Importance

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Abstract

A heat-moisture exchanger (HME) and nebulization device for connection to a mechanical ventilator or anesthesia apparatus, to provide humidification or an aerosolized medication without disconnection of the HME from the ventilator circuit, a respiratory device comprising a first housing having an output fitting to provide a connection to an artificial airway of a patient, and a rotatable second housing connected to the first housing, having an input fitting to provide a connection to a ventilator circuit, the input fitting, and the output fitting are in communication with a primary gas flow, the first housing is partitioned into at least two chambers, a chamber to provide an enclosure for an absorbent material, and a chamber to provide a passageway for conveyance of an aerosol, the second housing to provide an enclosure for a nebulizer having a reservoir for a liquid medication, an instillation port to inject the liquid medication, interior to the chamber or passageway, a reciprocating member to open and close valves or having valves in linkage with the second housing, and controlled by the rotational direction of the second housing, the second housing in the horizontal orientation to position the valves to control the flow path of the primary gas flow through the chamber having the absorbent material, and control the exhaled gas flow from the patient to pass through the chamber to conserve heat and moisture, then through the ventilator circuit, rotation of the second housing to the vertical orientation to operate the nebulizer, to position the valves for the primary gas flow to entrain an aerosolized medication, and control the flow path of the primary gas flow through the passageway to bypass the absorbent material, and control the exhaled gas flow from the patient through the passageway, then through the ventilator circuit.

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First Claim