초록 ▼

A cylindrical cartridge having a housing containing a replenishable water supply is employed as a water supply source for producing an aerosol with an oxygen stream for inhalation therapy through the agency of a nebulizer adapter which couples pressurized oxygen to the water cartridge. A primary ven

A cylindrical cartridge having a housing containing a replenishable water supply is employed as a water supply source for producing an aerosol with an oxygen stream for inhalation therapy through the agency of a nebulizer adapter which couples pressurized oxygen to the water cartridge. A primary venturi-type insert member is disposed uprightly within a vertical tubular portion of the cartridge. The venturi draws water from the water supply and directs atomized droplets of water and oxygen into a mixing chamber. The aerosol flows out of the cartridge through an outlet nozzle. The cartridge is an elongated housing having a capillary active cylindrical absorption surface means internally whereby water is drawn up along the cartridge\s cylindrical body wall which serves as an evaporating surface. The aerosol containing oxygen is humidified by being further charged with evaporated water from the capillary absorption means. Suitable egress port means is provided to which a flexible tube is connected. The tube is then suitably directed to a patient in a conventional manner. The cartridge has a metal wall portion so that when it is associated with a heater the water in the absorption means may be more readily heated by an electric heater. By combining the concept of nebulization and humidification there is achieved an extremely high rate of water content in the gases distributed to a patient.

대표청구항 ▼

Cartridge type humidifying and nebulizing apparatus for humidifying a breathable gas such as oxygen-supplemented air or the like to be inhaled by a patient undergoing inhalation therapy, said apparatus comprising in combination: (a) cartridge module means embodying a tubular cartridge main body port

Cartridge type humidifying and nebulizing apparatus for humidifying a breathable gas such as oxygen-supplemented air or the like to be inhaled by a patient undergoing inhalation therapy, said apparatus comprising in combination: (a) cartridge module means embodying a tubular cartridge main body portion with an inner peripheral wall; (b) said cartridge module means also including an upper end portion with cap means unitarily attached to said main body portion and a lower end portion unitarily attached to said main body; (c) liquid holding means in association with said lower end portion of said cartridge means for helping retain humidifying liquid in association therewith during operative use of said apparatus; (d) said cartridge module means further comprising liquid absorption means including an open center generally tubular liquid-absorption column member with an inner peripheral face constituting an evaporating surface for humidifying liquid disposed generally contiguously within and coextensive with a substantial part of said cartridge main body and lower end portion thereof, said absorption column having a lower end portion adapted to be wetted directly by humidifying liquid when in said liquid holding means, and to convey by absorption liquid upwardly adjacent said evaporating surface; (e) said upper-end-portion-mounted cap means of said humidifier cartridge module means of paragraph (b) providing a generally closed air space above the humidifying liquid level of said liquid holding means of paragraph (c); (f) said cap means unitarily including a gas inlet feed pipe for directing gas to be humidified into said cartridge main body, at a point above said liquid level, for humidification within said closed air space; (g) said gas inlet feed pipe having a venturi insert means including an elongated body with longitudinally disposed upper and lower stem portions that are axially offset and constituting gas and liquid inlet passages respectively, said passages terminating inwardly in transversely adjacent orifices constituting part of the nebulizing means whereby a flow of pressurized gas out of the gas passage orifice past the orifice of said liquid passage creates a suction in the latter adapted to draw liquid therethrough from said liquid in said lower end portion to be aspiratively carried by said gas flow through said gas inlet feed pipe; (h) said cartridge module means further including a separate projecting humidified-gas-outlet delivery pipe disposed a substantial distance above said liquid level and in direct fluid communication with said closed air space, said delivery pipe adapted to be connected with an output delivery tube leading to said patient, whereby said gas in said module and delivery tube is maintained in a substantially fully vapor-saturated condition.