초록 ▼

A breathing circuit comprising first and second conduits, wherein at least one of the conduits is a non-conventional conduit. In an embodiment, a multilumen unilimb breathing circuit has first and second conduits, wherein when the proximal ends of said first and second conduits are each connected to

A breathing circuit comprising first and second conduits, wherein at least one of the conduits is a non-conventional conduit. In an embodiment, a multilumen unilimb breathing circuit has first and second conduits, wherein when the proximal ends of said first and second conduits are each connected to an inlet and outlet fitting, respectively, axial extension or contraction of the second conduit causes a corresponding axial extension or contraction of the first conduit. In an embodiment, at least one of said conduits is coiled. In another embodiment, a coiled conduit is contained within an outer flexible conduit that is axially extendable and compressible, forming a unilimb, multilumen respiratory circuit. The outer flexible conduit may be pleated to provide for non-rebounding axial extension and contraction. The multilumen respiratory circuit can provide a variable rebreathing volume. In an embodiment, at least one tube in a multilumen respiratory conduit is radially collapsible and radially expandable to a maximum radius for carrying respiratory gases to and from a patient. In an embodiment, first and second conduits are formed of accordion-like pleated tubing, wherein both conduits can be connected to a proximal fitting or proximal terminal at their proximal end; in an embodiment, the first and second accordion-like pleated tubes can also be connected to a common distal fitting. The methods and systems can be used to administer anesthesia and for other purposes.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A multilumen, unilimb breathing circuit comprising first and second conduits, each of said conduits having a proximal and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said first conduit can be operatively connected to an inlet for respiratory gases and said second conduit

The invention claimed is: 1. A multilumen, unilimb breathing circuit comprising first and second conduits, each of said conduits having a proximal and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said first conduit can be operatively connected to an inlet for respiratory gases and said second conduit can be operatively connected to an outlet for respiratory gases, and said distal ends of said first and second conduits are operatively connected to a distal fitting which is detachably connectable directly to a patient airway device, the patient airway device can be selected from the group consisting of a mask, an endotracheal tube, a laryngeal mask, a laryngeal tube, and a nasal tube, and axial extension or contraction of said second conduit causes a corresponding axial extension or contraction of said first conduit, wherein upon axial extension of said second conduit from a first compressed axial conformation to a second expanded axial conformation, or vice versa, said second conduit will retain said second conformation, and said first conduit will expand or contract in length with corresponding axial expansion or contraction of said second conduit, wherein said first and second conduits are proximal to the breathing circuit distal fitting, wherein the airflow resistance and compliance of said circuit is sufficiently low to meet the requirements for spontaneous ventilation and assisted ventilation. 2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said first conduit comprises a coiled tube. 3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first conduit is contained within said second conduit. 4. The circuit of claim 1, having an arrangement selected from the group consisting of (a) wherein said second conduit comprises a second coiled tube, (b) wherein at least a portion of said first conduit comprises a first coiled tube coiled about at least a portion of said second conduit, (c) wherein said second conduit comprises a second coiled tube, wherein said first and second tubes have distal and proximal ends and the distal ends of said first and second tubes are operatively connected, and (d) wherein said second conduit comprises a second coiled tube, wherein at least a portion of said first and second tubes are in parallel coiled relationship. 5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said first and second conduits have a common proximal fitting at the proximal ends thereof. 6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein said first and second conduits have a common distal fitting at the distal ends thereof. 7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein said distal fitting provides for fluid connection of the distal end of said first conduit to said distal end of said second conduit. 8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein said distal fitting provides for adjustment of the axial distance between the connection of said distal end of said first conduit with said distal fitting and the connection of said distal end of said second conduit with said distal fitting. 9. The circuit of claim 6, wherein said second conduit comprises accordion-like pleated tubing. 10. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said second conduit comprises accordion-like pleated tubing. 11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said first and second conduits comprise accordion-like pleated tubing. 12. The circuit of claim 11, further comprising a filter. 13. The circuit of claim 12, wherein said circuit has a distal and a proximal end and said filter is located at said proximal end of said circuit. 14. A multilumen, unilimb breathing circuit having a machine end and a patient end, comprising first and second conduits, and having a distal fitting at said patient end, wherein a patient airway device can be detachably connected directly to said distal fitting, each of said conduits having a proximal and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said first conduit can be connected to a machine inlet for respiratory gases and said second conduit can be connected to a machine outlet for respiratory gases, wherein flows passing through said conduits will merge proximally to or about in said distal fitting, and axial extension or contraction of said second conduit causes a corresponding axial extension or contraction of said first conduit, wherein upon axial extension of said second conduit from a first compressed axial conformation to a second expanded axial conformation, or vice versa, said second conduit will retain said second conformation, and said first conduit will expand or contract in length with corresponding axial expansion or contraction of said second conduit, wherein the airflow resistance and compliance of said circuit is sufficiently low to meet the requirements for spontaneous ventilation and assisted ventilation, wherein the patient airway device can be selected from the group consisting of a mask, an endotracheal tube, a laryngeal mask, a laryngeal tube, and a nasal tube. 15. The circuit of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said first conduit is contained within said second conduit. 16. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said first and second conduits have a common proximal fitting at the proximal ends thereof. 17. The circuit of claim 16, wherein said first and second conduits have a common distal fitting at the distal ends thereof. 18. The circuit of claim 15, wherein said first and second conduits have a common proximal terminal at the proximal ends thereof. 19. The circuit of claim 18, wherein said first and second conduits have a common distal fining at the distal ends thereof. 20. The circuit of claim 14, wherein said first and second conduits have a common proximal fitting at the proximal ends thereof. 21. The circuit of claim 20, wherein said first and second conduits have a common distal fitting at the distal ends thereof. 22. The circuit of claim 14, wherein said first and second conduits have a common proximal terminal at the proximal ends thereof. 23. The circuit of claim 22, wherein said first and second conduits have a common distal fitting at the distal ends thereof. 24. The circuit of any one of claims 14-19, wherein said second conduit comprises accordion-like pleated tubing. 25. The circuit of claim 24, wherein said first conduit comprises accordion-like pleated tubing. 26. The circuit of claim 25, wherein the type of said circuit is selected from the group consisting of a Mapleson type circuit, and a circle circuit. 27. The circuit of claim 24, wherein the type of said circuit is selected from the group consisting of a Mapleson type circuit, and a circle circuit. 28. The circuit of claim 24, wherein said first conduit comprises a coiled tube. 29. The circuit of claim 28, wherein the type of said circuit is selected from the group consisting of a Mapleson type circuit, and a circle circuit. 30. The circuit of claim 28, further comprising a filter. 31. The circuit of claim 24, further comprising a filter. 32. The circuit of claim 31, wherein said filter is located at said proximal end of said circuit. 33. The circuit of claim 32, wherein said conduits, said distal fitting, and said proximal fitting or said proximal terminal are bonded together to form an integral circuit. 34. A multilumen, unilimb breathing circuit having a machine end and a patient end, comprising first and second conduits, a distal fitting at said patient end, a proximal fitting at said machine end, and wherein a patient airway device can be directly detachably connected to said distal fitting, each of said conduits having a proximal and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said first conduit can be connected to a machine inlet for respiratory gases and said second conduit can be connected to a machine outlet for respiratory gases via said proximal fitting, said distal ends of said first and second conduits being operatively connected to each other, wherein flows passing through said conduits will merge proximately to or about in said distal fitting, and axial extension or contraction of said second conduit causes a corresponding axial extension or contraction of said first conduit, wherein upon axial extension of said second conduit from a first compressed axial conformation to a second expanded axial conformation, or vice versa, said second conduit will retain said second conformation, and said first conduit will expand or contract in length with corresponding axial expansion or contraction of said second conduit, wherein said first and second conduit comprise accordion-like pleated tubing, at least a portion of said first conduit is contained within said second conduit, and said proximal fitting is directly connected to the proximal ends of said first and second conduits, wherein the airflow resistance and compliance of said circuit is sufficiently low to meet the requirements for spontaneous ventilation and assisted ventilation, wherein the patient airway device can be selected from the group consisting of a mask, an endotracheal tube, a laryngeal mask, a laryngeal tube, and a nasal tube. 35. The circuit of claim 34, wherein said operative connection of said distal ends of said first and second conduits is selected from the group consisting of said distal ends of said first and second conduits being connected to said distal fitting, and said distal end of said second conduit being connected to said distal fitting and said distal end of said first conduit being connected to the interior of said second conduit proximate to the connection of said second conduit to said distal fitting. 36. The circuit of claim 35, further comprising a filter. 37. A multilumen, unilimb breathing circuit having a machine end and a patient end, comprising first and second conduits, a distal fitting at said patient end, a proximal terminal at said machine end, and wherein a patient airway device can be detachably connected to said distal fitting, each of said conduits having a proximal and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said first conduit can be connected to a machine inlet for respiratory gases and said second conduit can be connected to a machine outlet for respiratory gases via said proximal terminal, said distal ends of said first and second conduits being operatively connected to each other, wherein flows passing through said conduits will merge proximate to or in said distal fitting, and axial extension or contraction of said second conduit causes a corresponding axial extension or contraction of said first conduit, wherein upon axial extension of said second conduit from a first compressed axial conformation to a second expanded axial conformation, or vice versa, said second conduit will retain said second conformation, and said first conduit will expand or contract in length with corresponding axial expansion or contraction of said second conduit, wherein said first and second conduit comprise accordion-like pleated tubing, at least a portion of said first conduit is contained within said second conduit, and said proximal terminal is directly connected to the proximal ends of said first and second conduits, wherein the airflow resistance and compliance of said circuit is sufficiently low to meet the requirements for spontaneous ventilation and assisted ventilation, wherein the patient airway device can be selected from the group consisting of a mask, an endotracheal tube, a laryngeal mask, a laryngeal tube, and a nasal tube. 38. The circuit of claim 37, wherein said operative connection of said distal ends of said first and second conduits is selected from the group consisting of said distal ends of said first and second conduits being connected to said distal fitting, and said distal end of said second conduit being connected to said distal fitting arid said distal end of said first conduit being connected to the interior of said second conduit proximate to the connection of said second conduit to said distal fitting. 39. The circuit of claim 38, further comprising a filter. 40. The circuit of any one of claims 34, 35, 37, and 38, wherein at least one of said conduit connections to one another, to said distal fitting, to said proximal terminal, and to said proximal fitting is bonded.