Humidifier adapter with audio relief valve

Claim 1

A humidifier adapter for mounting on an engageable portion of a container over a pierceable seal thereon sealing therein a supply of sterile water, and to be connected to a pressurized gas tube for introducing gas into the supply of water to moisten the gas, said adapter comprising: a housing having means at one end thereof for engaging the container; an axial bore through said housing; a spike member for assembly within said housing, said spike member having a tubular body defining a gas passage therein and having one pointed end and being insertable in said bore, the outer surface diameter of said tubular body being substantially less, at least along an axial portion thereof, than the adjacent bore diameter of said housing so as to define a pressure chamber therebetween when said spike member is in inserted relation within said housing; first and second seal means between said tubular body and the wall of said bore axially spaced apart from each other to form the ends of said pressure chamber; first port means in the tubular body of said spike member establishing communication between the internal gas passage of said tubular body and the pressure chamber; second port means in the housing wall establishing communication between the pressure chamber and the outside atmosphere, said second port means being located with respect to said first port means such that their centers are spaced apart along the axis of said housing, both said port means being located intermediate said first and second seal means that form the ends of the chamber; and audible relief valve means located in said second port means to effect audible pressure relief of the pressure chamber under above normal pressure conditions.