Patent ID: 7634998

Claim:
An HME shuttle comprising: a housing unit having an inspiratory gas flow opening, an expiratory gas flow opening, an endotracheal tube opening, and a housing unit cavity; a filter unit for fitting within said housing unit cavity and sealing engaging within an opening of said housing unit cavity, wherein said filter unit is movably secured to said housing unit for moving between a first position and a second position, and said filter unit includes an open space for receiving an HME filter; wherein said filter unit when in said first position sealing engages with said opening of said housing unit cavity and is disposed for passing air flow through said HME filter in passing between said endotracheal tube opening and respective ones of said inspiratory gas flow opening and said expiratory gas flow opening; and wherein said filter unit when in said second position sealing engages with said opening of said housing unit cavity and is disposed for passing air flow aside of said HME filter in passing between said endotracheal tube opening and respective ones of said inspiratory gas flow opening and said expiratory gas flow opening, and an opening in said filter unit is disposed for removing said HME filter.