In-line dehumidifying device exposed to the ambient environment
First Claim
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1. A ventilator comprising:
- an expiratory line and an expiratory flow meter, said expiratory line disposed before said expiratory flow meter, and said expiratory line carrying moisture-containing expired gases having a relative humidity from a patient;
and a dehumidifying device consisting of a plurality of tubes including an outer layer of tubes, means for permitting connection of said tubes in said expiratory line where said tube form a continuous in-line section of said expiratory line and the entirety of expired gases flow through said tubes, and with at least a portion, including said outer layer, of said plurality of tubes exposed directly and openly to ambient atmosphere without an airflow-impeding barrier;
and each of said tubes having a moisture-permeable tube wall for exchanging moisture between the expired gases therein and ambient atmosphere, said tubes forming, in combination, means for reducing the relative humidity of said expired gases to a relative humidity of less than 80%.
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Abstract
A dehumidifying device for use in a ventilator for reducing the relative humidity of the expired air of a patient has a plurality of tubes, permeable to moisture, arrayed in a bundle and encircled by a loosely wound spiral harness between a first connection section and a second connection section in the dehumidifying device. When gas expired by the patient reaches the dehumidifying device, the water vapor therein diffuses into the tubes, and the relative humidity of expired gas is decreased.
172 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A ventilator comprising:
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an expiratory line and an expiratory flow meter, said expiratory line disposed before said expiratory flow meter, and said expiratory line carrying moisture-containing expired gases having a relative humidity from a patient; and a dehumidifying device consisting of a plurality of tubes including an outer layer of tubes, means for permitting connection of said tubes in said expiratory line where said tube form a continuous in-line section of said expiratory line and the entirety of expired gases flow through said tubes, and with at least a portion, including said outer layer, of said plurality of tubes exposed directly and openly to ambient atmosphere without an airflow-impeding barrier; and each of said tubes having a moisture-permeable tube wall for exchanging moisture between the expired gases therein and ambient atmosphere, said tubes forming, in combination, means for reducing the relative humidity of said expired gases to a relative humidity of less than 80%. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification