US2963021A

US2963021A - Vaporizer

Info

Publication number: US2963021A
Application number: US705159A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanford A Henderson
Original assignee: GOMCO SURGICAL Manufacturing CORP
Current assignee: GOMCO SURGICAL Manufacturing CORP
Priority date: 1957-12-26
Filing date: 1957-12-26
Publication date: 1960-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-06

Description

Dec. 6, 1960 s. A. HENDERSON 2,963,021

VAPORIZER Filed Dec. 26. 1957 INVENTOR.

" wwfaiA MMM I 46 BY Uni ed t s P en 07 VAPORIZER Stanford A. Henderson, Snyder, N.Y., assignor to Gomco Surgical Manufacturing Corp., Butfalo, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 705,159-

Claims. (Cl. 128188) This invention relates to Vaporizers and more particularly to a vaporizer for an anesthetic, such as ether.

In certain types of ether Vaporizers of the prior art, an arrangement was used including an enclosed jar, an air inlet tube projecting downwardly toward the bottom of the jar, and means to conduct compressed air through the tube and to remove the vapor resulting from the air passing through the ether.

The present invention represents an improvement in such types of Vaporizers and briefly includes provision for admitting the air as close as possible to the bottom of the container so as to increase the length of the path, or upward flow of air bubbles. In addition, means are provided to increase the number while diminishing the size of the air bubbles to thus obtain greater overall bubble area resulting ,in higher concentration of ether in the vapor. Another feature included in the vaporizer of the present invention reduces the danger of liquid, or unvaporized ether from passing from the container to thus avoid ether burns to the patient.

The main object of this invention is to provide a vaporizer for an anesthetic, which vaporizer functions to generate a high concentration of ether in an ether vapor mixture.

A further object is to provide a vaporizer for an anesthetic which reduces the danger of liquid ether being carried to the patient which could result in ether burns thereto.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an ether vaporizer embodying the principles of the invention, and including certain environmental elements;

Fig. 2 is a section view slightly enlarged, generally as seen along lines 22 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section view, further enlarged, of a part of the vaporizer illustrated in Fig. 1.

' Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 6'identifies a vaporizer embodying the principles of the invention, which vaporizer includes a cover, or head assembly 7, a telescoping tube assembly 8 which is affixed to and extends downwardly from the head assembly, and

a cylindrical transparent container, or jar 9 which is open at the upper end for receipt of the head assembly 7. The latter is maintained in tight engagement upon the jar by-means-of' a screw 11, having a knob 12 at the upper end, saidscrew being threadably mounted in a cross-piece 13, which is secured at both ends by a pair of uprights, or poles 14, mounted upon a platform 16, upon which the jar 9 rests. An air inlet hose 17 extends between the head assembly 7 and a motor driven air compressor 18, while a vapor hose 20 extends from the head assembly to an ether mask (not shown) for use on the patient. An air flow control valve and gauges, (not shown) may be placed in the circuit of the inlet hose 17, for regulation of air flow.

The head assembly 7 includes a generally disc-like 2,963,021 Patented Dec..6, 1960 ice , Projecting upwardly from the center of the cover porin a very fine bubble condition.

tion 19, and formed integral therewith, is a hub 23 having a pair of oppositely disposed threaded openings 24, each of which connects with a passageway 26 or a passageway 27, both of said passageways extending downwardly and opening on the underside of the cover portion 19. The hub 23 has a centrally positioned indentation 28 on its upper surface for receipt of the lower end of the screw 11. A frusto-conical shield 29, is secured by fastening means, such as a screw 30, to the underside of the cover portion 19 within concentric recesses 31, and in overlapping relation to the ends of the passageways 26 and 27.

The telescoping tube assembly 8, includes a sleeve affixed to the lower end of the passageway 26, a tube 33 slidably arranged at the upper end in the bushing 32, and an air diffuser head assembly 34 threadably secured to the lower extremity of the tube 33. The upper end of the latter is flared outwardly to provide an abutment for engagement with the end of the bushing 32 to restrict unlimited downward movement of the tube relative to the bushing. A helical spring 36 surrounds the tube 33 and is co-mpressively arranged between a pair of cup washers 37, the lower one of which engages a snap ring 38 secured to the tube 33, the upper washer surrounding and bearing against an O-ring 39 which abuts the lower end of the bushing 32. In such manner, the tube 33 is constantly urged downwardly so that the diffuser head 34 will be maintained in the bottom of the jar 9, however, the tube 33 will have a limited amount of upward movement to accommodate slight variations in the depth of the jars upon which the head assembly 7 may be applied.

The diffuser assembly head 34 includes an end piece 41, threadably aflixed to the end of the tube. 33, said piece having a circumferential flange 42 in which are disposed a plurality of passageways 43 which radiate outwardly from the center of the end piece 41. A bottom disc 44 is secured to the end piece 41 and has mounted about its periphery a locking piece 46 which secures the outer edge of a screen 47, the inner edge of which is secured between a ring 48 and one side of the flange 42. The screen 47 is very fine (123 mesh), and serves to break up an air stream, flowing down the tube and through the passages 43, into very fine bubbles.

It will be seen from the foregoing that air flow entering the vaporizer via the hose 17, will pass downwardly through the tube 33, and will be admitted in the lower end of the jar 9 to pass upwardly through liquid ether The upward flow of fine bubbles through the liquid ether results in a high ether content vapor above the level of the liquid, which vapor passes upwardly and exits past the shield 29 and through the passageway 27, to the hose 20. The shield serves to prevent unvaporized liquid ether flowing into the hose 20, thereby avoiding ether burns to the the head assembly and extendable into the jar and having a diffuser head at the lower end thereof submerged in the liquid anesthetic, said tube assembly being arranged for, limited sliding movement relative to the head assembly and having means urging said diffuser head downwardly into the bottom of said jar, said head assembly having means to restrict passage of unvaporized anesthetic from the jar as a vapor flows from the jar.

2. In a vaporizer for an anesthetic contained as a liquid in an open ended jar, a head assembly adapted to cover the jar opening, and a tube assembly telescopically affixed to the head assembly and extendable into the jar, said tube assembly having an air diffuser head at the lower extremity submerged in the liquid anesthetic and resilient means constantly urging said diffuser head downwardly to maintain said diffuser head in the bottom of said jar, said diffuser head having means upon its upper surface to act upon an air stream flowing from the tube assembly to cause it to form fine bubbles for passing through liquid anesthetic in the jar, said head assembly having means to restrict passage of unvaporized anesthetic from the jar as a vapor flows from the jar.

3. In a vaporizer for an anesthetic contained as a liquid in an open ended jar, a head assembly adapted to cover the jar opening, and a tube assembly telescopically affixed to the head assembly and extendable into the jar, said tube assembly having an air diffuser head at the lower extremity submerged in the liquid anesthetic and means urging said diffuser head downwardly into the bottom of said jar, said head including a fine mesh screen arranged upon its upper surface whereby an air stream flowing from the tube assembly will be formed into fine bubbles for passing through liquid anesthetic in the jar, said head assembly having means to restrict passage of unvaporized anesthetic from the jar as a vapor flows from the jar.

4. In a vaporizer for an anesthetic contained as a liquid in an open ended jar, a head assembly adapted to cover the jar opening, said head assembly being formed to provide an air inlet and a vapor outlet, and a tube assembly telescopically affixed to the head assembly and extendable into the jar, said tube assembly having an air diffuser head at the lower extremity submerged in the liquid anesthetic and resilient means constantly urging said diffuser head downwardly to maintain said diffuser head in the bottom of said jar, said diffuser head having means upon its upper surface to act upon an air stream flowing from the tube assembly to cause it to form fine bubbles for passing through liquid anesthetic in the jar, said head assembly having a shield affixed to the bottom thereof and overlapping the vapor outlet from the jar, which shield is adapted to restrict passsage of unvaporized anesthetic from the jar as a vapor flows from the jar.

5. In a vaporizer for an anesthetic contaned in an open ended jar, a head assembly adapted to cover the jar opening, said head assembly being formed to provide an air inlet to the jar and a vapor outlet from the jar, and a tube assembly telescopically affixed to the head assembly in alignment with the air inlet and having a tube extendable into the jar, said tube assembly having an air diffuser head threadably affixed at the lower extremity of the tube, said diffuser head having a fine mesn screen arranged on its upper surface whereby an air stream flowing from the tube assembly will be formed into fine bubbles as it passes through liquid anesthetic in the jar, said head assembly having a shield affixed to the bottom thereof and overlapping the vapor outlet from the jar, which shield is adapted to restrict passage of unvaporized anesthetic from the jar as a vapor flows from the jar.

6. In a vaporizer having a tube assembly according to claim 5, wherein resilient means are arranged to constantly urge the tube in a direction away from the head assembly.

7. A vaporizer for anesthetic comprising an open ended transparent cylindrical container, a head assembly including a disc-like cover portion of slightly greater diameter than the container and a hub projecting on the top surface of the cover portion, said hub being arranged to provide an air inlet to the container and a vapor outlet from the container, and a tube assembly telescopically affixed to the head assembly and having a tube extendable into the container, said tube assembly having an air diffuser head threadably affixed at the lower extremity, said diffuser head having a fine mesh screen arranged on its upper surface and a plurality of horizontal passageways for conducting an air stream from the tube to the underside of the screen whereby fine bubbles are formed for passing upwardly through liquid anesthetic in the container, said head assembly having a frustoconical shield aflixed to the bottom of the cover portion and overlapping the vapor outlet, which shield is adapted to restrict passage of unvaporized anesthetic from the container as vapor flows from the container.

8. A vaporizer according to claim 7, wherein the hub is formed to provide an indentation for receipt of the lower end of a screw adapted to clamp the cover portion upon the container.

9. A vaporizer for anesthetic comprising an open-ended transparent cylindrical container, a head assembly including a disc-like cover portion of slightly greater diameter than the container, said head assembly being arranged to provide an air inlet to the container and a vapor outlet from the container, and a tube assembly telescopically affixed to the head assembly, said tube assembly including a sleeve bushing threadably affixed within the air inlet, a tube slidably arranged in the sleeve bushing and having its upper end enlarged for engagement with the end of the bushing, a helical spring surrounding the tube and compressively arranged between the sleeve bushing an a washer means affixed to the tube whereby the enlarged end of the tube will be urged in engagement with the sleeve bushing, and a diffuser head threadably affixed to the lower extremity of the tube, said diffuser head including a screen arranged in the path of an air stream coming from the tube whereby fine bubbles are formed for passing upwardly through liquid anesthetic in the container.

10. A vaporizer for anesthetic according to claim 9, wherein a frusto-conical shield is affixed to the underside of the disc-like cover portion, which shield overlaps the vapor outlet to restrict flow of unvaporized anesthetic as vapor flows from the container.

Gardenier Apr. 17, 1951 Holt Feb. 5, 1952