Filtering device and the use thereof

Claims

I claim:

1. A filtering device for connection to the respiratory tract of a person and comprising a cover enclosing separate strips of a heat and moisture exchanging material and a bacteria absorbing filter which consists of a folded, air-permeable pleated sheet material, the strips of heat and moisture exchanging material being disposed in a plurality of the pleats of the sheet material, which pleats act as a carrier for the separate strips that take up a substantial part of the space between the pleats of the sheet material in which they are located and which extend along substantially the whole length of a pleat to space adjacent pleats from each other.

2. A filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the strips are disposed on both sides of the sheet material.

3. A filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material is folded into a staggered shape and is given one of a fan-like, circular shape and a generally rectangular shape.

4. A filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the strips is essentially the same as that of the pleats.

5. A filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the strips are folded or waved and consist of a material with little or no air permeability and that large parts of the folded surfaces of the strips are spaced apart from the sheet material.

6. A filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet material consists of one of the following materials: cellulose paper, hydrophobized glass fibres, polysulphone, electrically charged polypropylene fibres and thin polycarbonate fibres.

7. A filtering device according to claim 1, wherein the strips consist of an air-permeable material, such as foamed polyurethane, loosely packed polyethylene or polyester fibres, or folded paper, which material is preferably treated with a hydrophilic substance.

8. A filtering device according to claim 7, wherein the air permeable material is treated with a hydrophilic substance.