# US 2014/0150779 A1 · Breathing protector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150779 A1 - Document ID: US20140150779A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,975 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Inventors: Jan-Ove Persson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150779A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/047: {Masks, filters, surgical pads, devices for absorbing secretions, specially adapted therefor} - A61M 16/0468: {with valves at the proximal end limiting exhalation, e.g. during speaking or coughing (air passages from trachea to oesophagus or to pharynx, artificial epiglottis A61F2/203)} - A61M 16/1045: {Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas} - A61M 16/1055: {bacterial} - 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 A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person is provided. This breathing protector is provided with an inlet and an outlet, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said inlet to said outlet, into trachea of said person. The breathing protector further comprises a heat-moisture exchanger (3) and a bacteriological filter (4), such that said air flow will pass through said heat-moisture exchanger and said bacteriological filter when said air flow in use passes through said inlet to said outlet. Also, the breathing protector is provided with a closing member (6) that may be activated to close the communication between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, said breathing protector having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said inlet to said outlet, into trachea of said person, said breathing protector comprising: a heat-moisture exchanger and a bacteriological filter, such that said air flow will pass through said heat-moisture exchanger and said bacteriological filter when said air flow in use passes through said at least one inlet to said at least one outlet, and a closing member selectively activated to close the communication between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein said bacteriological filter is arranged multi planar, such that an antibacteriological effect is obtained in more than one plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein said bacteriological filter is at least one of pleated, folded, curved, and arched, such that a multi planar structure is provided. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein said heat-moisture exchanger is arranged in a housing provided with a first opening and said at least one outlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The breathing protector according to claim 4, wherein said housing is provided with a closing surface at said first opening, when selectively activated said closing member cooperates with said closing surface to close the communication between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The breathing protector according to claim 5, wherein said bacteriological filter is attached to said closing surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The breathing protector according to claim 5, wherein said bacteriological filter is arranged to be compressed in an interaction area between said closing member and said closing surface when closing said communication. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The breathing protector according to claim 7, wherein said bacteriological filter is provided with an area having a thinner thickness than the rest of the bacteriological filter, said area corresponding to the interaction area in between said closing surface and said closing member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The breathing protector according to claim 4, comprising a rim, said rim having a larger circumference than said first opening, said bacteriological filter being attached to said rim, such that said bacteriological filter extends from said closing surface to said rim, whereby at least one inlet is provided between said closing surface and said rim, and said bacteriological filter covers a cross sectional area of said rim, whereby said bacteriological filter is arranged in a multi-planar way. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The breathing protector according to claim 1, comprising a flexible cover. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The breathing protector according to claim 10, wherein said flexible cover is external to said bacteriological filter and is attached to said rim. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The breathing protector according to claim 11, wherein said at least one inlet is provided between said flexible cover and said rim. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The breathing protector according to claim 10, wherein said flexible cover is said closing member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The breathing protector according to claim 13, wherein said flexible cover is provided with an abutment shaped to fit against said closing surface to facilitate the closure of said breathing protector, wherein said closing surface is a closing rib. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The breathing protector according to claim 1, wherein said closing member comprises a closing disc and a stabilizing bar, said stabilizing bar running through a lumen of a tube running through said breathing protector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The breathing protector according to claim 15, wherein said tube is connected to a web at said at least one outlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The breathing protector according to claim 15 wherein said closing member comprises a spring unit connected to said closing disc. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The breathing protector according to claim 17, wherein said spring unit is at least one of an arched and curved flexible bar extending from a first point to a second point along a circumference of said closing disc, said first and second points being located substantially diagonally in respect of each other along said circumference, and said spring unit is at least one of attached to and integrated with said tube at a distance from said closing disc, when said closing mechanism is in a resting position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The breathing protector according to claim 15, comprising a stop member arranged along an inner side of said breathing protector, such that said closing disc may provide a sealing action when resting on said stop member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The breathing protector according to claim 18, wherein said spring unit comprises multiple flexible bars, said flexible bars being at least one of arched and curved. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The breathing protector according to claim 1, comprising an automatic speech valve. ### Claim 22 A breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, said breathing protector having a housing with at least a first opening and at least a second opening, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said first opening to said second opening, into trachea of said person, said breathing protector comprising: a heat-moisture exchanger and a bacteriological filter, such that said air flow will pass through said heat-moisture exchanger and said bacteriological filter when said air flow in use passes through said first opening to said second opening, and a rim having a larger circumference than a circumference of said first opening, said bacteriological filter extending from said housing to said rim and covering a cross sectional area of said rim, such that air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said bacteriological filter before said first opening. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The breathing protector according to claim 22, comprising a cover external to said bacteriological filter, and being at least one of attached and integrated with said rim. ### Claim 24 A method for humidifying and filtering off bacteriological matter, during breathing through a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, said method comprising: passing air from the surroundings into trachea of said person through a breathing protector having a housing with at least a first opening and at least a second opening, said breathing protector comprising a heat-moisture exchanger and a bacteriological filter, moisturizing said air when passing said air through said heat-moisture exchanger, and filtering off bacteriological matter by passing said air through said bacteriological filter, said bacteriological filter having a surface area being larger than the an area enclosed by said first opening. ### Claim 25 A method for closing a breathing protector for use in a stoma of a laryngectomized or tracheotomised person, said breathing protector having a housing with at least a first opening and at least a second opening, such that an air flow in use will pass from the surroundings of said person through said first opening to said second opening, into trachea of said person, said breathing protector comprising a heat-moisture exchanger and a bacteriological filter, said bacteriological filter enclosing said first opening, such that said air flow will pass through said heat-moisture exchanger and said bacteriological filter when said air flow in use passes through said first opening to said second opening, said breathing protector further comprising a flexible cover external to said bacteriological filter, and closing said first opening by pressing said cover onto said bacteriological filter.