Patent ID: 8905082

Claim:
A limb for a breathing circuit comprising: a very thin walled flexible conduit having a first end and a second end and a breathing gases pathway therebetween, wherein the very thin walled flexible conduit is insufficiently sturdy to be self-supporting, a first connector fixed to said first end of said very thin walled flexible conduit, a second connector fixed to said second end of said very thin walled flexible conduit, a first securing collar fixed to said first connector and a second securing collar fixed to said second connector, an elongate reinforcing member lying in direct fluid communication with and freely within said very thin walled flexible conduit along a non-tortuous path from said first end of said very thin walled flexible conduit to said second end of said very thin walled flexible conduit, wherein a first portion of said elongate reinforcing member extends past said first end of said very thin walled flexible conduit and is positioned between a wall of said very thin walled flexible conduit and said first securing collar, and wherein a second portion of said elongate reinforcing member extends past said second end of said very thin walled flexible conduit, and is positioned between a wall of said very thin walled flexible conduit and said second securing collar, said elongate reinforcing member being connected with said first connector and said second connector such that said elongate reinforcing member substantially increases an axial stiffness of said very thin walled flexible conduit, and said elongate reinforcing member not including a passageway large enough for gases delivery to a patient.