초록 ▼

A water separator is disclosed for removing water from a minute flow of gas/water sampled from a patients exhalation and prior to the gas being introduced into an analyzer. The separator comprises a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and a pair of chambers in series through which the sample is drawn.

A water separator is disclosed for removing water from a minute flow of gas/water sampled from a patients exhalation and prior to the gas being introduced into an analyzer. The separator comprises a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and a pair of chambers in series through which the sample is drawn. The first chamber has a pair of substantially closely aligned wall surfaces of predetermined narrow distance from each other such that the surface tension causes the liquid in the sample to adhere to the wall surfaces. As the sample progresses to the second chamber, the wall surfaces are further apart and thus the tension effect is broken and only the gas continues through the second chamber to the separator outlet. A drain is located in the lower part of the first chamber for withdrawal of the accumulated liquid from that chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

A water separator for use with a breath gas analyzer, for analyzing the breath of a patient, said separator comprising; a housing having an inlet for receiving gas/liquid removed as a sample from the patient\s breath and an outlet for discharging gas from said water separator to the analyzer, first

A water separator for use with a breath gas analyzer, for analyzing the breath of a patient, said separator comprising; a housing having an inlet for receiving gas/liquid removed as a sample from the patient\s breath and an outlet for discharging gas from said water separator to the analyzer, first and second chambers formed in said housing means intermediate said inlet and said outlet, said first chamber adapted to receive said gas/liquid from said inlet and having a pair of substantially closely aligned wall surfaces of predetermined narrow distance from each other, said aligned surfaces sufficiently close to remove liquid from said gas/liquid stream passing from said inlet to said outlet by surface tension with said liquid adapted to adhere to said aligned surfaces, said second chamber adapted to receive said gas stream from said first chamber, said second chamber having wall surfaces spaced apart a wider distance than said wall surfaces of said first chamber to break the surface tension effect, said outlet communicating with said second chamber for removal of the gas, a liquid reservoir formed ins aid first chamber and a liquid drain outlet communicating with said first chamber at a point remote from said second chamber and oppositely disposed from said second chamber with respect to said inlet, said liquid drain outlet communicating liquid from said first chamber to said liquid reservoir.