Patent ID: 6189870
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: A61M,B01F

Abstract:
An improved medical oxygen humidifier comprising:a generally cylindrical humidifying chamber forming an internal volume for holding humidifying fluid, said chamber further having a threaded upper opening;a lid, said lid having a top, and said lid being attachable to said threaded upper opening;an inlet supply port in fluid communication with said internal volume for attachment to an oxygen supply hose;a first outlet discharge port in fluid communication with said internal volume for discharging humidified oxygen;a second outlet discharge port in direct fluid communication with said inlet supply port for discharge of pure oxygen;a rotatable slide switch on said top of said lid in communication with said inlet supply port, said first outlet discharge port, and said second outlet discharge port, said slide switch for switching the flow of oxygen, either bypassing said humidifying chamber directly and directing pure oxygen to said second outlet discharge port, or alternately, routing the oxygen through said humidifying chamber and to said first outlet discharge port;a slide switch locking means, said slide switch locking means designed to secure said slide switch in one of two positions, corresponding to passage of non-humidified oxygen or humidified oxygen to a patient;slide switch indicia, said slide switch indicia designed to instruct an operator how to turn said slide switch to effectuate the discharge of either pure oxygen or humidified oxygen; andan oxygen switching assembly, said oxygen switching assembly designed to facilitate movement of pure oxygen from said inlet supply port to said second outlet discharge port and the movement of pure oxygen from said inlet supply port to the humidifying fluid in said chamber and then to said first outlet discharge port.