Patent ID: 8561606

Claim:
A heat and moisture exchange unit for use with a patient breathing circuit, the unit comprising: a housing forming a patient-side port, a ventilator-side port, and a containment region between the patient-side port and the ventilator-side port; an MDI port assembly including a frame projecting into the containment region and configured to receive a portion of a metered dose dispenser, wherein the frame terminates at an outlet end forming a flow passage; and a heat and moisturizing medium defining opposing, first and second major exterior surfaces, wherein the medium is maintained within the containment region to locate the first major surface most proximate the outlet end of the MDI port assembly; wherein the unit is characterized by the absence of a body between the outlet end and the first major surface, and the unit is configured to establish a flow path from the ventilator-side port and constantly toward the patient-side port that enters the medium at the second major surface, exits the medium at the first major surface, passes along the outlet end of the MDI port assembly, and passes into the patient-side port.