Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Means for mixing treating agent with respiratory gas
Patent
1990-10-15
1992-02-11
Burr, Edgar S.
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Means for mixing treating agent with respiratory gas
12820326, 12820317, 12820417, A61M 1600
Patent
active
050867660
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to breathing apparatus for medical purposes.
It is known that humid air at around 90% relative humidity and a critical temperature of 43.degree. C., when breathed by a patient for period of 15 to 20 minutes, is effective in rendering groups of viruses in the upper respiratory tract inactive, which results in the body being able to counteract colds, allergies, etc. efficiently and thereby reduce dramatically the patient's recovery time.
The Applicant's co-pending U.K. Patent Specification No. 2192136, describes apparatus which incorporates an efficient temperature control arrangement by which air drawn through the apparatus is supplied to the user at or close to the critical humidity and temperature requirements. This apparatus has proved particularly successful in clinical trials conducted by the Medical Research Council.
The object of the present invention is to provide a development of the apparatus described in our said co-pending Patent Specification which, compared with the various embodiments described therein, has further mainly constructional, advantages.
According to this invention breathing apparatus of the kind having a water chamber in which a heating element is immersed, the the temperature of said element being controlled so that air drawn over the heated water is maintained at or close to a required humidity and temperature at an outlet, the volume of the air passing through the apparatus being substantially greater than that required for breathing and being directed into a face mask connectable to the outlet which is formed with vents through which excess moist/heated air together with air exhaled by the user can pass to atmosphere, is characterised in that the casing for the apparatus is in two parts, comprising a base and a removable housing, in that the base accommodates a water tank and has a column extending upwards therefrom which defines an air path from the water tank, in that the face mask is connected to the upper, outlet end of the column, and in that the heating element is carried by and projects from said removable housing such that it is immersed into the water of said tank when said housing is fitted into position on said base.
Preferably, the heating element is of the PTC (Positive Temperature Co-efficient) type and is surrounded by a shroud, which may be detachable, and which generally encloses said element, but provides openings near the top of the shroud, the arrangemen being such that, when the apparatus is not in use the heating element cannot be touched if the removable housing is removed, and when the apparatus is in use water at the required temperature tends to be concentrated within the shroud and across the water surface, thereby providing a reduced thermal mass and a consequent improvement in temperature control.
The base and removable housing may be so shaped that, when fitted together, they provide a casing which tapers progressively to a small dimension in plan from its lower to its upper end, thereby providing stability to the apparatus in use, in which case a frontal part of the apparatus projects upwardly from the base and is inclined to the vertical away from the user, said frontal part preferably comprises front and side walls which are generally of U-cross-section, and the side walls thereof co-operate when fitted with a similarly inclined front wall of said removable housing to define said column. The removable housing may conveniently accommodate all the electrical/electronic components for the apparatus, which includes a fan and fan motor, said heating element, and a circuit arrangement therefor. The circuit arrangement may include provision for temperature control including a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the moist/heated air being inhaled, which is fitted in the removable housing so as to project into said column at or close to its outlet.
Conveniently, the water tank is removable from the base for easy filling and cleaning.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, one embodiment of breathi
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Burr Edgar S.
Malvaso Lisa
Virotherm Laboratories Ltd.
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