WO2002092157A1

WO2002092157A1 - Portable medical gas humidifier

Info

Publication number: WO2002092157A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/000854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Bertoli
Original assignee: Ficarra, Frank; Cerullo, David; Irvin, John
Priority date: 2001-05-14
Filing date: 2001-05-14
Publication date: 2002-11-21

Abstract

The device is an improved humidifier for contained oxygen or air and is also portable so that it may be used with portable sources of contained oxygen or other breathable gases. The device consists of a reservoir for water and connections from the source of breathable air (or gas) and to the patient's breathing device. When connected, all of the breathable air source (or gas) passes quietly through the reservoir and becomes 'humidified'. Special technology and the design used to introduce the air source or gas into the water in the reservoir results in substantial humidification of the air or gas even when the water level is low. The device comes with a separate holder or a simple clip that attaches to the oxygen tank, or to whatever is used to hold the oxygen tank, making the device portable.

Description

PORTABLE MEDICAL GAS HUMIDIFIER

More and more patients with respiratory problems are using contained air/ oxygen on an outpatient basis. These patients carry or pull a bottle of compressed air/ oxygen with them. The contained gas is often very dry and sometimes creates complications to the patients respiratory problems.

Existing "bubble" humidifiers often produce an annoying gurgling sound and, partly because of the size of the bubbles, are inefficient when the water level in the reservoir is low.

Technical Field

The device consists of a container capable of holding water and a detachable cap for refilling. The device is designed with an attachment so that it may be fastened to either the cart carrying the compressed air/ oxygen cylinder or to the compressed air/ oxygen cylinder itself.

The air or oxygen source is fed in through an inlet in the reservoir and the cap has an outlet for the moisturized air to enter the patient's breathing tube.

The compressed air/ oxygen comes into the device and is forced, by its own pressure, to the bottom of the container where it is released in tiny bubbles that naturally float upward through the water in the container, absorbing some of the water and creating humidified air/ oxygen.

Background Art

The need for humidification of contained air used for medical purposes has long been known and there are several other medical humidifiers on the market. Some provide heated water and require electricity, a pump or other complicated mechanisms to operate.

These are mostly stationary and too bulky to be considered portable. The simple bubble humidifiers on the market are smaller but are noisy and inefficient at low water levels. Disclosure of Invention

The portability, simplicity and quiet operation of this humidifier are the primary improvements in the art.

The device has a "male" attachment built in that connects to the "female" correspondent that is fixed to the air cylinder or to the cart that transports the air cylinder.

The contained air is forced into the bottom of the reservoir and produces tiny, discreet bubbles from the deepest part of the reservoir. The size of the bubbles provides optimal humidification and quiet operation.

The device itself is very simple and easy to use. The cap is removable for refilling and the attachments from the air source and to the patient are simple. The device is designed to be economical and efficient.

Drawings

The drawings show the complete device and an "exploded" view in Figure 1 and a view of the device as intended to be used in Figure 2.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The device will be easily molded in plastic and assembled. Assembly may include a pressure release valve made of brass or other suitable material. A disk of porous material will be fitted in the bottom of the reservoir to separate the incoming air from the water.

The two piece reservoir will have a removable cap that snaps on and the fittings for the incoming air supply and outgoing line to the patient will be molded into the device.

Claims

CLAIMSPortable Medical Humidifier For Contained Air

1. Portability. The device is designed so that it can be used with portable air/ oxygen containers that are carried or wheeled around by individual patients. The reservoir has a simple attachment device for securing the humidifier to an air cylinder or anything else.

2. Substantial humidification. The material that disperses the air/ oxygen into the water creates large numbers of small bubbles which provide more surface area between the gas and the water than large bubbles, thus increasing the amount of water absorbed by the gas.

3. Substantial humidification utility of reservoir. The design of the device requires the air/ oxygen to disperse from the deepest point in the water reservoir, thus increasing exposure of the gas to the water and maximizing the utility of the device by decreasing the frequency of the need to re-fill the water reservoir. The air or gas is effectively humidified to over 90% even at very low water levels.

4. Quieter/ more stable operation. Because the design requires the air/ oxygen to disperse through a substance that creates very small discreet bubbles, the device is quieter and the introduction of the gas to the water reservoir is more stable. The gurgling noise produced by other "bubble" humidifiers that have large bubbles breaking the surface of the water is replaced by a nearly inaudible but soothing "shhh" sound.

5. Simplicity of design/ operation. The simplicity of the design makes the device practical and inexpensive for patients. Unlike some other medical humidifiers, there is no electricity, heat, pump or complicated mechanism required for operation.