Disposable humidifier

Claim 2

An oxygen humidifier set which comprises: an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening, an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening with said airway tube being coaxial with said first opening and extending to the lower portion of said bottle, said first and second openings being in communicatIon with the inside of the bottle; a connector assembly for coupling said intravenous solution bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube coupled to said first opening in communication therewith; an outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the humidified oxygen, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device; means located in the outlet path of the oxygen humidifier for preventing liquid droplets from passing; and means carried by the connector assembly and engaging the intravenous solution bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.

Claim 3

An oxygen humidifier set as described in claim 1, wherein said connector assembly further includes a safety valve in communication with said outlet tube and said humidified oxygen outlet for relieving back pressure therein; and means for preventing said safety valve from being removed accidentally from said connector assembly.

Claim 4

An oxygen humidifier set as described in claim 1, wherein said oxygen inlet tube is inserted into said first opening.

Claim 5

An oxygen humidifier set as described in claim 1, wherein said liquid droplets preventing means comprises a filter plug formed of a polyolefin material.

Claim 6

In an oxygen humidifier set using, as a water supply, an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening with an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening and the airway tube being coaxial with the first opening and extending to the lower portion of the bottle, and with the first and second openings being in communication with the inside of the bottle, the improvement comprising, in combination: a connector assembly for coupling said intravenous solution bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube inserted into said first opening, an outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the humidified oxygen, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device, means located in the outlet path of the oxygen humidifier for preventing liquid droplets from passing; and means carried by the connector assembly and engaging said bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.

Claim 7

In an oxygen humidifier set using, as a water supply, an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening with an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening and the airway tube being coaxial with the first opening and extending to the lower portion of the bottle, and with the first and second openings being in communication with the inside of the bottle, the improvement comprising, in combination: a connector assembly for coupling said intravenous solution bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube inserted into said first opening, an outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the humidified oxygen, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device, means located in the outlet path of the oxygen humidifier for preventing liquid droplets from passing; and means carried by the connector assembly and engaging said bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.

Claim 8

In an oxygen humidifier set as described in claim 5 wherein said liquid droplets preventing means comprises a filter plug formed of a polyolefin material.

Claim 9

In an oxygen humidifier set using, as a water supply, an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening with an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening and the airway tube being coaxial with the first opening and extending to the lower portion of the bottle, and with the first and second openings being in communication with the inside of the bottle, the improvement comprising, in combination: a connector assembly for coupling said intravenous solution bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube inserted into said first opening, and outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the hUmidified oxygen, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device; a safety valve in communication with said outlet tube and said humidified oxygen outlet for relieving back pressure therein, means for preventing said safety valve from being removed accidently from said connector assembly; and means carried by the connector assembly and engaging said bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.

Claim 10

In an oxygen humidifier set using, as a water supply, an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening with an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening and the airway tube being coaxial with the first opening and extending to the lower portion of the bottle, and with the first and second openings being in communication with the inside of the bottle, the improvement comprising, in combination: a connector assembly for coupling said intravenous solution bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube inserted into said first opening, and outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the hUmidified oxygen, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device; a safety valve in communication with said outlet tube and said humidified oxygen outlet for relieving back pressure therein, means for preventing said safety valve from being removed accidently from said connector assembly; and means carried by the connector assembly and engaging said bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.

Claim 11

In an oxygen humidifier set using as a water supply an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening, with said first opening having a smaller diameter than the second opening and with an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening, and with the airway tube being coaxial with the first opening and extending to the lower portion of the bottle, and with the first and second openings being in communication with the inside of the bottle, the improvement comprising, in combination: a connector assembly for coupling said bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, an outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the humidified oxygen, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube inserted into said first opening, said inlet tube having an external diameter that substantially matches the internal diameter to said first opening whereby insertion of the oxygen inlet tube into said first opening will provide a compressive seal between said oxygen inlet tube and said first opening, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, with the lowest extremity of the inlet tube being in a higher plane than the plane in which lies the lowest extremity of the outlet tube and with the outlet tube extending into the bottle below the stopper, said outlet tube having a downwardly pointing sharp forward edge; a filter plug in said outlet tube for preventing passage of liquid droplets; a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device; a safety valve in communication with said outlet tube and humidified oxygen outlet for relieving back pressure therein; and downwardly extending fingers engaging the neck of the bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.

Claim 12

In an oxygen humidifier set using as a water supply an intravenous solution bottle having a stopper defining a first opening and a second opening, with said first opening having a smaller diameter than the second opening and with an airway tube connected to the wall of the stopper defining said first opening, and with the airway tube being coaxial with the first opening and extending to the lower portion of the bottle, and with the first and second openings being in communication with the inside of the bottle, the improvement comprising, in combination: a connector assembly for coupling said bottle to an oxygen supply, said connector assembly comprising an oxygen inlet member, an outlet tube for providing an outlet path for the humidified oxygen, means for coupling the upper portion of said oxygen inlet member to the oxygen supply, the lower portion of the oxygen inlet member comprising an oxygen inlet tube inserted into said first opening, said inlet tube having an external diameter that substantially matches the internal diameter to said first opening whereby insertion of the oxygen inlet tube into said first opening will provide a compressive seal between said oxygen inlet tube and said first opening, said outlet tube being inserted into said second opening, with the lowest extremity of the inlet tube being in a higher plane than the plane in which lies the lowest extremity of the outlet tube and with the outlet tube extending into the bottle below the stopper, said outlet tube having a downwardly pointing sharp forward edge; a filter plug in said outlet tube for preventing passage of liquid droplets; a humidified oxygen outlet in communication with said outlet tube, said humidified oxygen outlet being adapted for coupling to an oxygen administration device; a safety valve in communication with said outlet tube and humidified oxygen outlet for relieving back pressure therein; and downwardly extending fingers engaging the neck of the bottle for retaining said connector assembly in engagement with said bottle and for supporting the bottle.