Component for conveying gases

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11358318-B2
Application number	US-201916560743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2019
Priority date	Sep 10, 2010
Publication date	Jun 14, 2022
Grant date	Jun 14, 2022

Abstract

This invention provides for a component forming a part of a breathing tube, or forming the breathing tube, for example as a part of a breathing circuit for respiratory therapy. The component comprising a tubular body having a foamed wall. The foamed wall can be formed from extrusion of a single extrudate. The foamed wall is of a sufficient minimum optical transparency such that, in use, there is enabled the visual detection of a liquid (or condensate that may have formed) within the tubular body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A component forming a part of a breathing tube, or forming the breathing tube, comprising:
a tubular body having a foamed wall,
wherein the foamed wall has a void fraction that, in use, enables visual detection of a liquid or a condensate within the tubular body.

2. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the foamed wall of the tubular body comprises a corrugate profile, wherein the corrugate profile comprises alternating outer crests and inner troughs.

3. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tubular body has a substantially uniform wall thickness.

4. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness is about 0.4 mm to about 0.8 mm.

5. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the foamed wall has a thermal conductivity of about 0.2 to 0.4 W/m−° K.

6. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the foamed wall has a void fraction of about 5.5% to about 7.5%.

7. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tubular body having the foamed wall is formed from extrusion of a single extrudate.

8. The component as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the single extrudate comprises one or more polymer(s).

9. The component as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the one or more polymer(s) is selected from the group consisting of Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polyolefin Plastomer (POP), Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), plasticised Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and blends of these materials.

10. The component as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the one or more polymer(s) is at least about 98.4 weight percent (wt. %) of the total single extrudate.

11. The component as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the single extrudate further comprises one or more chemical foaming agents.

12. The component as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the one or more chemical foaming agents comprising calcium oxide.

13. The component as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the chemical foaming agent is at least about 0.005 weight percent (wt. %) of the total single extrudate.

14. The component as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the single extrudate further comprises one or more surface modification agents.

15. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tubular body enables surface property contact angles of less than about 45 degrees (°).

16. The component as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a heater.

17. The component as claimed in claim 16 , wherein a heater is associated with a wall of the tubular body.

18. The component as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the heater is embedded, either partially or wholly, in the wall of the tubular body.

19. The component as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tubular body further comprises an outer sheath.

20. The component as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the outer sheath surrounds a heater associated with an exterior wall surface of the tubular body.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Graham Peter Kenneth
• Garcia Enrico Alvarez
• Chu Shu-Yi

Classifications

• A61M16/00

  Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes · CPC title

• A61M2205/0233

  Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention · CPC title

• F16L11/111

  with homogeneous wall · CPC title

• A61M16/0875 Primary

  Connecting tubes · CPC title

• A61M16/0808

  Condensation traps · CPC title