Anesthetic gas reclamation system and method
US7596965B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02C20/10
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and system for the fractionation and removal of nitrous oxide and other volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using liquid oxygen are disclosed. Liquid oxygen is warmed for use in a healthcare facility by cooling and condensing waste anesthetic gases. A cold trap/fractionator is provided wherein selective components of the waste anesthetic gas are collected as a frost on the coils of the cold trap/fractionator by desublimation/deposition and/or condensation/solidification. In a periodic batch process, the collected frost is first thawed and the melted liquids or gases are then collected at various increasing temperatures, thereby separating the nitrous oxide and other halocarbon gas components by their varying melting points. The thawed anesthetic components are collected in separate tanks based on their melting points. Warmed by the waste anesthetic gases in the cold trap/fractionator, the oxygen is supplied to the healthcare facility for its normal uses.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.