Low profile heat and moisture exchanger device for tracheotomy and speaking valve

Abstract

A heat moisture exchange device received on a speaking tube mounted on an end of a tracheotomy tube. The heat moisture exchange device has a housing in which the air moves in a turbulent manner and passes through a heat moisture exchange filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heat moisture exchange device comprising a housing adapted to be received on an end of a tracheotomy tube, wherein exhaled and inhaled air may move into and out of the housing, the housing having a domed frontal wall and circumferential walls depending from the domed frontal wall, a bottom circular panel joined to the circumferential walls, a circular opening formed in the bottom panel, the domed frontal wall having a dimple extending toward the circular opening, a plurality of spaced-apart legs connected to the bottom panel and extending upwardly within the housing toward the domed frontal wall, the legs being substantially parallel to the circumferential walls,
 a plurality of spaced-apart openings formed in the circumferential walls, and 
 a heat and moisture exchange filter mounted within the housing through which air flows, wherein moisture and heat from the exhaled air is transferred to the filter and inhaled air is heated and moisturized by the filter and wherein particulates in the inhaled air are collected by the filter. 
 
     
     
       2. The heat and moisture exchange device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein a speaking valve is mounted on the end of the tracheotomy tube and 
 the heat moisture exchange device is mounted on the speaking valve 
 wherein a patient fitted with the tracheotomy tube, the speaking valve and the heat and moisture exchange device may breathe and speak. 
 
     
     
       3. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 2 , wherein the speaking valve comprises:
 a plurality of ramps extending upward at an acute angle towards a first end of the speaking valve; 
 an opening at a second end of the speaking valve, wherein the opening is offset from a central axis extending from the first end to the second end of the valve; and 
 a ball disposed between the opening and the plurality of ramps, wherein a diameter of the ball is greater than a diameter of the opening. 
 
     
     
       4. The heat moisture exchange filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a filter material impregnated with a hygroscopic material. 
     
     
       5. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter material is a porous foam having multiple pores, each pore having a nominal pore size of approximately 65 ppi. 
     
     
       6. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 5 , wherein the porous foam comprises ester-type polyurethane. 
     
     
       7. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 1 , wherein
 athe dimple is formed centrally on the domed frontal wall, the dimple being arranged to produce turbulence in movement of air moving within the housing. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of using the heat moisture exchange device of  claim 1  comprising: 
 with a tracheotomy tube whereinmounting the heat moisture exchange device is mounted on the end of the tracheotomy tube and 
 controlscontrolling the temperature and moisture content of the air being inhaled and exhaled through the mounted heat moisture exchange device and the tracheotomy tube. 
 
     
     
       9. A heat moisture exchange device comprising
 a housing adapted to be received on a speaking valve which is mounted on an end of a tracheotomy tube in a patient fitted with the tracheotomy tube, wherein air may move into and out of the housing, the housing having
 a domed frontal wall and 
 circumferential walls depending from the domed frontal wall, 
 a bottom circular panel joined to the circumferential walls, 
 a circular opening formed in the bottom panel, 
 a plurality of spaced-apart legs connected to the bottom panel and extending upwardly within the housing toward the domed frontal wall,
 the legs being substantially parallel to the circumferential walls, 
 
 a plurality of spaced-apart openings formed in the circumferential walls, 
 means for modifying air flow disposed within the housing to produce nonlinear turbulent air flow within the housing, 
 a heat and moisture exchange filter mounted within the housing between the legs and the openings in the circumferentially circumferential walls through which air flows,
 wherein moisture and heat from the exhaled air is transferred to the filter and inhaled air is heated and moisturized by the filter and 
 wherein particulates in the inhaled air are collected by the filter, and  
 wherein the means disposed within the housing to produce nonlinear turbulent airflow within the housing for modifying air flow is a dimple formed on the domed frontal wall extending towards the circular opening. 
 
 
 
     
     
       10. The heat moisture exchange filter of  claim 9 , wherein the filter is a filter material impregnated with a hygroscopic material. 
     
     
       11. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 9 , wherein
 the means to produce nonlinear turbulent air flow within the housing is the dimple is formed centrally on the domed frontal wall. 
 
     
     
       12. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 9 , wherein the turbulence is expressed as 
       
         
           
             
               
                 R 
                 os 
               
               = 
               
                 Q 
                 
                   4 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   π 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   Dv 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       where Q is a fixed flow amplitude, D is a generic diameter of the heat moisture exchange device and ν is the kinematic viscosity of air and the device operates at R os  greater than approximately 600. 
     
     
       13. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 12 , wherein one or more flow cross sections have a hydraulic diameter that is less than 5 mm. 
     
     
       14. A method of using the heat moisture exchange device of  claim 9  comprising 
 withmounting the heat moisture exchange device on the speaking valve, and 
 tracheotomy tube wherein the heat moisture exchange device controlscontrolling the temperature and moisture content of the air being inhaled and exhaled through the mounted heat moisture exchange device and the tracheotomy tube and whereinas the patient may breathe and speakbreathes and speaks. 
 
     
     
       15. A heat moisture exchange device comprising:
 a housing configured to be received on an end of a tracheotomy tube,
 the housing having
 a domed frontal wall,
 wherein the domed frontal wall has a dimple; 
 
 sidewalls extending downward from the domed frontal wall,
 wherein the sidewalls are perforated; 
 
 a panel connected to a distal portion of the sidewalls; 
 a plurality of legs extending from the panel toward the domed frontal wall; and 
 a filter within the sidewalls of the housing;
 wherein the dimple is extending extends in the same direction as the sidewalls. 
 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 15 , wherein the filter is a porous foam having a plurality of pores, wherein each of the plurality of pores range from 40 ppi to 90 ppi. 
     
     
       17. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 16 , wherein the porous foam comprises ester-type polyurethane. 
     
     
       18. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a hygroscopic material. 
     
     
       19. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises calcium chloride. 
     
     
       20. The heat moisture exchange device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing has a diameter of 1 inch. 
     
     
       21. The heat moisture exchange device of claim 2, wherein the speaking valve further comprises:
 a body configured for being attached to and rotatable relative to the tracheotomy tube between a biased-closed position and a biased-open position, the biased-open position being 180° offset from the biased-closed position, the body having
 a first end configured for communicating with the tracheotomy tube, 
 a second end distal from the tracheotomy tube configured for communicating with the heat and moisture exchange device, 
 a cylindrical chamber extending from the second end, and 
 an opening formed in the second end offset from a central axis of the chamber; 
   a ball disposed within the chamber, the ball having a diameter greater than the opening; and   a plurality of guides disposed within the cylindrical chamber and arranged for guiding movement of the ball within the chamber between a first position and a second position;
 wherein, when the body is rotated to the biased-closed position, the guides have a first region configured and positioned to urge the ball toward and substantially close the opening, and 
 wherein, in response to a sufficient inhalation flow, the guides have a second region configured and positioned to urge the ball toward a substantially central position within the chamber and thereby define a generally annular flow passage. 
   
     
     
       22. The heat moisture exchange device of claim 21, wherein,
 when the body is rotated to the biased-open position, the guides guide the ball to an offset position within the chamber whereby the opening remains substantially unobstructed, and   wherein, in response to a sufficient inhalation flow, the guides urge the ball toward a substantially rearward position within the chamber.   
     
     
       23. A speaking valve comprising:
 a body having
 a first end configured for being removably attached to a tracheotomy tube; 
 a second end configured for receiving a removably attached heat and moisture exchange device, 
 the body further being rotatable relative to the tracheotomy tube between a biased-closed position and a biased-open position, the biased-open position being 180° offset from the biased-closed position, the body having
 a cylindrical chamber extending from the second end, and 
 an opening formed in the second end offset from a central axis of the chamber; 
 a ball disposed within the chamber; and 
 a plurality of guides disposed within the cylindrical chamber and arranged for guiding movement of the ball within the chamber
 between a first position and a second position; 
 
 
 wherein, when the body is rotated to the biased-closed position, the guides have a first region configured and positioned to urge the ball toward and substantially close the opening, and 
 wherein, in response to a sufficient inhalation flow, the guides have a second region configured and positioned to urge the ball toward a substantially central position within the chamber and thereby define a generally annular flow passage.