US5997498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inline air humidifier, a system for humidifying air and methods related thereto
Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
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Filing: 1998-05-07
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Granted: 1999-12-07
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Expires: 2018-05-07
Abstract
Abstract In preferred aspects the invention provides an in-line humidifier, a system using such a humidifier and methods related thereto, a method for infusing a gas into an eye during retinal detachment surgical procedure and a method for treating a retinal tear. The method for infusing gas includes providing an in-line humidifier, humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier by flowing the gas there through and infusing the humidified gas into the eye. The in-line humidifier includes a housing and a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a hydroscopic material that releasably retains liquid therein. The housing includes an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with the housing interior. The humidifier section is disposed within the housing so the gas entering through the inlet connection flows through the humidifying section, where small quantities of the releasably retinal liquid is released by the hydroscopic material to the flowing gas, and so the humidified gas exits the housing via the outlet connection.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene de Juan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863; A61F9/00781
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for infusing a gas into a patient eye during a retinal detachment surgery or other eye surgery, comprising: (a) providing an in-line humidifier comprising: a housing having an inlet and outlet connection in communication with an interior of the housing and through which is flowed the gas, a humidifier section that can comprise fluid and is disposed within the housing so the gas entering through the inlet connection flows through the humidifying section, whereby gas flowing through the section can be humidified; (b) humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier; and (c) infusing the humified air into the eye.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for infusing a gas into a patient eye during a retinal detachment surgery or other eye surgery, comprising: (a) providing an in-line humidifier comprising: a housing having an inlet and outlet connection in communication with an interior of the housing and through which is flowed the gas, a humidifier section that can comprise fluid and is disposed within the housing so the gas entering through the inlet connection flows through the humidifying section, whereby gas flowing through the section can be humidified; (b) humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier; and (c) infusing the humified air into the eye.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the humidifier section with a fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the charging of the humidifying section comprises removing the humidifying element from the housing, hydrating the humidifying section, and re-inserting the humidifying element into the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the hydrating comprising placing the humidifying element in a liquid bath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the charging of the humidifying section comprises adding fluid to the humidifying section without removing the section from the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 5, wherein fluid is added to the device through a resealable opening in the humidifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a gas source interconnected to the in-line humidifier is provided.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the gas source is a source of air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the gas source further includes a mechanism for sterilizing the gas so gas flowing to the in-line humidifier is sterile.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the humidifier section comprises a material that can releasably retain a fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the humidifying section of the in-line humidifier comprises a plurality of passages therethrough and humidifying includes flowing the gas through the air passages to release moisture to the flowing gas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the charging of the humidifying section comprises introducing a nozzle connected to a source of the liquid into the housing, and injecting the fluid through the nozzle and onto the humidifying section thereby hydrating the humidifying section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein fluid is flowed into the humidifier.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for treating a retinal tear of a patient eye comprising: providing an in-line humidifier comprising: a housing having an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with an interior of the housing, a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a material that can releasably retains liquid therein and through the humidifier section, and wherein the humidifier section is disposed within the housing so a gas to be humidified flows through the humidifying section, whereby the releasably retained liquid is released by the material to the flowing gas; inserting a light source, a cannula and a cutting/aspirating instrument into the eye; removing vitreous gel using the cutting/aspirating instrument; maintaining the intraocular volume by infusing a fluid through the cannula; humidifying a first gas in the provided in-line humidifier; infusing the humidified first gas through the cannula while aspirating vitreous fluid; photocoagulating an area of the retina surrounding the retinal tear; and exchanging the infused first gas with a second gas.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for treating a retinal tear of a patient eye comprising: providing an in-line humidifier comprising: a housing having an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with an interior of the housing, a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a material that can releasably retains liquid therein and through the humidifier section, and wherein the humidifier section is disposed within the housing so a gas to be humidified flows through the humidifying section, whereby the releasably retained liquid is released by the material to the flowing gas; inserting a light source, a cannula and a cutting/aspirating instrument into the eye; removing vitreous gel using the cutting/aspirating instrument; maintaining the intraocular volume by infusing a fluid through the cannula; humidifying a first gas in the provided in-line humidifier; infusing the humidified first gas through the cannula while aspirating vitreous fluid; photocoagulating an area of the retina surrounding the retinal tear; and exchanging the infused first gas with a second gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the photocoagulating comprises photocoagulating the area surrounding the retinal tear using a laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising charging the humidifying section of the in-line humidifier with a fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the gas being infused is air and the second gas is one of sulfur hexaflourine and perfluoro propane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising humidifying the second gas while exchanging the infused first gas with the second gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim of claim 14, wherein the photocoagulating comprises surrounding the retinal tear with a plurality of rows of a plurality of laser-formed heat spots.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
40 words
A method for infusing a gas into a patient eye during an eye surgery procedure, comprising: providing a humidifier device; flowing a gas through the device whereby the gas is humidified; and thereafter infusing the humidified gas into the eye.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
40 words
A method for infusing a gas into a patient eye during an eye surgery procedure, comprising: providing a humidifier device; flowing a gas through the device whereby the gas is humidified; and thereafter infusing the humidified gas into the eye.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the device comprises a housing having an inlet and outlet connection in communication with an interior of the housing and through which is flowed the gas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein fluid is flowed in the humidifier device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the gas is infused into the eye during a surgery for treating a retinal tear of the patient eye.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the surgery includes photocoagulating an area of the retina proximate to the retinal tear.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |