Breathing circuit heating element retainer
AssigneeBaxter International Inc.
InventorsAndre M. Rustad, Paul O. Davison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a breathing circuit such as a ventilator circuit, a heating element is used to provide improved temperature characteristics of the inspired air or breathing gas. An heating element retainer is disclosed which is operative to provide a central location of the heating element within the breathing circuit lumen.
Claims8
In a breathing circuit having a tube, said tube defining a lumen, said lumen having an interior surface and a convolute section, and a heating element wire interior to said interior surface;
- a heating element retainer comprising a body having a plurality of ports defined therein and adapted to be inserted and retained in said convolute section and support said heating element wire by means of said plurality of ports defined within said body, said ports being further adapted to grip said element and hold same in a substantially fixed relationship with said body, and radially extensive deformable members extensive from said body with said members including deformable supports;
- said supports being substantially conterminous with said interior surface.
A method for effecting support of a heating wire in a breathing circuit having a convolute section comprising the following steps:
- (1) wherein a heating wire retainer having a plurality of ports and said ports are adapted to retain said wire, threading said wire through said ports;
- (2) wherein said retainer comprises a body having radially extensive deformable members extensive from said body and is adapted to fit within said convolute section, emplacing said retainer in said convolute section;
- (3) drawing said wire through said breathing circuit and, wherein said circuit has a distal end, said drawing of said wire continuing to said distal end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.