Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Inhaled gas heated or humidified by exhaled gas
Patent
1993-07-06
1995-01-24
Asher, Kimberly L.
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Inhaled gas heated or humidified by exhaled gas
12820326, 12820417, 392396, A62B 1808, A61M 1600, F23D 1100, F24J 300
Patent
active
053834470
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for warming and moistening gases, more particularly, breathing gases during artificial respiration, comprising the combination of at least one passive heat and moisture exchanger and at least one active warming and moistening device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Under physiological conditions, the nose functions to provide active warming and heating of breathing air. When a patient is undergoing artificial respiration however the nose is shunted by a flexible tube, whose end is inserted into the trachea. The moistening and warming action on the breathing gases, which is absolutely essential for normal function of the lungs, is presently performed by an apparatus, which more particularly operates in accordance with two principles. A first part of the apparatus actively imparts heat and moisture to the air. In this case for instance dry, cold air is caused to pass through an electrically heated water bath moistener and thereby conditioned prior to being supplied to the patient. A second part of the apparatus operates passively as a heat and moisture exchanger (H. M. E.). In this case heat and moisture are removed from the moist, warm expired air and are then imparted to the cold, dry air to be inspired without an additional active supply of heat and moisture from the surroundings taking place.
In accordance with this prior art it is admittedly possible for the apparatus to supply sufficiently tempered and moistened respiratory air when there is an active supply of heat and moisture, but however very involved technical and nursing measures are necessary so that production and running costs of such equipment are very high. In contradistinction to such apparatus, there are less complex, simply designed and simply operated passive heat and moisture exchangers, but they have not so far provided a sufficient moistening and warming action for artificial respiration.
In an earlier application, see European patent publication 0 413 127 A2, the applicant has described an apparatus for warming and moistening breathing air for artificial respiration of the type initially mentioned in the case of which the above mentioned advantages are obtained by a combination of independent passive heat and moisture exchangers with an active heat and moisture exchanger. However, this prior art device is relatively complex in design. Furthermore, such a device involved some problems owing to there being an excessive dead volume, which due to the re-inspiration of exhaled air had a particularly pronounced effect in the case of newly born babies, owing to their small vital capacity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is accordingly to provide an apparatus of the type initially mentioned which optimally supplies moistened breathing air with small dead volumes and in this respect is very simple in design and is simple to operate.
In accordance with the invention, a heat and moisture exchanger insert is provided mounted in a housing and one part operates as a passive heat and moisture exchanger and another part operates as an active heat and moisture exchanger with the heating and moistening device surrounding it. This means that there is a single unit comprising both a passive heat and moisture exchanger and an active heating and humidifying device. The advantages of both principles are consequently realized in a constructionally compact design as a simple apparatus so that on one hand there is optimum moistening and heating of the breathing gases while at the same time there is a low degree of technical complexity, little nursing attention is required, while costs are low.
In accordance with a further advantageous development of the invention, the apparatus is so designed that its housing is divided into two parts, an upper housing part being in the form of a conical connecting part with a cylindrical cavity to receive the passive heat and moisture exchanger insert or cartridge and a lower housing part being in the form of an active moistening and
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