# US 11,077,280 B2 · Medical components with microstructures for humidification and condensate management

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- Number: US 11,077,280 B2
- Document ID: US11077280B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/213,101
- Filed: 2018-12-07
- Published: 2019-06-13
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-25
- Assignees: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
- Applicants: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
- Inventors: Laith Adeeb Hermez
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077280B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 16/0069: {the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation}
- A61M 16/021: {operated by electrical means (A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence)}
- A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- A61M 16/10: Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent}
- A61M 16/1095: {in the connecting tubes}
- A61M 11/042: {electrical}
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/7527: liquophilic, hydrophilic
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

New medical circuit components and methods for forming such components are disclosed. These components include microstructures for humidification and/or condensate management. The disclosed microstructures can be incorporated into a variety of components, including tubes (e.g., inspiratory breathing tubes and expiratory breathing tubes and other tubing between various elements of a breathing circuit, such as ventilators, humidifiers, filters, water traps, sample lines, connectors, gas analyzers, and the like), Y-connectors, catheter mounts, humidifiers, and patient interfaces (e.g., masks for covering the nose and face, nasal masks, cannulas, nasal pillows, etc.), floats, probes, and sensors in a variety of medical circuits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tube for use in transporting gases in a medical circuit, the tube comprising:
an inner wall of the tube;
wherein the inner wall of the tube comprises a microstructured surface adapted to evaporate liquid on at least a portion of the inner wall.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the microstructured surface is configured to facilitate evaporation of condensate on at least a portion of the inner wall by spreading of the condensate on the microstructured surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the microstructured surface forms at least a portion of the inner wall.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the microstructured surface is disposed on an insert in an inner lumen of the tube.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the microstructured surface is a metallic film.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The tube of claim 5, wherein the metallic film is stamped to form the microstructured surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises an additive material to increase surface energy, wherein the additive material is added to a polymer matrix or added as a surface treatment.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube is an inspiratory tube or an expiratory tube of a breathing circuit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein a wall of the tube is configured to communicate with a heat source.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, further comprising a heating element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube is an extruded or helically wound tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The tube of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a bead.

### Claim 13

A tube for use in transporting gases in a medical circuit, the tube comprising:
an inner wall of the tube,
wherein the inner wall of the tube comprises a microstructure,
wherein the microstructure is configured to facilitate evaporation of condensate on at least a portion of the inner wall by moving the condensate along the microstructure.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The tube of claim 13, wherein the microstructure is oriented in a direction of the tube.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The tube of claim 13, wherein the microstructure extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the tube.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The tube of claim 13, wherein the microstructure comprises a substrate having an equilibrium contact angle less than about π/2 radians.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The tube of claim 13, wherein the microstructure comprise a continuous channel or a discrete microstructure.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The tube of claim 17, wherein the continuous channel is at least one of one of sinusoidal, v-shaped, sharp trench, square shaped, or wedge shaped.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The tube of claim 17, wherein the discrete microstructure is at least one of a cylindrical post, a pyramidal post, a cube shaped post, a cylindrical pillar, a pyramidal pillar, a cube shaped pillar, or a crystal having irregular shapes.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The tube of claim 13, wherein the microstructure comprises a height to width aspect ratio that increases along a gradient.