Patent ID: 7069928

Claim:
A patient heat-moisture exchanger apparatus adapted for use with an aerosol generator, the heat exchanger apparatus comprising: a first housing having a first conduit integral with an exterior side, the first conduit having a passageway leading inwardly through the exterior side of the first housing; a second housing having a second conduit integral with an exterior side, the second conduit having a passageway leading outwardly through the exterior side of the second housing; a cylindrical rotatable middle housing interposed between the first and second housing, the middle housing having a channel on opposed sides engageable with an annular interior rim on the first and second housing respectively; a heat-moisture exchange material affixed within the middle housing, the heat-moisture exchange material having an opening there through off-set from a central portion of the middle housing; an elongated tube mounted within the opening in the heat-exchange material axially aligned in a first rotatable position with the passageways in the first and second conduits; and the elongated tube non-aligned with the passageways in the first and second conduit in a second rotatable position so that the flow of air and moisture must pass through the heat-moisture material to and from the patient.