# US 8,739,779 B2 · Branching unit for delivering respiratory gas of a subject > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,779 B2 - Document ID: US8739779B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/545,188 - Filed: 2009-08-21 - Published: 2010-03-18 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-15 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Heikki Antti Mikael Haveri - Inventors: Heikki Antti Mikael Haveri - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739779B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/042: {with separate conduits for in-and expiration gas, e.g. for limited dead volume} - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 11/00: Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes (in general B05B; {aerosol containers B65D83/14}) - A61M 16/0463: {combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - 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 branching unit for delivering a respiratory gas of a subject is disclosed herein. The branching unit includes a first limb for delivering an expiratory gas during an expiratory phase and a second limb for delivering an inspiratory gas during an inspiratory phase. The branching unit also includes a third limb connecting with the first limb and the second limb for delivering both said expiratory gas and said inspiratory gas and at least one port for a medical appliance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A branching unit for delivering a respiratory gas comprising: a first limb connectable to an expiratory gas tube for delivering an expiratory gas during an expiratory phase; a second limb connectable to an inspiratory gas tube for delivering an inspiratory gas during an inspiratory phase; a third limb connected with said first limb and said second limb and connectable to an endotracheal tube for delivering both said expiratory gas and said inspiratory gas; at least one port for a medical appliance, said at least one port equipped with a shutter configured to close said at least one port but to allow if necessary said medical appliance to be inserted into or through said at least one port, said shutter being a membrane that is pierceable to enable insertion of said medical appliance into or through said at least one port without requiring removal of the shutter from said at least one port; and wherein each of said first limb, said second limb, said third limb, and at least one port of said at least one port defines an internal lumen and a corresponding longitudinal axis extending through said internal lumen, and all of said longitudinal axes intersect at a common point internal to said branching unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said first limb, said second limb, said third limb and said at least one port are configured to form an integral structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said third limb is at an angle of between 30° and 180° degrees with at least one of said first limb and said second limb. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said at least one port is at an angle of 160°-200° degrees with said third limb. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said first limb is at an angle of 0°-180° degrees with said second limb. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said second limb is inside said first limb. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said medical appliance is one of a humidifier, a nebulizer, a catheter, a fiber scope and a tube. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal axes are central longitudinal axes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The branching unit according to claim 1, wherein said common point is located at a common junction of said first limb, said second limb and said third limb. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The branch unit according to claim 1, wherein the shutter is locates at a branching point of the branching unit, where said first limb, said second limb and said third limb separate from each other. ### Claim 11 A branching unit for delivering a respiratory gas comprising: a first limb connectable to an expiratory gas tube for delivering an expiratory gas during an expiratory phase; a second limb connectable to an inspiratory gas tube for delivering an inspiratory gas during an inspiratory phase; a third limb connected with said first limb and said second limb and connectable to an endotracheal tube for delivering both said expiratory gas and said inspiratory gas; at least one port for a medical appliance, said at least one port equipped with a shutter configured to close said at least one port but to allow if necessary said medical appliance to be inserted into or through said at least one port, said shutter being a membrane that is pierceable to enable insertion of said medical appliance into or through said at least one port without requiring removal of the shutter from said at least one port; and wherein each of said first limb, said second limb, said third limb, and at least one port of said at least one port defines an internal lumen and a corresponding longitudinal axis extending through said internal lumen, and all of said longitudinal axes intersect at a common point internal to said branching unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The branching unit according to claim 11, wherein said third limb is at an angle of 30°-180° degrees with at least one of said first limb and said second limb. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The branching unit according to claim 11, wherein said at least one port is at an angle of 160°-200° degrees with said third limb. ### Claim 14 A branching unit for delivering a respiratory gas comprising: a first limb connectable to an expiratory gas tube for delivering an expiratory gas during an expiratory phase; a second limb connectable to an inspiratory gas tube for delivering an inspiratory gas during an inspiratory phase; a third limb connecting at an angle of between 30° and 180° degrees with at least one of said first limb and said second limb and connectable to an endotracheal tube for delivering both said expiratory gas and said inspiratory gas; at least one port for a medical appliance, said at least one port equipped with a shutter configured to close said at least one port but to allow if necessary said medical appliance to be inserted into or through said at least one port, said shutter being a membrane that is pierceable to enable insertion of said medical appliance into or through said at least one port without requiring removal of the shutter from said at least one port; and wherein each of said first limb, said second limb, said third limb, and at least one port of said at least one port defines an internal lumen and a corresponding longitudinal axis extending through said internal lumen, and all of said longitudinal axes intersect at a common point internal to said branching unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The branching unit according to claim 14, wherein said at least one port is at an angle of 160°-200° degrees with said third limb. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The branching unit according to claim 14, wherein the angle between said third limb and at least one of said first limb and said second limb is configured to be adjustable.