# US 11,439,785 B2 · Methods and systems for removing liquid from a sample > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,785 B2 - Document ID: US11439785B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/236,130 - Filed: 2018-12-28 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-28 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Mika Harri Juhani Hietala; Asko Saarelainen; Jarmo Luusua - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439785B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0808: {Condensation traps} - B01D 53/266: {by filtration} - G01N 33/0011: {Sample conditioning (preparing specimens for investigation G01N1/28)} - A61M 16/085: {Gas sampling} - A61M 2016/102: {Measuring a parameter of the content of the delivered gas} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide - A61M 2202/0241: Anaesthetics; Analgesics - A61M 2202/0283: Nitrous oxide (N2O) - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/7536: allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes - A61M 2230/43: Composition of exhalation - 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)} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Various methods and systems are provided for removing liquid from a sample containing both liquid component and gaseous component. In particular, the liquid component may be separated from the sample by flowing the gaseous component of the sample from a lower chamber to an upper chamber through a membrane. The liquid portion of the sample may be drain from the lower chamber via a drainage channel within the bottom wall of the lower chamber. The liquid portion of the sample flows horizontally outward in the drainage channel through capillary action induced by a capillary part positioned within the drainage channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for removing liquid from a sample, comprising: flowing a gaseous portion of the sample from a lower chamber to an upper chamber through a membrane; and flowing a liquid portion of the sample from the lower chamber to a container via a drainage channel in a bottom wall of the lower chamber, the drainage channel including a first capillary section of a capillary part; wherein the liquid portion of the sample is forced to horizontal sides of the drainage channel via capillary action generated by the first capillary section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the drainage channel includes a second capillary section of the capillary part and wherein the first and second capillary sections extend horizontally away from a center of the drainage channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the drainage channel includes a third and fourth capillary section of the capillary part extending in a vertical direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the capillary part includes two walls horizontally positioned on opposing sides of a middle flow section of the drainage channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising flowing the sample into the drainage channel through an inlet positioned in a lower portion of the drainage channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the capillary part extends from a first end of the drainage channel to a second end of the drainage channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sample includes gas slated for inhalation by a patient and/or gas exhaled by the patient. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first capillary section extends below a wall of the capillary part. ### Claim 9 A method for removing liquid from a sample, comprising: flowing the sample into a drainage channel, and flowing a first gaseous portion of the sample from a lower chamber to a container while a liquid portion of the sample accumulates in the drainage channel within a bottom wall of the lower chamber; flowing a portion of the liquid in the drainage channel horizontally outward through a plurality of capillary sections of a capillary part; and flowing a gaseous portion of the sample from the lower chamber to an upper chamber through a membrane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of capillary sections include horizontal capillary sections and vertical capillary sections. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the drainage channel includes a middle flow section positioned horizontally between a first and a second capillary section included in the plurality of capillary sections. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising flowing the liquid from the drainage channel into the container through an outlet, wherein the capillary part includes a wall at least partially extending over the outlet with regard to a vertical direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the drainage channel includes a restriction at an inlet where the first gaseous portion of the sample is introduced into the drainage channel.