Abstract: A ventilation tube (20, 120, 220) is disclosed. The ventilation tube (20, 120, 220) comprises an inner wall (22, 122, 222) that defines a fluid passageway for 5 ventilation gases, an outer wall (24,124,224) that surrounds the inner wall (22, 122, 222) and has a greater thickness than the inner wall (22, 122, 222), a helical separator member (26, 126, 226) interposed between the inner and outer walls (22, 122, 222, 24, 124, 224) so as to define an insulation chamber between the inner and outer walls (22, 122, 222, 24, 124, 224), and a heating element (28, 128, 228) disposed within the insulation chamber.

Abstract: A ventilation tube (20, 120, 220) is disclosed. The ventilation tube (20, 120, 220) comprises an inner wall (22, 122, 222) that defines a fluid passageway for 5 ventilation gases, an outer wall (24,124,224) that surrounds the inner wall (22, 122, 222) and has a greater thickness than the inner wall (22, 122, 222), a helical separator member (26, 126, 226) interposed between the inner and outer walls (22, 122, 222, 24, 124, 224) so as to define an insulation chamber between the inner and outer walls (22, 122, 222, 24, 124, 224), and a heating element (28, 128, 228) disposed within the insulation chamber.

Abstract: A water trap suitable for use in a mechanical ventilation circuit comprising a cap with an inlet and an outlet, a fluid collection vessel engageable with the cap, and a rotatable closure with at least one aperture interposed between the cap and the vessel. The vessel is operably linked to the closure such that engagement or disengagement of the vessel from the cap causes the closure to be rotated. The cap is formed with an internal partition extending into abutment with the closure to define a chamber via which the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication and the closure forming a base of the chamber. When the vessel is engaged with the cap, the closure has a first orientation in which the at least one aperture is located within the periphery of the skirt in the base of the chamber and the vessel is in communication with the chamber via the at least one aperture.

Abstract: An exhalation valve (10) is disclosed for use with an exhalation port (14) of a respiratory circuit. The exhalation valve comprises a hermetically sealed gas chamber (20,120), a gas inlet (22,122) for supplying gas to the gas chamber, and a membrane (24,124) of flexible material that defines at least part of a wall of the gas chamber. The membrane is deformable by a change in the pressure differential between the gas within the gas chamber and the gas within the exhalation port between an inoperative configuration and an operative configuration in which the membrane restricts the flow of gas from the exhalation port to a greater extent than in said inoperative configuration. The membrane is inherently planar but is mounted within the exhalation valve such that deformation of the membrane to its operative configuration occurs substantially without increase of the surface area of the membrane.