Patent ID: 7624731

Claim:
An HME/MDI apparatus for being placed in a circuit of a mechanical ventilator, comprising: a) a housing that comprises: i) an inlet having laterally opposing sections, with the inlet being adapted for engagement with the circuit of the mechanical ventilator; ii) an outlet having laterally opposing sections, with the outlet being adapted for engagement with the circuit of the mechanical ventilator, with the outlet being in fluid communication with the inlet; iii) a sidewall having laterally opposing sidewall portions, with a length between the laterally opposing sidewall portions being greater than a length between the laterally opposing sections of the inlet and being greater than a length between the laterally opposing sections of the outlet; iv) a first interior section between the inlet and outlet and being in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, with the first interior section further being between said laterally opposing sidewall portions; and v) a second interior section between the inlet and outlet and being in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, with the second interior section further being between said laterally opposing sidewall portions; b) an HME medium in the first interior section in the housing; c) an MDI port on the housing and being adapted for receiving an MDI, with the MDI port being in fluid communication with the second interior section of the housing such that medication from the MDI can be conveyed into the second interior section of the housing; and d) wherein the housing further comprises an arm and a valve, with the valve being operable to minimize fluid flow into at least one of the first and second interior sections, with said fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet, with the arm being engaged to the valve such that movement of the arm moves the valve, with the arm having an arm portion confronting the MDI port, with said arm portion having a first position that renders the MDI port inoperable, with said arm portion having a second position that permits operation of the MDI port, with said first and second positions defining a position of said valve.