A bacteria filter for use in anesthesiology and respiratory care systems to filter fluid flow at a desired point in a system. The filter includes an enlarged non-conductive, transparent tubular housing having a passageway therethrough and tapering at one end to a reduced tip. A conductive connector is mounted to the reduced tip and a conductive end cap is affixed to the end of the housing distal from the reduced tip. The end cap has an opening therethrough terminating in a projecting connector. A filter element is retained in the housing and a conductive portion extends between the end cap and the conductive connector to provide a conductive pathway from end to end of the filter. The connector and the projecting end cap are adapted to be mounted within a fluid flow system to permit fluid communication with the interior of the housing so that fluid flow through the system passes in one end of the housing, through the filter element and out the other end of the housing.
This is a division of application Ser. No. 765,111, filed Feb. 2, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,656 which is a division of Ser. No. 669,622 filed Mar. 23, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,913, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 500,405 filed Aug. 26, 1974 now abandoned.
Apparatus for heating and humidifying respiratory gases comprise a housing, a gas permeable member and generating material. The housing includes an inlet adapted for connection to a tracheal tube and an outlet adapted for connection to a tube for passing respiratory gases. The inlet and the outlet are positioned so that respiratory gases passing through the housing pass therebetween. The gas permeable member, for example, a conventional heat and moisture exchanger member, is positioned in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and is adapted to exchange heat and moisture with respiratory gases passing through the housing. The generating material, for example, a carbon dioxide absorbing component, is located in the housing between the inlet and the outlet and is adapted to generate water, and preferably heat, available to humidify, and preferably heat, respiratory gases passing through the housing.
Apparatus for heating and humidifying respiratory gases include a housing, a filter element located in the housing, and a gas permeable member positioned in the housing to exchange heat and moisture with respiratory gases passing through the housing. In one embodiment, the inlet portion of the housing is detachably secured to the remainder of the housing and is adapted to be replaced, together with the filter element, while the outlet portion of the housing remains connected to the tube for passing respiratory gases. Additional materials, such as generating material useful to produce moisture and heat and heat generating materials useful to generate heat may be included within the housing. The present apparatus are particularly structured and adapted to reduce the risk of causing trauma to the patient and to increase the safety and comfort of the patient using such apparatus.
Apparatus for treating respiratory gases include a housing having a patient side port adapted for connection to a tracheal tube device and a machine side port adapted for connection to a tube for passing respiratory gases; and one or more liquid trap chambers positioned between the patient side and machine side ports and adapted to receive and hold liquid passed from outside the housing through the patient side and machine side ports.
Apparatus for treating respiratory gases include a housing having an inlet adapted for connection to a tracheal tube device and an outlet adapted for connection to a tube for passing respiratory gases; and a liquid trap chamber positioned between the inlet and the outlet and adapted to receive and hold liquid passed from outside the housing through the inlet or through the outlet. For example, saline or other aqueous liquid which is passed to the patient from outside the housing to loosen and/or remove mucous secretions in the patient can inadvertently slosh back toward the housing. The liquid trap chamber is positioned and adapted to collect and hold such liquid and prevent such liquid from passing further into the housing, for example, to contact and block a filter element located in the housing. An outlet liquid trap chamber is effective to prevent condensed water from a humidifier in a respiratory gas circuit from contacting and detrimentally affecting a filter in the circuit.
Apparatus for heating and humidifying respiratory gases include a housing, a gas permeable member positioned in the housing to exchange heat and moisture with respiratory gases passing through the housing, a fitting joined to both the housing and a tracheal tube device, and a fitting closure assembly movable to open and close a second end opening of the fitting. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a bypass line positioned to pass inspiratory gases to the fitting and tracheal tube device without passing through the housing. This bypass line embodiment is very effective in providing an additional treatment, for example, a nebulizer treatment, to the patient. The present apparatus are particularly structured and adapted to reduce the risk of causing trauma to the patient and to reduce clinician anxiety.
