Gas-Treatment Devices

Abstract

An HME has exchange elements ( 4 ) at opposite ends of a tubular housing ( 1, 101 ) and a central port ( 2 ) for connection to a tracheal tube ( 3 ). An oxygen port ( 5, 105, 105 ′) is located centrally with the major part of it being contained within a recess ( 40, 140, 140 ′) on the exterior of the housing and extending at right angles to the length of the housing. The oxygen port ( 5, 105, 105 ′) opens into a wider passage ( 32, 32 ′) extending within the housing, which opens on the external face ( 30 ) of the two exchange elements ( 4 ). A large suction aperture ( 60 ) aligns with the port ( 2 ) opening to the tracheal tube ( 3 ) and is covered by a hinged flap ( 61 ) when not in use.

1 . A gas-treatment device having a housing, a first port adapted for connection to a patient breathing device, a gas-treatment element through which gas can flow in both directions to and from the patient and a second, oxygen supply port by which oxygen can be supplied to the patient via the gas-treatment device, the oxygen supply port being in the form of a tubular stem, characterized in that the housing has a recess on its external surface, and that the major part of the oxygen supply port extends within the recess when not in use. 
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the device has two gas-treatment elements at opposite ends of the housing. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the oxygen supply port is located intermediate the ends of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the gas-treatment is an HME exchange element. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing has an elongate shape and that the oxygen supply port extends substantially at right angles to the axis of the housing. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the oxygen supply port is displaceable from a first position in which a major part of the port is contained within the recess and a second position in which it projects from the recess for connection of an oxygen supply tube. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the oxygen supply port is displaceable by rotation. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the oxygen supply port is displaceable by sliding. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing has a suction aperture located substantially opposite the first port, and that the suction aperture is covered by a flap that can be displaced to enable a suction catheter to be extended through the suction aperture into the patient breathing device. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that an oxygen supply passage extends along the housing and opens onto an external face of the gas-treatment element, that the oxygen supply port is directed at an angle to the oxygen supply passage such that oxygen flow changes direction where it emerges from the port into the passage, and that the cross-sectional area of the oxygen passage is greater than that of the oxygen port so that oxygen pressure drops where it emerges from the port into the passage.