Wettable devices operational with aqueous liquid and method therefor

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by applying a coating of surface activd agent, which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction, to the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 in which the exterior optical surface of the optical probe is used in a humidifier for gases and the selective maintenance of the surface tension of the optical surface greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid is provided to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/ not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 in which said surface active agent consists essentially of non-ionic ester of a carbohydrate moiety and an organic monoacid of 8 to 30 carbon atoms which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 6

The method of claim 3 in which said surface active agent is a mixture of sorbitan monoesters which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3, wherein said light probe is made of a hydrophobic plastic material.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe is maintained greqter than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by subjecting the optical surface face to plasma treatment which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid while providing no toxic reaction therewith.

Claim 9

The method of claim 3 in which the exterior optical surface of the optical probe is used in a humidifier for gases and the selective maintenance of the surface tension of the optical surface greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid is provided to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently himidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8, wherein said light probe is made of a hydrophobic plastic material.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by subjecting the optical surface to corona discharge treatment which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid while providing no toxic reaction therewith.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by adding an amount of surface active agent which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction, to the aqueous liquid.

Claim 13

The method of claim 11 in which said surface active agent consists essentially of an ethoxylated non-ionic ester of a carbohydrate moiety and an organic monoacid of 8 to 30 carbon atoms which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 in which said surface active agent is a mixture of ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 in which the exterior optical surface of the optical probe is used in a humidifier for gases and the selective maintenance of the surface tension of the optical surface greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid is provided to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 16

The method of claim 14, wherein said optical probe is made of a hydrophobic plastic material.

Claim 17

The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior optical surface of the optical probe and aqueous liquid are contained in a container and wherein the surface tension of the optical surface ia maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by applying a coating of surface active agent to at least a portion of the interior surface of the container, said surface active agent being physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 18

The method of claim 16 additionally comprising the step of applying a coating of surface active agent to the exterior optical surface of the optical probe.

Claim 19

The method of claim 17 in which the exterior optical surface of the optical probe is used in a humidifier for gases and in which said surface active agent is a mixture of sorbitan monoesters and the selective maintenance of the surface tension of the optical surface greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid is provided to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 20

The method of claim 18, wherein said light probe is made of a hydrophobic plastic material.

Claim 21

In a humidifier for gases having a cannister defining a well, a closure sealing the cannister, the closure defining a light access port, and transparent probe means communicating with the light access port, and extending into the cannister, the transparent probe means defining an end surface within the cannister interior which includes angled surfaces positioned to permit light passing into said transparent probe means toward the end surface to be reflected again up the probe away from the end surface when the end surface is out of contact with aqueous liquid, and the light to be transmitted through the end surface when the probe is in contact with the aqueous liquid, the improvement comprising: said light probe having a surface tension maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by having been treated with a surface active agent whereby gas bubbles in the aqueous liquid are inhibited from adhering to submerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein not to be reflected and whereby liquid droplets are inhibited from adhering to unsubmerged portions of the light probe to allow said light passing therein to be reflected and said surface tension being maintained with said surface active agent which is a physiologically compatible, easily metabolized low toxic reaction means to maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 22

In a humidifier for gases having a cannister defining a well, a closure sealing the cannister, the closure defining a light access port, and transparent probe means communicating with the light access port, and extending into the cannister, the transparent probe means defining an end surface within the cannister interior which includes angled surfaces positioned to permit light passing into said transparent probe means toward the end surface to be reflected again up the probe away from the end surface when the end surface is out of contact with aqueous liquid, and the light to be transmitted through the end surface when the probe is in contact with the aqueous liquid, the improvement comprising: said light probe having a surface tension maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by having been treated with a surface active agent whereby gas bubbles in the aqueous liquid are inhibited from adhering to submerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein not to be reflected and whereby liquid droplets are inhibited from adhering to unsubmerged portions of the light probe to allow said light passing therein to be reflected and said surface tension being maintained with said surface active agent which is a physiologically compatible, easily metabolized low toxic reaction means to maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 23

The humidifier of claim 16 wherein said light probe is made of polycarbonate thermoplastic.

Claim 24

The humidifier of claim 20 wherein said light probe has a surface active agent which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction applied thereto in order that the surface tension of the light probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 25

The humidifier of claim 18 wherein said surface active agent coating said light probe is a mixture of sorbitan monoesters which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 26

The humidifier of claim 18 wherein said light probe is made of polyacrylate thermoplastic.

Claim 27

The humidifier of claim 20 wherein said light probe is subjected to plasma treatment which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid while providing no toxic reaction therewith in order that the surface tension of the light probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 28

The humidifier of claim 20 wherein said light probe is subjected to corona discharge treatment which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid while providing no toxic reaction therewith in order that the surface tension of the light probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 29

The humidifier of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of interior surfaces of said canister has a surface active agent applied thereto whereby the surface tension of the light probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid, to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas and said surface active agent being physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 30

The humidifier of claim 27 additionally comprising the exterior optical surface of said optical probe having a surface active agent which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction applied thereto to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 31

A removable cannister adapted for use in a humidifier for gases, the humidifer having a closure sealing the cannister, the closure defining a light access port, and transparent probe means communicating with the light access port and extending into the cannister, the transparent probe means defining an end surface within the cannister interior which includes angled surfaces positioned to permit light passing into said transparent probe means toward the end surface to be reflected again up the probe away from the end surface when the end surface is out of contact with aqueous liquid, and the light to be transmitted through the end surface when the probe is in contact with the aqueous liquid, the improvement comprising: at least a portion of the interior surface of said cannister having been treated with a surface active agent whereby the surface tension of the light probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid so that gas bubbles are inhibited from adhering to submerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein not to be reflected and so that liquid droplets are also inhibited from adhering to the unsubmerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein to be reflected, and said surface active agent which is physiologically compatible, easily metabolized and has a low toxic reaction with said aqueous liquid to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 32

A removable cannister adapted for use in a humidifier for gases, the humidifer having a closure sealing the cannister, the closure defining a light access port, and transparent probe means communicating with the light access port and extending into the cannister, the transparent probe means defining an end surface within the cannister interior which includes angled surfaces positioned to permit light passing into said transparent probe means toward the end surface to be reflected again up the probe away from the end surface when the end surface is out of contact with aqueous liquid, and the light to be transmitted through the end surface when the probe is in contact with the aqueous liquid, the improvement comprising: at least a portion of the interior surface of said cannister having been treated with a surface active agent whereby the surface tension of the light probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid so that gas bubbles are inhibited from adhering to submerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein not to be reflected and so that liquid droplets are also inhibited from adhering to the unsubmerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein to be reflected, and said surface active agent which is physiologically compatible, easily metabolized and has a low toxic reaction with said aqueous liquid to allow the light in said probe to be reflected/not reflected according to the humidifier's needs to thereby maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 33

The cannister of claim 29 wherein said surface active agent is a mixture of sorbitan monoesters which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 36

The method of claim 31 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by applying a coating of surface active agent, which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction, to the exterior of the optical surface of said optical probe.

Claim 37

The method of claim 32 in which said surface active agent consists essentially of non-ionic ester of a carbohydrate moiety and an organic monoacid of 8 to 30 carbon atoms which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 38

The method of claim 32 in which said surface active agent is a mixture of sorbitan monoesters which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 39

The method of claim 31 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of the optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by subjecting the optical surface to plasma treatment which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid while providing no toxic reaction therewith.

Claim 40

The method of claim 31 wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface of the optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by subjecting the optical surface to corona discharge treatment which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid while providing no toxic reaction therewith.

Claim 41

The method of claim 31 wherein the surface tension of the exterior optical surface of the optical probe is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by adding an amount of surface active agent which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction, to the aqueous liquid.

Claim 42

The method of claim 37 in which said surface active agent consists essentially of an ethoxylated non-ionic ester of a carbohydrate moiety and an organic monoacid of 8 to 30 carbon atoms which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 43

The method of claim 37 in which said surface active agent is a mixture of ethoxylated sorbitan monoesters which is physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 44

The method of claim 31 wherein the exterior of the optical surface of the optical probe and aqueous liquid are contained in a container and wherein the surface tension of the exterior of the optical surface is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by applying a coating of surface active agent to at least a portion of the interior surface of the container, to maintain a desired liquid level in the container, said surface active agent being physiologically compatible with said aqueous liquid and is easily metabolized and has a low degree of toxic reaction.

Claim 45

The method of claim 40 additionally comprising the step of applying a coating of surface active agent to the exterior of the optical surface.

Claim 46

The method of claim 41, wherein the optical probe is made of a hydrophobic thermoplastic material.

Claim 47

A cannister adapted for use in a humidifier for gases, the humidifier having a closure sealing the cannister, the closure defining a light access port, and transparent probe means communicating with the light access port and extending into the cannister, the transparent probe means defining an end surface with the cannister interior which includes angled surfaces positioned to permit light passing into said transparent probe means toward the ends surface to be reflected again up the probe away from the end surface when the end surface is out of contact with aqueous liquid, and the light to be transmitted through the end surface when the probe is in contact with the aqueous liquid, the improvement comprising: said light probe having a surface tension maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by having been treated with a surface active agent whereby gas bubbles in the aqueous liquid are inhibited from adhering to submerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein not to be reflected and whereby liquid droplets are inhibited from adhering to unsubmerged portions of the light probe to allow said light passing therein to be reflected and said surface tension being maintained with said surface active agent which is a physiologically compatibile, easily metabolized low toxic reaction means to maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.

Claim 48

A cannister adapted for use in a humidifier for gases, the humidifier having a closure sealing the cannister, the closure defining a light access port, and transparent probe means communicating with the light access port and extending into the cannister, the transparent probe means defining an end surface with the cannister interior which includes angled surfaces positioned to permit light passing into said transparent probe means toward the ends surface to be reflected again up the probe away from the end surface when the end surface is out of contact with aqueous liquid, and the light to be transmitted through the end surface when the probe is in contact with the aqueous liquid, the improvement comprising: said light probe having a surface tension maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid by having been treated with a surface active agent whereby gas bubbles in the aqueous liquid are inhibited from adhering to submerged surfaces of the light probe to allow said light passing therein not to be reflected and whereby liquid droplets are inhibited from adhering to unsubmerged portions of the light probe to allow said light passing therein to be reflected and said surface tension being maintained with said surface active agent which is a physiologically compatibile, easily metabolized low toxic reaction means to maintain sufficiently humidified oxygen or inhalation gas.