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US 6,523,538 B1Granted
Breathing circuit having improved water vapor removal
AssigneeInstrumentarium Corp.
InventorPer Wikefeldt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breathing circuit of the closed circuit type has improved means for removing water vapor to prevent condensation within the circuit. A dryer is placed in the breathing circuit, downstream of the CO2 absorber, for removing water vapor from the breathing gases, including that entrained in the breathing gases during passage through the CO2 absorber. The dryer may utilize a thermoelectric cooling element or a water vapor permeable membrane.
Claims21
An improved breathing circuit for a subject, said breathing circuit comprising:
- an inspiration limb providing breathing gases for supply to the subject;
- an expiration limb receiving breathing gases containing water vapor from the subject;
- means for circulating breathing gases in the breathing circuit to supply breathing gases to the subject and to receive breathing gases from the subject;
- a CO2 absorber interposed in said breathing circuit for removing CO2 from the breathing gases provided in said inspiration limb to the subject;
- and
- dryer means in said breathing circuit, downstream of said CO2 absorber, for removing water vapor from the breathing gases provided in the inspiration limb to the subject to prevent moisture condensation, said dryer means having means for cooling breathing gases received from said CO2 absorber to remove water vapor therefrom, said dryer means having heat exchanger means for heating cooled breathing gases from which water vapor has been removed and which are provided in said inspiration limb to the subject.
3 more elements
An improved breathing circuit for a subject, said breathing circuit comprising:
- an inspiration limb providing breathing gases for supply to the subject;
- an expiration limb receiving breathing gases containing water vapor from the subject;
- means for circulating breathing gases in the breathing circuit to supply breathing gases to the subject and to receive breathing gases from the subject;
- a CO2 absorber interposed in said breathing circuit for removing CO2 from the breathing gases provided in said inspiration limb to the subject;
- and
- dryer means in said breathing circuit, downstream of said CO2 absorber, for removing water vapor from the breathing gases provided in the inspiration limb to the subject to prevent moisture condensation, said dryer means comprising a water vapor permeable element having a surface along which the breathing gases received from said CO2 absorber are passed to remove water vapor from the breathing gases.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.