Patent EP0260107A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0806215A2
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Apparatus for recovering an anaesthetic agent
Assignee: BOC Group Ltd
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Filing: 1997-02-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus (10) for recovering an anaesthetic agent exhaled from a patient includes a small buffer vessel (26) and a compressor (34) operable to compress a patient's exhalation prior to forwarding it to a membrane separation apparatus (40) in which anaesthetic agent is separated from any remaining gas before being returned as a recycled anaesthetic agent to anaesthetic supply apparatus (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Ernest Garrett
- 👤 Ronald Hughes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/0087; A61M16/009; A61M16/10; A61M16/105; A61M16/106; A61M16/1065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
Apparatus for recovering an anaesthetic agent exhaled from a patient, the apparatus comprising: a buffer vessel, for receiving a patient's exhalation and for temporarily storing the same; a compressor, downstream of the buffer and operably connected thereto for receiving and compressing exhaled gas; and separation means, for receiving compressed exhaled gas and for separating said anaesthetic agent therefrom, said separation means comprising a membrane separation apparatus operably connected to receive compressed exhaled gas to its tube side and being configured for allowing said anaesthetic agent to pass through the membrane to the shell side thereof, said separation means further including a first outlet for receiving pressurised gas depleted in anaesthetic agent and a second outlet for receiving said separated anaesthetic agent and for directing it to a region other than the atmosphere surrounding the patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said region comprises an anaesthetic supply means for supplying anaesthetic to the patient, thereby to provide for recycling of said separated anaesthetic agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 including disposal means operably connected to the first outlet of the separation means for directing pressurised gas depleted in anaesthetic agent for release to atmosphere at a point remote from the atmosphere surrounding the patient.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including pressure sensor means for monitoring the pressure within the buffer and for causing operation of the compressor only upon detection of a pressure above about atmospheric pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed claim 4 further including control means for receiving a signal from said pressure monitor and for initiating control over the operation of the compressor as and when necessary.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 5 in which the compressor is operable to compress the exhaled gas to a pressure equal to or greater than one atmosphere gauge.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 including a gas analyser operably connected to monitor the purity of separated anaesthetic agent and being operably connected to an anaesthetic supply apparatus such as to enable recycled anaesthetic agent to be re mixed with make-up oxygen and fresh anaesthetic agent for supply to the patient.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the buffer vessel comprises a collapsible / expandable bag buffer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the anaesthetic agent comprises nitrous oxide.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of recovering an anaesthetic agent exhaled by a patient, the method comprising receiving and temporarily storing a patient's exhalation in a buffer vessel; directing the exhaled gas from the buffer vessel to a compressor; compressing the exhaled gas and directing the compressed gas to a membrane separation apparatus thereby to separate the anaesthetic agent from the exhaled gas and directing the separated anaesthetic agent to a region other than the atmosphere surrounding the patient.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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