Respiratory face mask and breathing circuit assembly

Abstract

A disposable breathing circuit is adapted to be connected between a disposable face mask and a vacuum source for delivering fresh gas to the face mask and for scavenging waste gas exhaled from the face mask. The breathing circuit includes a fresh gas supply limb and an exhalation limb and a scavenging limb coupled to the exhalation limb. The scavenging limb includes a one-way valve to prevent re-breathing, a flexible flow-through reservoir bag used to store exhaled gas, and an output tube adapted to be coupled between the flow-through reservoir bag and the vacuum source.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present application relates generally to devices for delivering respiratory gas or gases in medical applications, and more particularly, to a new and improved respiratory face mask and breathing circuit assembly that is especially useful in administering gases, such as anesthesia inhalation agents, or oxygen, or air, or mixtures of same, for medical purposes, and as such represents an improvement over the similar device or devices disclosed in my prior applications.[0003]2. Brief Description of the Related Art[0004]In my prior applications, I fully disclose a disposable anesthesia face mask assembly having a flexible hollow inflatable sealing cushion extending along substantially the entire peripheral edge of the mask shell or body member to prevent anesthesia gas or the like delivered through the gas portal on the mask from escaping and adversely affecting the surgical environment. The unique face mask assembly dis...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a special mask and breathing circuit that can be used with a dental nitrous gas set-up. It allows fresh gas from the dental set-up to be inhaled continuously by the patient and safely scavenges any waste gas expelled through their nose or mouth. This prevents the patient from re-breathing their own gas and helps to keep the environment clean.

Problems solved by technology

A full face-mask therefore cannot be used in dentistry, and to avoid build-up of exhaled or waste nitrous oxide, which can pose an intoxicating and prolonged-exposure hazard to the clinic staff in the room where the procedure is being conducted, a continuous-flow-fresh-air ventilation system or nitrous-scavenging system must be used.

Accordingly, unless provision is made to collect or otherwise scavenge the breath of a patient exhaled through the mouth, build up of exhaled N20 waste gas in the hospital environment using such “dental equipment” cannot reasonably be avoided.

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