# US 5,701,891 A · Olefin heat and moisture exchanger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,891 A - Document ID: US5701891A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/566,086 - Filed: 1995-12-01 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-01 - Assignees: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC - Inventors: Allen W. Groenke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701891A ## CPC - A61M 16/1045: {Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas} - 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 heat exchanger medium which can be incorporated into a heat and moisture exchanger. The heat exchanger medium includes an elongate sheet of spunbonded olefin. The sheet has a longitudinal axis, a front and back surface and first and second edges generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet. The sheet may be covered with a hydrophilic coating and a desiccant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat exchanger medium, comprising: an elongated sheet including spunbonded olefin, the sheet having a longitudinal axis, a front surface and back surface, and a first edge and a second edge generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet, wherein the sheet includes a desiccant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A heat exchanger medium in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a hydrophilic coating selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyacrylic acid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A heat exchanger medium in accordance with claim 2, wherein the sheet including the hydrophilic coating includes a desiccant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A heat exchanger medium in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a plurality of corrugations extending between the first and second edges of the sheet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A heat exchanger medium in accordance with claim 4, wherein the corrugations include a portion which extends longitudinally and transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the sheet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A heat exchanger medium in accordance with claim 5, wherein the corrugations are disposed in a herringbone pattern. ### Claim 7 A heat and moisture exchanger, comprising: a housing including an enclosure having a patient port and a machine port; a first elongated sheet including spunbonded olefin, the sheet having a longitudinal axis, a front surface and back surface, and a first edge and a second edge generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet; wherein the sheet is disposed in a spiraling generally cylindrically-shaped roll such that the sheet is arranged in generally concentric layers; and the roll is disposed within the housing enclosure; and an elongate sheet of netting having a longitudinal axis, a front surface and a back surface, and a first edge and a second edge generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet of netting wherein the sheet of netting is disposed between the generally concentric layers of the olefin sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sheet includes a desiccant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sheet includes a hydrophilic coating selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyacrylic acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 9, wherein the sheet including the hydrophilic coating includes a desiccant. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sheet includes a plurality of corrugations extending between the first and second edges of the sheet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 11, wherein the corrugations include a portion which extends longitudinally and transversely to the sheet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: a second elongated sheet of spun-bonded olefin, the sheet having a longitudinal axis, a front surface and a back surface, and a first edge and a second edge generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet, the sheet having corrugations disposed between the edges, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are disposed back to back in the spiraling roll such that the corrugations of the first sheet generally do not nest in the corrugations of the second sheet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 7, wherein the netting comprises a polymer. ### Claim 15 A heat and moisture exchanger comprising: a housing including an enclosure having a patient port and machine port; an elongated heat exchanger sheet, the sheet having a longitudinal axis, a front surface and a back surface, and a first edge and a second edge generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet; an elongate sheet of netting having a longitudinal axis, a front surface and a back surface, and a first edge and a second edge generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the netting; and wherein the back surface of the sheet and the back surface of the netting are disposed adjacent each other in a spiraling roll such that the sheet of netting defines a spacer between generally concentric layers of the sheet; and the roll is disposed within the housing enclosure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 15, wherein the netting comprises a polymer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 15, wherein the sheet includes a desiccant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 15, wherein the sheet includes a hydrophilic coating selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyacrylic acid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 15, wherein the sheet includes cellulose. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 15, wherein the netting includes a first plurality of strands extending at a first angle to the longitudinal axis of the netting and a second plurality of strands extending at a second angle to the longitudinal axis, the second angle not being equal to the first angle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A heat and moisture exchanger in accordance with claim 20, wherein the first plurality of strands is disposed at the front surface of the netting and the second plurality of strands is disposed at the back surface of the netting.