Patent ID: 7469719

Claim:
A limb for a breathing circuit comprising: a flexible conduit having a first end, a second end and a breathing gases pathway therebetween defined by wall, said wall comprising a very thin membrane having a thickness less than 50 microns, and said membrane is insufficiently sturdy to be self supporting, said conduit is insufficiently sturdy such that said conduit would experience substantial internal volume changes as a result of said wall deforming due to fluctuating pressure within said conduit from patient breathing; a first connector fixed to said first end of said conduit; a second connector fixed to said second end of said conduit; and an elongate reinforcing member lying freely within said conduit along a non-tortuous path from one end of said conduit to the other end of said conduit, and connected with said first connector and said second connector, such that said elongate reinforcing member reinforces said conduit against said substantial volume changes that would occur in said conduit, but for said elongate reinforcing member, and said elongate reinforcing member does not include a passageway large enough for gases delivery to a patient.