Granted Patent B2

US 8,561,606 · App. 12/133,929 · Granted Oct 22, 2013

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A heat and moisture exchange unit for use with a patient breathing circuit, the unit comprising:

a housing forming a patient-side port, a ventilator-side port, and a containment region between the patient-side port and the ventilator-side port;

an MDI port assembly including a frame projecting into the containment region and configured to receive a portion of a metered dose dispenser, wherein the frame terminates at an outlet end forming a flow passage; and

a heat and moisturizing medium defining opposing, first and second major exterior surfaces, wherein the medium is maintained within the containment region to locate the first major surface most proximate the outlet end of the MDI port assembly;

wherein the unit is characterized by the absence of a body between the outlet end and the first major surface, and the unit is configured to establish a flow path from the ventilator-side port and constantly toward the patient-side port that enters the medium at the second major surface, exits the medium at the first major surface, passes along the outlet end of the MDI port assembly, and passes into the patient-side port.

2. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the outlet end is fluidly between the first major surface and the patient-side port.

3. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the first major surface is substantially entirely exposed relative to the outlet end.

4. The unit of claim 1 wherein the unit is characterized by the absence of a bypass pathway between the outlet end and the medium.

5. The unit of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the outlet end and the first major surface is less than about 0.5 inches.

6. The unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a wall segment forming at least a portion of the containment region opposite the first major surface, and further wherein at least a portion of the MDI port assembly is integrally formed with the wall segment.

7. A patient breathing circuit for fluidly connecting a patient's airway with a supply of gas, the circuit comprising:

a patient interface comprising:

a first side configured to directly contact a patient's anatomy in fluidly connecting the patient interface to a patient's airway; and

a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side terminates at a patient interface outlet;

a heat and moisture exchange unit comprising:

a housing having a wall that forms a patient-side port, a ventilator-side port and a containment region between the patient-side port and the ventilator-side port, wherein the patient-side port is operably connected to the patient interface outlet;

a heat and moisturizing medium maintained within the containment region;

an MDI port configured to receive a portion of a metered dose dispenser and having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the MDI port extends through the wall;

wherein the heat and moisture exchange unit is configured such that a direct linear flow path from the ventilator-side port to the patient-side port and intersecting the MDI port outlet end passes through a thickness of the medium; and

tubing operably connected to the ventilator-side port for fluidly connecting the circuit to a source of gas.

8. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the containment region has a volume of not more than 30 mL.

9. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein a distance between the outlet end of the MDI port and the medium is less than about 0.5 inches.

10. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the outlet end of the MDI port is fluidly between the medium and the patient-side port.

11. The circuit of claim 7 , wherein the exchange unit is characterized by the absence of a physical barrier between the outlet end of the MDI port and the medium.

12. A heat and moisture exchange unit for use with a patient breathing circuit, the unit comprising:

a housing having a wall that forms a patient-side port, a ventilator-side port and a containment region between the patient-side port and the ventilator-side port;

a heat and moisturizing medium having opposed, first and second major surfaces, wherein the medium is maintained within the containment region such that the first major surface is fluidly open to the patient-side port;

a filter maintained within the containment region and positioned adjacent the second major surface of the medium such that the filter is fluidly open to the ventilator-side port; and

an MDI port configured to receive a portion of a metered dose dispenser and having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the MDI port extends through the wall of the housing along the containment region such that the outlet end is most proximate the first major surface of the medium;

wherein the unit is configured to establish a flow path from the ventilator-side port and constantly toward the patient-side port that passes through the filter, through the medium, along the MDI port outlet end, and into the patient side port.

13. The unit of claim 12 , wherein the containment region has a volume of not more than 60 mL.

14. The unit of claim 12 , wherein apart from the housing, the first major surface of the medium is substantially entirely exposed.

15. The unit of claim 12 , wherein the outlet end of the MDI port defines an opening through which fluid from a dispenser received within the MDI port is projected into the housing, wherein the opening defines an axis intersecting the patient-side port.

16. The unit of claim 12 , wherein a distance between the outlet end and the first major surface of the medium is less than 0.5 inch.

17. The unit of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a wall segment forming at least a portion of the containment region opposite the first major surface of the medium, and wherein at least a portion of the MDI port is integrally formed with the wall segment.

18. The unit of claim 12 , wherein a distance between the patient-side port and the first major surface of the medium is less than 0.5 inch.

Assignments (12)