Patent · US Expired

Heat and moisture exchanger for breathing

US5590644A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 1995
Grant dateJan 7, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 19, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2230/432
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A heat and moisture exchanger (HME) media disk and associated virus and bacteria filter disk are placed in a housing of two clear plastic shells ultrasonically welded together and having ports at opposite ends of the housing for connection of flexible respiratory tubing to them. A guide vane is situated across the port at the patient end of the housing and extends into the HME and provides turbulence for efficient usage of the media for heat and moisture exchange functions. Vanes are provided in the housing adjacent the machine end port of the housing. A carbon dioxide sampling tap is provided on the machine end portion of the housing. The vanes are tapered from a small or narrow edge at the disk surface to thicker cross sections at increasing distances from the disk toward the housing end ports. Provision for connections to standard tubing is made at the ports.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.