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US 4,048,993 AGranted
Humidity exchanger in an apparatus for respiration and anasthesia
AssigneeDragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
InventorGunter Dobritz
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AssigneeDragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft
InventorGunter Dobritz
Estimating the term…
A humidity exchanger in an apparatus for respiration and anasthesia comprises an inhalation air conduit which is juxtaposed to an exhalation air conduit and separated therefrom by a diffusion foil which permits the passage of a vapor therethrough but not a liquid. Both the inhalation and exhalation conduits are connected at their one ends to the respirator and at their opposite ends they are connected together and to a mouthpiece for use by the patient. The temperatures in both conduits adjacent the mouthpiece are maintained at temperatures so that there is a temperature difference between the inhalation air and the exhalation air in the respective conduits to thus provide a condensation zone. Another zone is provided toward the opposite end of the two conduits in which the temperatures between the air and the two conduits is maintained substantially the same so as to define a diffusion zone. The foil advantageously comprises a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer which is hygroscopic. The entire humidity exchanger comprising the two conduits is advantageously surrounded by heat insulation and the exhaling duct may advantageously be provided with a heater adjacent the mouthpiece end in the condensation zone. The inhalation air conduit is also advantageously provided with a humidifier.
A humidity exchanger apparatus for respiration and anesthesia, comprising a combined breathing conduit having a partition wall extending longitudinally therethrough and comprising a diffusion foil, said conduit with said partition defining a separate inhalation passage in juxtaposed relation to a separate exhalation passage, a mouthpiece connected to said combined breathing conduit and interconnecting said passages adjacent one end, a respirator connection connected to said combined breathing conduit adjacent the opposite end and having a separate inhalation conduit connected to said inhalation passage and exhalation conduit connected to said exhalation passage and having valve means permitting inhalation air and exhalation air to pass in respective opposite directions through said inhalation and exhalation passages and conduits, and a first portion of said breathing conduit adjacent said one end of said breathing conduit defining a condensation zone, a second portion of said breathing conduit between said first portion and said opposite end defining a diffusion zone, and temperature control means to maintain said condensation zone of a predetermined length of said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions adjacent said one end at temperatures in which the air passing through said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions have a temperature difference in said condensation zone and also to maintain said diffusion zone of corresponding length of said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions adjacent said opposite end at temperatures which are substantially equal.
A humidity exchanger for use with respiration and anasthesia apparatus, comprising a single breathing conduit defining an inhalation air conduit portion and an exhalation conduit portion juxtaposed to said inhalation conduit portion, a diffusion foil separating said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions, said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions having means at one end for connecting inhalation and exhalation conduits of a respirator to the respective inhalation and exhalation conduit portions and at the opposite end, means for interconnecting said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions with a patient's connection for a user of the apparatus, and means for directing inhalation and exhalation air through said respective inhalation and exhalation conduit portions in respective opposite directions, a first portion of said breathing conduit adjacent said one end of said breathing conduit defining a condensation zone, a second portion of said breathing conduit between said first portion and said opposite end defining a diffusion zone, and temperature control means to maintain said condensation zone of a predetermined length of said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions adjacent said one end at temperatures in which the air passing through said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions have a temperaure difference in said condensation zone and also to maintain said diffusion zone of corresponding length of said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions adjacent said opposite end at temperatures which are substantially equal.
A method of handling air to and from a respirator in a patient's mouth to condition it for proper temperature and humidity for the patient using a conduit system including a single breathing conduit defining an inhalation air conduit portion and an exhalation conduit portion juxtaposed to said inhalation conduit portion, a diffusion foil separating said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions, said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions having means at one end for connecting inhalation and exhalation conduits of the respirator to the respective inhalation and exhalation conduit portions and at the opposite end, means for interconnecting said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions with a patient's connection for a user of the apparatus, and means for directing inhalation and exhalation air through said respective inhalation and exhalation circuit portions in respective opposite directions, a first portion of said breathing conduit adjacent said one end of said breathing conduit defining a condensation zone, a second portion of said breathing conduit between said first portion and said opposite end defining a diffusion zone, and temperature control means to maintain said condensation zone of a predetermined length of said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions adjacent said one end at temperatures in which the air passing through said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions have a temperature difference in said condensation zone and also to maintain said diffusion zone of corresponding length of said inhalation and exhalation conduit portions adjacent said opposite end at temperatures which are equal, comprising directing inhalation air from said respirator through said inhalation conduit portion and thereby, alongside said porous membrane and directing the exhalation air from the patient's mouth to the respirator through the exhalation conduit portion simultaneously and controlling the temperature of said conduit portions via said temperature control means so that there is a condensation produced in said condensation zone adjacent the person's mouth wherein the inhalation air is conditioned as to temperature and moisture before it enters the person's mouth and so that there is a transfer of liquid or moisture from one conduit portion to the other in said diffusion zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.