APPARATUS FOR TREATING RESPIRATORY GASES INCLUDING LIQUID TRAP

摘要

Apparatus for treating respiratory gases includes a housing (12) having an inlet (14) adapted for connection to a tracheal tube device (45) and an outlet adapted for connection to a tube for passing respiratory gases; and a liquid trap chamber (38) positioned between the inlet (14) and the outlet (16) and adapted to receive and hold liquid passed from outside the housing (12) through the inlet (14) or through the outlet (16). For example, saline or other aqueous liquid which is passed to the patient from outside the housing (12) to loosen and/or remove mucous secretions in the patient can inadvertently slosh back toward the housing (12). The liquid trap chamber (38) is positioned and adapted to collect and hold such liquid and prevent such liquid from passing further into the housing (12), for example, to contact and block a filter element (18) located in the housing (12). An outlet liquid trap chamber (67) is effective to prevent condensed water from a humidifier in a respiratory gas circuit from contacting and detrimentally affecting a filter in the circuit.