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 SCEOND OPENINGS BEING IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INSIDE OF THE BOTTLE; A CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING SAID INTRAVENOUS SOLUTION BOTTLE TO AN OXYGEN SUPPPLY, 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, SAID LIQUID DROPLETS PREVENTING MEANS COMPRISING A FILTER PLUG FORMED OF A MATERIAL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY HYDROPHOBIC SURFACE, SAID PLUG HAVING A PORE SIZE OF 20 TO 500 MICRONS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE

Claim 3

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, said liquid droplets preventing means comprising a filter plug formed of a material having a substantially hydrophobic surface; 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 4

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, said liquid droplets preventing means comprising a filter plug formed of a material having a substantially hydrophobic surface; 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.