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US 7,469,719 B2Granted
Limb for breathing circuit
AssigneeFisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
InventorNathan Lee Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A limb for a breathing circuit manufactured from very thin walled polymer materials has an elongate axial reinforcing spine lying freely inside the conduit and fixed to each end connector. The spine is laterally compliant but axially stiff. The spine provides resistance to tensile and compressive loads on the conduit, including that induced by prevailing internal pressures.
Claims20
A limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
- a flexible conduit having a first end, a second end and a breathing gases pathway therebetween defined by wall, said wall comprising a very thin membrane having a thickness less than 50 microns, and said membrane is insufficiently sturdy to be self supporting, said conduit is insufficiently sturdy such that said conduit would experience substantial internal volume changes as a result of said wall deforming due to fluctuating pressure within said conduit from patient breathing;
- a first connector fixed to said first end of said conduit;
- a second connector fixed to said second end of said conduit;
- and
- an elongate reinforcing member lying freely within said conduit along a non-tortuous path from one end of said conduit to the other end of said conduit, and connected with said first connector and said second connector, such that said elongate reinforcing member reinforces said conduit against said substantial volume changes that would occur in said conduit, but for said elongate reinforcing member, and said elongate reinforcing member does not include a passageway large enough for gases delivery to a patient.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
- providing a flexible breathing conduit having a first end, a second end and a breathing gases pathway therebetween defined by a wall, said wall comprising a very thin membrane having a thickness less than 50 microns such that said membrane is insufficiently sturdy to be self supporting, and said conduit is insufficiently sturdy such that said conduit would experience substantial internal volume changes as a result of said wall deforming due to fluctuating pressure within said conduit from patient breathing,
- locating an elongate reinforcing member having a first and a second end, lying freely within said conduit, along a non-tortuous path from one end of said conduit to the other end of said conduit,
- fixing a first end connector with a first end of said breathing conduit, and a first end of said elongate reinforcing member, and
- fixing a second end connector with said second end of said conduit and said second end of said elongate reinforcing member, such that said elongate reinforcing member reinforces said conduit against said substantial volume changes that would occur in said conduit, but for said elongate reinforcing member,
- said elongate reinforcing member does not include a passageway large enough for gases delivery to a patient.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.