GB2303307A - Heat and moisture exchanger - Google Patents
Heat and moisture exchanger Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2303307A GB2303307A GB9612541A GB9612541A GB2303307A GB 2303307 A GB2303307 A GB 2303307A GB 9612541 A GB9612541 A GB 9612541A GB 9612541 A GB9612541 A GB 9612541A GB 2303307 A GB2303307 A GB 2303307A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- fibres
- hme
- exchange element
- gas
- bundle
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/1045—Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/14—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
- A61M16/142—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase with semi-permeable walls separating the liquid from the respiratory gas
- A61M16/145—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase with semi-permeable walls separating the liquid from the respiratory gas using hollow fibres
Description
1 HEAT AND MOISTURE EXCHANGERS 2303307 This invention relates to heat and
moisture exchangers and breathing circuits including a heat and moisture exchanger.
Heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) are used to warm and moisten gas supplied to a patient. The HME comprises a housing coupled in the patient breathing circuit, through which both inhaled and exhaled gas pass. Within the housing, an exchange element takes up a part of the heat and moisture in the expired gas and transfers a part of this to the inspired gas when flow is reversed. The exchange element may be a coiled strip of corrugated paper treated with a hygroscopic material or a foam. HMEs are sold by Portex Limited of Hythe, England under the trade mark Thermovent. Examples of HMEs are described in: GB 2277689; GB 2268496; GB2267840; EP 535016; EP 533644; EP 387220; EP 265163; EP 413127; US 4516573; US 4090513; US 4771770; US 4200094; and US 4048993.
HMEs have the advantage over conventional humidifiers in that they can be compact, light, and disposable after a single use. The HME should preferably have a low resistance to flow, a high efficiency in exchange of heat and moisture, a long life and be easily made at low cost. The HME must also present no hazard to the patient.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved HME.
2 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an HME having an exchange element within an outer casing, the casing having inlets at opposite ends of the exchange element such that gas flows through the exchange element in opposite directions when flow of gas to the HME is reversed, the exchange element including a bundle of hollow fibres arranged parallel to one another.
The fibres preferably have porous walls and are preferably arranged parallel to the direction of gas flow through the casing such that some at least of the gas flows along the bores of the fibres. The fibres may be treated with a hygroscopic material. The fibres are preferably of a polmeric material such as a sulphone. The bundle of fibres may have a porous cap at each end and may be held together by an outer sleeve. The fibres are preferably of circular section.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a breathing circuit including an HME according to the above one aspect of the present invention.
An HME according to the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a partly sectional side elevation view of the HME; 3 Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through the HME along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a part of the HME; and Figure 4 is a cross-section along the line W-W of Figure 3.
The HME has a conventional outer casing 1 of generally cylindrical shape made from a rigid, transparent plastics material, such as polycarbonate. The casing 1 has a central region 2 with a length and an external diameter of about 30mm. At opposite ends, the casing 1 is formed with two inlets in the form of male, luer-tapered terminations 3 and 4 of reduced diameter, which are connected with the central region 2 by short frustoconical shoulders 5 and 6 respectively. The casing is preferably made in two parts to enable installation of an exchange element 10 and could be reusable with single-use exchange elements..
The exchange element 10 is located within the central region 2 so that the inlets 3 and 4 are located at opposite ends of the element. The exchange element comprises a cylindrical bundle of hollow fibres 11 held together by a shrink-wrap sleeve 12, or some other means, around its circumference and by porous end caps 13. The fibres 11 are made from a sulphone, such as polysulphone or polyether sulphone, with an external diameter of between about 0.25min and 1.5mm. The fibres are made by extruding a solvent-based solution of the 4 polymer through an annular die into a water bath. The solvent comes out of solution into the water, leaving the polymer structure behind. This results in a porous wall structure of the fibres, which allows gas to seep through the walls. The pore structure of the fibres can be varied by using different solvents, temperature and other extrusion factors. There are various other ways in which the fibres could be made, such as, solution casting or a melt process.
The fibres I I in the bundle are aligned parallel with one another and longitudinally of the casing 1, parallel with its axis, so that they are parallel to the flow of gas through the HME. The fibres I I are preferably treated with a hygroscopic material, such as calcium chloride, to increase their ability to retain water. This treatment may be accomplished by immersing the bundle in a solution of calcium chloride and then drying to leave crystals of the calcium chloride. Alternatively, the fibres could be treated during their manufacture, rather than after bundling together. The porous structure of the walls of the fibres can help hold calcium chloride crystals on the inside and outside surfaces.
The HME is connected in a patient breathing circuit 20 so that gas supplied to and from the patient must flow through the HME. The circuit includes a tracheal tube 2 1, mask or the like through which gas is supplied to and from the patient. Gas flows through the bundle of fibres, both along the bores 14 of the fibres and along their outside, through the gaps 15 between adjacent fibres. A small amount of gas may also flow through the walls of the fibres. The fibres shown have a circular section but they could have other shapes, such as hexagonal, to vary the packing of the fibres and the gas flow characteristics along the HME. Exhaled gas warms and moistens the fibre bundle. Inhaled gas passing through the element 10 in the opposite direction takes up moisture and heat from the bundle so that the cold dry gas supplied to the breathing circuit 20 is warmed and moistened before it is inhaled by the patient.
The hollow-fibre bundle exchange element 10 has a large surface area exposed to gas flow, making the exchange element very efficient. The surface of the fibres can be easily modified chemically to vary the properties of the exchange element. The porous nature of the fibre walls increases gas turbulence and may enable a high retention of hygroscopic material, both of which help improve the efficiency of the HME.
It will be appreciated that various different materials could be used for the fibres.
6
Claims (13)
- An HME having an exchange element within an outer casing, the casing having inlets at opposite ends of the exchange element such that gas flows through the exchange element in opposite directions when flow of gas to the HME is reversed, wherein the exchange element includes a bundle of hollow fibres arranged parallel to one another.
- 2. An HME according to Claim 1, wherein the fibres have porous walls.
- 3. An HME according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the fibres are arranged parallel to the direction of gas flow through the casing such that some at least of the gas flows along the bores of the fibres.
- An HME according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibres are treated with a hygroscopic material.
- An HME according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibres are of a polymeric material.
- 6. An HME according to Claim 5, wherein the fibres are of a sulphone 7. An HME according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bundle of fibres has a porous cap at each end.
- 7
- 8.An HME according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bundle of fibres is held together by an outer sleeve.
- 9. An HME according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fibres are of circular section.
- 10. An HME substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- 11. A patient breathing circuit including an HME according to any one of the preceding claims.
- A patient breathing circuit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- 13. Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9514527.2A GB9514527D0 (en) | 1995-07-15 | 1995-07-15 | Heat and moisture exchangers |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9612541D0 GB9612541D0 (en) | 1996-08-14 |
GB2303307A true GB2303307A (en) | 1997-02-19 |
GB2303307B GB2303307B (en) | 1999-06-30 |
Family
ID=10777750
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9514527.2A Pending GB9514527D0 (en) | 1995-07-15 | 1995-07-15 | Heat and moisture exchangers |
GB9612541A Expired - Fee Related GB2303307B (en) | 1995-07-15 | 1996-06-14 | Heat and moisture exchangers |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB9514527.2A Pending GB9514527D0 (en) | 1995-07-15 | 1995-07-15 | Heat and moisture exchangers |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5647344A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0754470A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH0928807A (en) |
AU (1) | AU708042B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2179362A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB9514527D0 (en) |
IL (1) | IL118633A (en) |
Families Citing this family (31)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE503771C2 (en) * | 1994-12-01 | 1996-09-02 | Gibeck Respiration Ab | Device for moisture-heat exchanger |
DE19621541C1 (en) * | 1996-05-29 | 1997-04-10 | Draegerwerk Ag | Respirator machine humidifier with hollow fibre membrane |
JPH1028737A (en) | 1996-07-16 | 1998-02-03 | Metoran:Kk | Humidification adjusting unit and humidifier for artificial respirator and manufacture of humidification adjusting unit |
JP3748466B2 (en) | 1996-08-23 | 2006-02-22 | 株式会社メトラン | Humidification adjustment unit and method for manufacturing humidification adjustment unit |
US5992413A (en) * | 1997-12-24 | 1999-11-30 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Heat and moisture exchanger and generator |
US6095135A (en) * | 1998-07-10 | 2000-08-01 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for providing benefits to respiratory gases |
US6363930B1 (en) | 1998-07-10 | 2002-04-02 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for providing heat/moisture to respiratory gases |
US6105576A (en) * | 1998-10-14 | 2000-08-22 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for treating respiratory gases including liquid trap |
US6415788B1 (en) | 1999-07-02 | 2002-07-09 | Enternet Medical, Inc. | Apparatus for treating respiratory gases including liquid trap |
IT1310042B1 (en) * | 1999-11-26 | 2002-02-05 | Pier Luigi Delvigo | FILTER WITHOUT DEAD SPACE |
IT1318430B1 (en) * | 2000-03-29 | 2003-08-25 | Mallinckrodt Holdings B V | DEVICE FOR PASSIVE HUMIDIFICATION OF TRACHEOSTOMIZED OR INTUBATED PATIENTS. |
CA2413938C (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2007-05-15 | Lewis George Gradon | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US8100126B2 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2012-01-24 | Mcauley Alastair Edwin | Breathing assistance apparatus |
US7347203B2 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2008-03-25 | Thayer Medical Corporation | Heat and moisture filter exchanger and method |
GB0329054D0 (en) * | 2003-12-16 | 2004-01-14 | Smiths Group Plc | Gas-treatment devices |
US20060081247A1 (en) * | 2004-10-20 | 2006-04-20 | Danny Britt | Humidifier for breathing apparatus and method of humidifying a breathing apparatus gas strem |
US7428902B2 (en) * | 2004-12-15 | 2008-09-30 | Newport Medical Instruments, Inc. | Humidifier system for artificial respiration |
US7624731B2 (en) * | 2005-03-16 | 2009-12-01 | Dennis R Walstrom | HME/MDI apparatus having MDI in parallel to HME |
US7993071B2 (en) * | 2006-10-25 | 2011-08-09 | Burrell E. Clawson | Assemblies for coupling two elements and coupled assemblies |
US20090301474A1 (en) * | 2008-06-05 | 2009-12-10 | Neil Alex Korneff | Heat and moisture exchange unit with resistance indicator |
US20120017905A1 (en) * | 2009-04-06 | 2012-01-26 | Yasuhiko Sata | Artificial nose and breathing circuit provided with the artificial nose |
US9486602B2 (en) | 2011-06-22 | 2016-11-08 | Breathe Technologies, Inc. | Ventilation mask with integrated piloted exhalation valve and method of ventilating a patient using the same |
US8844533B2 (en) | 2011-06-22 | 2014-09-30 | Breathe Technologies, Inc. | Ventilation mask with integrated piloted exhalation valve |
US9038634B2 (en) | 2011-06-22 | 2015-05-26 | Breathe Technologies, Inc. | Ventilation mask with integrated piloted exhalation valve |
US9878121B2 (en) | 2013-03-13 | 2018-01-30 | Breathe Technologies, Inc. | Ventilation mask with heat and moisture exchange device |
EP3363487B1 (en) * | 2015-10-16 | 2020-07-15 | Metran Co., Ltd. | Silencer and ventilator |
GB201610715D0 (en) * | 2016-06-18 | 2016-08-03 | Smiths Medical Int Ltd | Heat and moisture exchange devices |
DE102020132320A1 (en) * | 2020-12-04 | 2022-06-09 | Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA | Disposable filter with imprint |
GB202103529D0 (en) | 2021-03-15 | 2021-04-28 | Smiths Medical International Ltd | Gas-treatment devices |
GB202105159D0 (en) | 2021-04-12 | 2021-05-26 | Smiths Medical International Ltd | HME devices |
GB202107383D0 (en) | 2021-05-24 | 2021-07-07 | Smiths Medical International Ltd | Heat and moisture exchange devices, elements and assemblies |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0009543A1 (en) * | 1978-07-12 | 1980-04-16 | Richard R. Dr. Jackson | Nested hollow fiber humidifier |
GB2053694A (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1981-02-11 | Draegerwerk Ag | Heat and moisture exchanger for respiratory apparatus |
US4318398A (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1982-03-09 | Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft | Humidity exchanger for a breathing apparatus |
US4840227A (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1989-06-20 | Draegerwerk Ag | Process for producing a hollow fiber mass transfer module and module produced by this process |
Family Cites Families (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE134326C (en) * | 1901-10-21 | |||
DE2617985C3 (en) * | 1976-04-24 | 1979-02-22 | Draegerwerk Ag, 2400 Luebeck | Breathing air humidifiers for respiratory devices |
DE2900484B1 (en) * | 1979-01-08 | 1980-08-07 | Draegerwerk Ag | Breathing air humidifier for breathing apparatus |
US4612019A (en) * | 1982-07-22 | 1986-09-16 | The Dow Chemical Company | Method and device for separating water vapor from air |
EP0197114A1 (en) * | 1984-10-09 | 1986-10-15 | Oxygen Enrichment Company, Ltd. | Method and apparatus for the treatment of the respiratory tract |
SE459901B (en) * | 1987-11-25 | 1989-08-21 | Gibeck Respiration Ab | DEVICE FOR MONITORING A PATIENT CONNECTED TO A FAN |
US5067971A (en) * | 1990-02-12 | 1991-11-26 | Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corporation | Process for dehydration of gases and composite permeable membranes therefor |
US5282964A (en) * | 1993-02-19 | 1994-02-01 | The Dow Chemical Company | Boreside feed hollow fiber membrane device |
-
1995
- 1995-07-15 GB GBGB9514527.2A patent/GB9514527D0/en active Pending
-
1996
- 1996-06-07 EP EP96304281A patent/EP0754470A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1996-06-11 IL IL11863396A patent/IL118633A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1996-06-13 US US08/662,316 patent/US5647344A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-06-13 AU AU55956/96A patent/AU708042B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1996-06-14 GB GB9612541A patent/GB2303307B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1996-06-18 CA CA002179362A patent/CA2179362A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-06-18 JP JP8156778A patent/JPH0928807A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0009543A1 (en) * | 1978-07-12 | 1980-04-16 | Richard R. Dr. Jackson | Nested hollow fiber humidifier |
GB2053694A (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1981-02-11 | Draegerwerk Ag | Heat and moisture exchanger for respiratory apparatus |
US4318398A (en) * | 1979-07-21 | 1982-03-09 | Dragerwerk Aktiengesellschaft | Humidity exchanger for a breathing apparatus |
US4840227A (en) * | 1986-10-28 | 1989-06-20 | Draegerwerk Ag | Process for producing a hollow fiber mass transfer module and module produced by this process |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
WPI Abstract Acc. No. 80-H0031C/33 & DE 2900484 B * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US5647344A (en) | 1997-07-15 |
JPH0928807A (en) | 1997-02-04 |
EP0754470A3 (en) | 1997-05-02 |
GB9612541D0 (en) | 1996-08-14 |
GB2303307B (en) | 1999-06-30 |
AU708042B2 (en) | 1999-07-29 |
EP0754470A2 (en) | 1997-01-22 |
IL118633A0 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
GB9514527D0 (en) | 1995-09-13 |
AU5595696A (en) | 1997-01-23 |
IL118633A (en) | 1999-12-22 |
CA2179362A1 (en) | 1997-01-16 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20010614 |