Abstract: An anesthetic vaporizer comprises a housing having a liquid reservoir and a vaporizing chamber over the reservoir. A gas inlet into the housing provides for flow through a vaporizing passage and into the vaporizing chamber for subsequent flow outwardly above the chamber, through an outlet vaporizing passage, to an outlet for discharge to the place of use. The vaporizing passage includes a spirally wound wick tube disposed between an interior wall of the housing and an interior barrel of cylindrical shape which retains the tube in position. In addition a bypass passage connects the inlet to the outlet passage and a control is provided for regulating the flow through at least one of the passages so as to regulate the amount of the circulated gas which is enriched with vaporized anesthetic.

Abstract: Air-circulating device having an upright tube or passage and a fan for drawing warm air downward from adjacent the ceiling of a room and discharging it adjacent the floor thereof is provided with a liquid reservoir and a wick, with the wick positioned so that the circulating air blows thereover to provide air freshening and humidifying. The reservoir may be adjacent the tube above the fan or may be adjacent the fan outlet. A further modification provides a charcoal or other type filter in the air stream to remove odors, such as cigarette smoke, etc.

Abstract: Anesthetic vaporizer of the flow-through type having a calibrated flow control valve unit for proportional distribution of the inlet gas between a vaporizing chamber and a main bypass passage to obtain a desired anesthetic concentration. A rotary, multiple-port valve with a multiplicity of laminar flow-type passages in parallel is operable in discrete steps for adding the anesthetic vapor from the chamber in predictable increments to a preset flow of the inlet gas for proportional gas division. An auxiliary gas bypass for temperature compensation has a cone-type valve with restricted opening controlled by a temperature responsive motor in the vaporizing chamber. A wick assembly in the anesthetic vaporizing chamber guides the chamber gas through a multiplicity of parallel passages formed by stacked sheets of absorbent and corrugated materials respectively, to obtain maximum vaporization of the anesthetic.

Abstract: A humidity exchanger in an apparatus for respiration and anasthesia comprises an inhalation air conduit which is juxtaposed to an exhalation air conduit and separated therefrom by a diffusion foil which permits the passage of a vapor therethrough but not a liquid. Both the inhalation and exhalation conduits are connected at their one ends to the respirator and at their opposite ends they are connected together and to a mouthpiece for use by the patient. The temperatures in both conduits adjacent the mouthpiece are maintained at temperatures so that there is a temperature difference between the inhalation air and the exhalation air in the respective conduits to thus provide a condensation zone. Another zone is provided toward the opposite end of the two conduits in which the temperatures between the air and the two conduits is maintained substantially the same so as to define a diffusion zone. The foil advantageously comprises a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer which is hygroscopic.

Abstract: A mobile air filtering apparatus for hospital rooms, comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A pre-filter is located at the inlet and a fan for directing air in succession through a heater, a diffusion foil moistener and a mechanical filter. The diffusion foil moistener is located between the heater and the mechanical filter and it includes a heat exchange conduit for conducting the water to the moistener which is coiled around the filter. The filter housing is mounted on a fork-shaped arm which is carried on a stand in an adjustable position and the stand is moved around with its associated carriage filter.

Abstract: Precisely controlled permeation of a fluid into a carrier gas is provided in a temperature-controlled enclosure. A cylindrical housing has its side wall spaced from the side wall of a hollow cylindrical core contained therein to provide a thin flow passage therebetween for the carrier fluid. An electric heater coil is wound about the exterior of the housing to supply heat to the carrier fluid in the passage, and the core has a port at one end thereof for providing communication between the passage and the hollow interior of the core, in which a permeation tube is supported. The heater power output is controlled in response to a temperature sensor within the core so that the carrier fluid is heated and its temperature is precisely controlled. The exterior of the housing is insulated from ambient to maintain stable temperature conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a liquid flow path having two parallel connected sections, namely a first section adapted to provide turbulent flow and a second section adapted to provide laminar flow. Water flowing through the apparatus divides between the two sections in a ratio which is arranged to be independent of the total flow, the flow through the second section being saturated with oxygen. The apparatus thus provides a controlled concentration of oxygen. Temperature compensation is achieved by arranging for changes in the flow ratio caused by viscosity variations to compensate for variations in oxygen solubility.

Abstract: An improved gas humidification system including a substantially closed chamber formed by a plurality of side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall having a gas inlet and outlet ports associated therewith, heat means associated with the bottom wall, and a humidification element removably positionable within the chamber comprising a heat conductive metallic member having an end for contact with the heat means and extending upwardly therefrom, and a layer of water absorbent material fixedly secured to at least one of the surfaces of the metallic member, the metallic member presenting a multi-faceted surface and the absorbent material paralleling the multi-faceted surface of the body portion of the metallic member thereby presenting an increase surface area for gas to pass over and around the humidification element at elevated temperatures thereby to increase the relative humidity of the gas prior to inhalation by a patient.