CA1076918A

CA1076918A - Heat-and-moisture exchanging device for respiration

Info

Publication number: CA1076918A
Application number: CA248,151A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Tatsuo Togawa
Original assignee: Terumo Corp
Current assignee: Terumo Corp
Priority date: 1975-03-20
Filing date: 1976-03-18
Publication date: 1980-05-06
Also published as: SE436682B; SE7603396L; GB1539217A; FR2304359A1; BE839840A; FR2304359B1; SE419165B; AU1217676A; DE2611898A1; JPS51118296U; JPS523911Y2; SE7908070L; US4090513A

Abstract

Title of the Invention:
HEAT-AND-MOISTSURE EXCHANGING
DEVICE FOR RESPIRATION

S P E C I F I C A T I O N

Abstract of the Disclosure A heat and moisture exchanging device for respiration comprising a housing, having an inlet detachably connected to a tracheal cannula and an outlet detachably connected to a tube for passing respiraory air, and a permeable heat and mositure exchange body provided between said inlet and outlet.
The device further comprises a means for observing the respiration state of a patient, said means responsive to the air pressure difference between said outlet and inlet so as to detect the number of breathes per unit time, respired air volume and the volume of tidal air.

Description

1~76918 Background of the Invention This invention relates to a heat and moisture exchang-ing device for respiration apparatus such as may be used for carryiny out general anesthesia, or artificial respiration.
Devices embodying this invention are capable of appropriately adjusting the physical conditions of the inhaled air and, at the said time, observing the number of breaths per unit time, and the volume of inhaled air and exhaled air due to respiration, Where general anesthesia or artificial respiration is applied to a patient, one end of a tracheal cannula apparatus is inserted into the trachea and the other end is connected to an anesthetizing device or a respirator. In this case, the mucous membrane of the upper portion of the respiratory tract loses its physiologicial air conditioning function which would be performed in normal respiration. Namely, in normal respiration, heat and moisture from the exhaled air is absorbed by the inner walls of nasal cavities, oral cavity and pharynx and a major part of the heat and moisture thus absorbed is imparted to the inhaled air so as to make it suitable for inhalation However, where a tracheal cannula is inserted into the trachea for respiration, the exhaled air comes out of the body in a hot and humid condition and the inhaled air is hardly warmed or moistened because the inner wall of the cannula is smooth and, thus substantially incapable of moisture absorption and heat exchange. It follows that the application of an anesthetizing device or a respirator for a long time results in the respiratory tract of the patient becoming dried, ` causing serious pain to the patient In some cases, lung diseases may even be caused.

~n76sl8 To solve the problem, conventional devices for general anesthesia or artificial respiration utilize moistening means such as a nebulizer so as to moisten the inhaling air appropriately. But, where, for example a nebulizer is used in an anesthetizing device of a closed circulation type, it is undesirable to add more than a limited amount of moisture to the inhaled air because the carbon dioxide absorbing agent used in the anesthetizing device is hygroscopic in nature. When used in a respirator, it is difficult for the nebulizer to always impart appropriate moisture to the inhaling air.
Also known is a device using aluminum foil for recovering the mositure and heat of the exhaled air (see Acta anaesth, Scandinav. 1960, 4, pages 105-124, "POSTOPERATIVE
CARE AND COMPLICATIONS AFTER TRACHEOTOMY IN INFANTS AND
CHILDREN"~, This device, however, fails to give a satisfactorily sharp temperature gradient across the heat exchange'body.
Thus, a large dead space is required for sufficiently recovering moisture and heat from the exhaled air.
It should also be noted that, where a tracheal cannula is used for conducting a medical operation or is applied to a patient with an advanced disease, it is necessary to check the number of breaths per unit time and the volume of air inhaled and exhaled due to respiration as well as the warming and moistening problems referred to above, For observation of the number of breaths per unit time, it is known to use a thermistor placed inside the nasal cavities or mounted at the outer end of a tracheal cannula In this case, the number of breaths is measured from the temperature changes of the respiratory air detected by the thermistor. This method, however, fails to measure the volume of air inhaled and exhaled due to respiration. Hot wire anemometers or the like are available for making this measurement but are unsuitable over long periods of time. Particularly, inconveniences in sterilization are a nuisance.
Summary of the Invention Broadly speaking, the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a heat and moisture exchange device for respiration apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet adapted for detachable connection to a tracheal cannula and an outlet adapted for detachable connection to a tube for passing respiratory air, permeable heat-and-moisture exchange layers disposed between the inlet and the outlet substantially normal to the axis of passage of respiratory air between the inlet and outlet, a drainage tube having one end extending through the housing adjacent the layers with the other free end being open for flow of fluid out of the tube, the one end of the tube opening into contact with the permeable layers permitting liquid accumulated by the layers during operation of the device to be drained out of the housing, holes through the walls of the housing adjacent the inlet and outlet thereof and a differential pressure gauge connected by tubes to the holes to permit the gauge to measure the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet.
Brief Description of the Drawing Fig. 1 illustrates a heat and moisture exchange device for respiration according to this invention in use;
Fig~ 2 is a cross sectional view of a device according to one embodiment of this invention;

lQ769~3 Fig, 3 is an exploded ~erspective view of the d~vice shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a heat and moisture exchanging device according to another embodiment of this invention;
Fig. 5 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a heat and moisture exchanging device according to still another embodiment of this invention;
Figs. 7 and 8 are graphs which respectively show the performance so the devices according to this invention;
Fig. 9 is a graph showing changes with time in fluid resistance;
Fig. 10 shows a cross section of a device for detecting the air pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the heat and moisture exchanging device shown in Figure 2, or of that shown in Figure 6. An associated electric circuit is also shown in Fig, 10;
Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the decomposed state of the device shown in Fig, 10; and Fig. 12 appearing on the same sheet as Figure 10, is a block diagram illustrating a respiration system connected to a heat and moisture exchanging device according to Figure 2 or Figure 6.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 shows, a tracheal cannula 3 inserted into the trachea 2 of a patient 1. A junction portion 4 is provided at the exterior end of the tracheal cannula 3. In a conventional device for conducting general anesthesia or artificial ' , '~

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1~769~3 respiration, it is customary to connect one or more hoses 5, which communicate with an anesthetizing device or a respirator, directly to the junction portion 4. In the present invention, however, a heat and moisture exchanging device 6 is provided between the junction portion 4 and the hose 5.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the heat and moisture exchan~ing device comprises a housing consisting of an enlarged central portion 7 and an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 provided one on each side of the central portion 7. ~Ioused in the central portion 7 is a heat and moisture exchange body 12 consisting of sheets 10 of moisture absorptive heat-insulating material and sheets 11 of gas-permeable heat-conductive material. For example, the heat-insulating sheets 10 and the heat-conductive sheets 11 are alternately superposed to form the heat and moisture exchange body 12. The heat-insulating sheets 10 are disk-like in shape and are made of, for example, textile gauge material or non-woven fabric. On the other hand, the heat-conductive sheets 11 are also disk-like in shape and are made of a mesh of metal such as aluminum. The tracheal cannula 3 and the hose 5 are detachably connected to the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 respectively of the housing. Further, tube insertion holes 13 and 14 are provided on the walls of the inlet 8 and the outlet 9. As described later, a differential pressure gauge communicates with the heat and moisture exchanging device through ihese holes 13 and 14 and appropriate tubes (not shown).
The heat and moisture exchange body 12 is prepared ~with the age, weight, and other relevant characteristics of the patient taken fully into account. Thus, the number of 11~76918 alternately superposed sheets in any particular case may vary from a comparatively small number to several scores, each sheet being 30 to 50 mm in diameter. The moisture absorptive heat-insulating sheets 10 are advantageous in that they enable the heat exchange body 12 to have an increased heat insulation effect, a sharpened temperature gradient across it and a good moisture recovery from the exhaled air, But, the heat-insulating sheets 10 may be omitted, allowing the heat exchange body 12 to be formed of the heat conductive sheets alone, ---It is important that the sheets constituting the heat exchange body be disposed substantially perpendicular to the passage of the respiration air. Unlike the case where the sheets are arranged parallel with the air passage, the sheets arranged perpendicular to the air passage are advantageous because an air layer acting as a heat insulating ~ayer is formed between every two adjacent sheets, The heat insulating layers thus formed serve to sharpen the temperature gradient across the heat exchange body. It follows that heat and moisture are e~fective,ly recovered from the exhaled air with a thinner heat and moisture exchange body. In addition, it is possible to decrease the amount of water condensed from the vapor of the exhaled air within the heat and moisture exchanging device.
Sheets having appropriate sizes of mesh for example about 14 meshes (about 1,2 mm), can be used for preparing the heat exchange body 12.
~ hen the heat and moisture exchanging device 6 mounted between the tracheal cannula 3 and the hose 5 is applied to a patient, the exhaled and inhaled air alternately pass through e heat and moisture exchanging device in opposite direc-tions, , -- 7 --When the exhaled air, having about 100% relative humidity in coming out of the patients lung, passes through the heat exchange body 12 of the heat and moisture exchanging device 6, it is cooled and condensed so as to form fine water drops on the surface of the heat exchange body 12, while the latent heat is given to the heat exchange body 12. On the other hand, the inhaled air is warmed in passing through the heat exchange body 12 and moistened by the water vaporized within the heat and moisture exchanging device, By the process described, the heat and moisture of the exhaled air are recovered by the subsequently inhaled air, Figs. 7 and 8 respectively show the moisture recovery and heat recovery characteristics of two different heat and moisture exchanging devices, In these figures, the curve (a) represents the case where the heat exchange body was formed of ten pieces of aluminum mesh, the mesh size being about 1.5 mm, the total weight of the heat and moisture exchange body being about 2,5g, and the dead space of the heat exchange body being 10.5 mQ. In this case, the heat and moisture exchanging device was used in conjunction with the respiration of an artificial respiration apparatus under conditions in which the air stream resistance 0.8 cm H2O/Q/sec., the ambient temperature 24C, and the relative humidity of the atmosphere 30~, The curve (b) represents the case where the heat and moisture exchange body was prepared by inserting gauze (mesh size being about 1 mm) into the spaces between two adjacent aluminum meshes of the heat exchange body used for the case of the curve (a).
Thus, the dead space of the heat and moisture exchange body was 10.5 mQ as in curve (a), In this case, the heat and moisture ~0769~3 exchanging device was applied to an artificial respiration apparatus under conditions in which the air stream resistance of 1.2 cm H2O/Q/sec., the other conditions being the same as in curve (a).
These graphs show that the heat and moisture exchanging device of this invention is capable of recovering about 40 to 70% of moisture and heat, the values being comparable to those in normal respiration. Particularly, the recovering effects for the curve (b) are prominent. In this case, the gauze serves to improve the function of the heat and moisture exchange body. In addition, the moisture absorbed by the gauze renders the heat capacity far greater than that of the aluminum mesh.
These combine to permit a marked decrease in the dead space of the heat exchange body. Incidentally, the air stream resistance can be adjusted appropriately by suitably selectin~g the mesh size and the diameter of the sheets constituting the heat and moisture exchange body, Figs, 4 and 5 collectively show a heat and moisture exchanging device according to another embodiment of this invention. The device shown is suitable for use in the case where a respirator or the like is not required, A tracheal cannula 3 or an incised respiratory track is connected to the device. The device includes a cylinder 15 which is closed at one end and is provided at the other end with an inlet 18.
Housed within the cylinder 15 is a heat and moisture exchange body 16 formed by spirally winding a band-like aluminum mesh together with gauze, so as to form a central free space 17.
~3. The diameter of this central free space 17 is substantially equal to that of the inlet 18 which is connected to the ' . ~ ' .. ' ' ' ' ~

~6gl8 tracheal cannula. A plurality of air passages 19 are formed in ~he wall of the cylinder 15 so as to permit respiration through the inlet 18. Simple construction is one of the merits of the device of this type. Further, it is easier to manufacture the heat and moisture exchange body 16. Moreover, the device described permits the amount of dead space to be decreased.
Fig. 6 shows a heat and moisture exchanging device according to still another embodiment of this invention. In this case, a drainage hole 20 is provided in the bottom of the wide central portion 7 of a heat and moisture exchanging device similar to that shown in Fig. 2. A drainage tube 21 having a plurality of side openings 21' and loaded with a fibrous material 22 having a capillary action, such as gauze or string, is connected to the drainage hole 20. The device of this type is effecti>ve when used such a long time that water condensed from vapor unavoidably accumulates to some extent in the bottom of the central portion 7. In such a case, the accumulated water is removed by the capillary action of the fibrous material 22 housed in the drainage tube 21 in order to avoid inaccuracy in data due to an increased fluid resistance when a differential pressure gauge is employed as described below.
Fig. 9 shows changes with time in air flow resistance of heat and moisture exchanging devices according to this invention. Curve A represents the case in which the heat exchange body prepared by alternately superposing eleven aluminum sheets and ten pieces of textile gauze was housed in a heat and moisture exchanging device such as that shown in Fig. 2. The diameter of the central portion of the device was 30 mm. Curve B denotes the case where a heat and moisture exchanging device similar to that for curve A was provided with ~} - 10 - j , ' .' '' : ' - .

1~'7~9~8 a drainage tube 40 cm long and 3 mm in inner diameter as shown in Fig. 6. The experiments were conducted under conditions of ambient temperature 25C, relative humidity of the atmosphere 70~, volume of exhaled and inhaled air 513 mQ, exhaled air temperature 37C and respiration period 4,2 seconds. It is seen that the fluid resistance for curve A increased to more than twice the value for curve B, where a drainage tube was provided, four hours after the experiments began. ~urther, the change in air flow resistance for curve B was negligible more than 15 hours later.
When using the heat and moisture exchanging device 6 shown in Fig, 2, owing to the air stream resistance, a pressure drop is produced between the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 in proportion to the flow of the respiration air. This pressure drop can be measured by communicating the inlet and outlet with a differential pressure gauge by means of tubes.
Specifically, one end of a tube is connected to the hole 13 provided in the wall of the outlet 9, and the other end to the differential pressure gauge. Likewise, one end of another tube is connected to the hole 14 provided in the wall of the inlet ~, the other end being connected to the differential pressure gauge. Figs. 10 and 11 together show an example of a suitable differential pressure gauge, which detects the pressure drop utilizing the variations of the capacitances of two capacitors.
As shown in Fig. 11, annular electrodes 31 are respectively fixed to the two opposite sides of a substrate 30.
These electrodes 31 are arranged so as to be concentric with a through~hole 32 bored through the center of the substrate 30 nd are also formed with holes of the same diameter of the .: , .... . :
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through-hole 32. Further, two metal plates 34 having the same thickness as the annular electrodes 31 and having circular central apertures are respectively fixed to the two opposite sides of the substrate 30 with the apertures therein aligned with the through-hole 32. The apertures are of larger diameter than the electrodes 31 so that annular clearances 33 between the electrodes 31 and the metal plates 34 are provided. In this case, the clearances 33 are concentric with the annular electrodes 31. An insulating spacer 35, stainless steel diaphragm 36, and a lid 37 are laminated in the order mentioned on each side of the substrate 30. In the central portion of the insulating spacer 35 is formed an opening 38 whose periphery substantially conforms to the outer periphery of the annular clearance 33 The diaphragm 36 is made, for example, of a stainless steel plate 0 1 mm thick The air stream resistance across the heat exchange body 12 should not be a burden on the respiratory action Specifically, the value should be as small as 1 cm H20/Q/sec. at most and, thus, the pressure difference between the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 should be at most 1 cm H20 It follows that the diaphragm 36 should be sufficiently flexible to respond readily to such a small pressure difference A
threaded hole 40 is provided in the center of each diaphragm 36 and, as shown in Fig. 10, the two diaphragms 36 are tightened by a screw 39 and an associated nut.
It should be noted that two capacitors are formed inside the assembly, each consisting of one diaphragm 36 and one electrode 31 Thus, one capacitor is formed on each of the inlet and outlet sides ~ 12 ~

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1~769~8 Provided at the center of the lid 37 is a hole 41 for receiving one end of the tube leading to the heat and moisture exchanging device 6. Also provided in the lid is a circular depression 42, the periphery of which corresponds to the outer periphery of the clearance 33 between the electrode 31 and the metal plate 34 fixed to the substrate 30.
The diaphragms 36 and the electrodes 31 are connected to the electric circuit by leads 43 and 44 respectively as shown in Fig. 10.
The electric circuit shown in Fig. 10 denotes one example of the construction of a differential pressure gauge. In this case, the capacitor formed on the inlet side having the capacitance Cl and the capacitor formed on the outlet side having the capacitance C2 form part of a smoothing circuit for the rectifying circuit shown. The capacitances Cl and C2 vary depending on the pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet 9 of the heat and moisture exchanging device.
As described previously, the two diaphragms 36 are joined and fixed by the screw 39 and its associated nut.
The diameter of the hole 32 through the substrate 30 and of the corresponding holes in the electrode 31 are larger than that of the shank of the screw 39, so that there is a clearance between the shank of the screw 39 and the wall surfaces of the holes. It follows that, when pressure Pl on the inlet side is higher than pressure P3 on the outlet side, the diaphragm 36 shown on the left side in Fig. 10 is pushed toward the annular electrode 31, decreasing the distance between the diaphragm 36 and the electrode 31. The capacitance Cl is thus increased.
Vnder the state described, the diaphragm on the outlet side is '';:. : ~ ' . .' ' ,. :' ~' ' :

.
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pushed outward due to fluid pressure transmitted through the clearance surrounding screw 39 so as to increase the distance bet:ween this diaphragm and the right hand electrode 31 (as seen in Fig. 10). Thus, the capacitance C2 is decreased.
~ ig. 10 shows a circuit comprising a crystal oscillator Ei, silicon diodes Dl, D2, resistors R, R, capacitors C, C and a coil L. It is seen that a ~-type smoothing circuit is formed by the capacitors Ct C and the coil L. The alternating voltage generated by the crystal oscillator Ei is recitified by the diode Dl, the capacitor of capacitance Cl, the diode D2, and the capacitor of capacitance C2 and then, smoothed by the ~-type LC circuit so as to generate an output voltage Eo between the output terminals. It should be noted that, when there is a difference between Pl and P2, a difference is generated between the capacitances Cl and C2 and the output~voltage Eo is generated. Eo depends on the difference between,Cl and C2.
The output voltage Eo is applied to a respiration observation system as shown in Fig. 12. It is seen that the inlet and outlet of a heat and moisture exchanging device 45 are in communication with a differential pressure gauge 47 through a pair of tubes 46, so as to enable the gauge 47 to receive the pressures inside the inlet and the outlet of the device 45. The differential pressure is detected as the output voltage Eo by the gauge 47 as described. The output voltage Eo is amplified by an amplifier 48 and! then, applied to a display device 49,which provides information such as the number of breaths per unit time, and the volume of inhaled and exhaled air due to respiration of ~) ` the patient. Further, an alarm buzzer 50 and a recorder 51 are connected to the display device 49. The alarm buzzer 50 operates 1~ .

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. . . . :

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1076~18 to give a warning when against abnormal pressures are produced inside the trachea of the patient and the recorder 51 serves to record the information provided by the display device 49.
The o,bservation sys-tem thus constructed enables the respiration characteristics of the patient to be rapidly and accurately measured, indicated and recorded, As described in detail, in the heat and moisture exchanging device for respiration according to this invention, the heat and moisture exchange body is prepared by superposing a plurality of metal meshes of a high heat conductivity and is disposed substantially perpendicular to the respiratory air passage. The effectiveness of the heat and moisture exchange body can be increased if it is prepared by superposing the metal and moisture absorptive heat insulating sheets in combination. The heat and moisture exchange body disposed perpendicular to the respiratory air passage permits a marked sharpening of the temperature gradient across the heat exchange body, compared with the prior art in which a heat and moisuture exchange body made of aluminum foil is disposed parallel with the air passage, Thus, "the perpendicular type" heat and moisture exchange body is far more efficient in the recovery of heat and moisture than the "parallel type" one, Specifically, the former permits reducing its dead space to about one-fow~ of that of the latter for recovering the same amount of heat and moisture.
This is very much advantageous in not only the manufacturing cost saving but also the handling of the device, Another feature of this invention is that the heat and moisture exchanging device can be equipped with a system -- for observing the respiration state of the patient. Particularly, ..
' ~76918 the differential pressure gauge constituting a part of the observation system is constructed such that the diaphragm 36 serves to protect the electrode 31, Accordingly, even where humid gas, sterilization gas or other corrosive gas is introduced into the differential pressure gauge, it suffices to make the outer surface alone of the diaphragm corrosion resistant.
Incidentally, necessary electronic circuit can be incorporated inside the diaphragms 36 for manufacturing the lC differential pressure gauge in place of the arrangement described. Also, various types of differential pressure , gauge ut.ilizing the inlet and outlet pressures can be ~cr~ecte~ t~ eb- be~t ~ ~ 1 ~i~t~r e~h~gi~g de~ice, .:
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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A heat and moisture exchange device for respira-tion apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet adapted for detachable connection to a tracheal cannula and an outlet adapted for detachable connection to a tube for passing respiratory air, permeable heat-and-moisture exchange layers disposed between said inlet and said outlet substantially normal to the axis of passage of respiratory air between said inlet and outlet, a drainage tube having one end extending through said housing adjacent said layers with the other free end being open for flow of fluid out of said tube, said one end of said tube opening into contact with said permeable layers permitting liquid accumulated by said layers during operation of said device to be drained out of the housing, holes through the walls of said housing adjacent the inlet and outlet thereof and a differential pressure gauge connected by tubes to said holes to permit said gauge to measure the pressure difference between said inlet and said outlet.

2. A heat and moisture exchange device for respiration apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet adapted for detachable connection to a tracheal cannula and an outlet adapted for detachable connection to a tube for passing respiratory air, permeable heat-and-moisture exchange layers disposed between said inlet and said outlet substantially normal to the axis of passage of respiratory air between said inlet and outlet and a drainage tube having one end extending through said housing adjacent said layers with the other free end having a plurality of openings in its wall for flow of fluid out of said tube, said one end of said tube opening into contact with said permeable layers, said drainage tube being loaded with fibrous material capable of conveying through the tube by capillary action liquid accumulated by said layers during operation of said device to drain the liquid out of said housing.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the differential pressure gauge comprises a pair of electrically conducting diaphragms so flexible as to be readily deformable in response to pressure differences between said inlet and outlet, a pair of electrodes facing said diaphragms forming a pair of electrical capacitors, a pair of lids covering said pair of electrical capacitors, a hole in each lid, one lid hole being connected to said tube connected to said housing inlet and the other lid hole being connected to said tube connected to said housing outlet and an electric circuit generating an output signal representing the difference in capacitance between said capacitors.

4. The device of claim 3 further having means for amplifying said output signal, means for visually displaying said signal in terms of number of breaths per unit time, respiration air volume and volume of tidal air and means for recording said signal in said terms.

5. A heat and moisture exchange device for respiration apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet adapted for detachable connection to a tracheal cannula and an outlet adapted for detachable connection to a tube for passing respiratory air permeable heat-and-moisture exchange layers disposed between said inlet and said outlet substantially normal to the axis of passage of respiratory air between said inlet and outlet, a drainage tube having one end extending through said housing adjacent said layers with the other free end being open for flow of fluid out of said tube, said one end of said tube opening into contact with said permeable layers per-mitting liquid accumulated by said layers during operation of said device to be drained out of the housing.