Fluid drying mechanism

Abstract

There is provided an exhaled breath moisture reduction system including a dryer mechanism and a connector adapted to connect the dryer mechanism proximate to a respiratory output device. There is also provided an exhaled breath sampling assembly including an airway adaptor and a moisture reduction sleeve comprising a material adapted to reduce moisture and a connector adapted to connect said sleeve substantially adjacent to a breath sampling inlet within the adaptor. Also provided, a method of sampling breath which includes attaching an exhaled breath moisture reduction sleeve substantially adjacent to a breath sampling inlet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sidestream gas sampling assembly, comprising:
 a dryer tube adapted to condense out moisture, the dryer tube being impermeable to gases and having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner wall defining a channel through the dryer tube from the inlet to the outlet, the inlet adapted to receive exhaled breath for analysis;   a molded-on connector that covers the outlet of the dryer tube, the molded-on connector having a male adaptor, the male adaptor having a substantially triangular protrusion configured to be inserted into a female connector; and   a filter disposed in the dryer tube and adapted to absorb moisture, wherein moisture absorbed by the filter is condensed out over at least a portion of the dryer tube.   
     
     
         2 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 1 , wherein the female connector comprises a female connector of a gas analyzer. 
     
     
         3 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a second connector configured to be connected to a respiratory output device. 
     
     
         4 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 3 , wherein the respiratory output device comprises a cannula. 
     
     
         5 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 3 , wherein the respiratory output device comprises an oral and nasal breath collector. 
     
     
         6 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 3 , wherein the respiratory output device comprises an airway adaptor. 
     
     
         7 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 3 , wherein the respiratory output device comprises a breath sampling tube. 
     
     
         8 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 3 , wherein the second connector comprises a luer connector. 
     
     
         9 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 1 , wherein the first molded on connector further comprises an intermediate section forming a gap between the male adaptor and the part of the first molded-on connector covering the outlet of the dryer tube. 
     
     
         10 . The gas sampling tube of  claim 1 , located proximate to the respiratory output device.