摘要 |
Apparatus for heating and humidifying respiratory gases include a housing, a gas permeable member positioned in the housing to exchange heat and moisture with respiratory gases passing through the housing, a fitting joined to both the housing and a tracheal tube device, and a fitting closure assembly movable to open and close a second end opening of the fitting. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a bypass line positioned to pass inspiratory gases to the fitting and tracheal tube device without passing through the housing. This bypass line embodiment is very effective in providing an additional treatment, for example, a nebulizer treatment, to the patient. The present apparatus are particularly structured and adapted to reduce the risk of causing trauma to the patient and to reduce clinician anxiety. |