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US 9,533,117 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 and a second end and a breathing gases pathway therebetween, said flexible conduit formed using a film having a thickness less than 50 μm,
- a first connector fixed to said first end of said flexible conduit,
- a second connector fixed to said second end of said flexible conduit, and
- an elongate reinforcing member lying freely within said flexible conduit along a non-tortuous path from one end of said flexible conduit to the other end of said flexible conduit, and connected with said first connector and said second connector, such that said elongate reinforcing member reinforces said flexible conduit against contraction along the length of said flexible conduit due to fluctuating internal pressure, and
- wherein said elongate reinforcing member has a cross sectional area, measured from the outer perimeter, less than 10% of the cross sectional area of the bore of said flexible conduit.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a limb for a breathing circuit comprising:
- providing a conduit having a first end and a second end, said flexible conduit formed using a film having a thickness less than 50 μm,
- locating an elongate reinforcing member having a first end and a second end, lying freely within said flexible conduit, along a non-tortuous path from one end of said flexible conduit to the other end of said flexible conduit, said elongate reinforcing member having a cross sectional area, measured from the outer perimeter, less than 10% of the cross sectional area of the bore of said flexible conduit,
- fixing a first end connector with said first end of said flexible conduit, and said first end of said elongate reinforcing member, and
- fixing a second end connector with said second end of said flexible conduit and said second end of said elongate reinforcing member, such that said elongate reinforcing member reinforces said flexible conduit against contraction along the length of said flexible conduit due to fluctuating internal pressure.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.