a medicament delivery device.

14. The respiratory component of claim 13, wherein said medicament delivery device is a nebulizer.

15. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component is part of a gas delivery device.

16. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component is an oxygen delivery component.

17. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component is a respiratory mask.

18. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component is a nasal prong component.

19. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component is an endotracheal device.

20. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein said respiratory component is a tracheostomy device.

21. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein a surface of said grooves comprises a hydrophilic component.

22. The respiratory component of claim 8, wherein the maximum cross-sectional width of the groove is less than a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the lumen.