Permeable membrane water dissipation device

A water dissipation device for a breathing circuit, comprising:

• a housing including at least a side wall, said side wall defining a top opening and enclosing an interior flow space within said housing, said side wall forming an exterior wall of the housing exposed to the surroundings outside of the device and said breathing circuit,
• the housing including a lid mounted over said top opening,
• the housing further defining an entry port and an exit port for coupling to a breathing circuit and defining at least a first flow path between said entry and exit ports for flow from the breathing circuit,
• said side wall being formed of a water vapor breathable medium that is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water,
• the housing further defining a second flow path extending from the entry port through the water vapor breathable medium and out of the water dissipation device, the second flow path providing a path for flow of water vapor out of the water dissipation device from the interior flow space through the side wall directly out to the surroundings outside of the device.