Importance

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Abstract

A hydrophobic electrostatic breathing filter is fabricated by applying a thin layer of adhesive to the pinch ring of a patient side filter housing portion. A hydrophobic membrane is positioned over the adhesively coated pinch ring to effect a hermetic seal between the pinch ring and membrane using the adhesive interface. Electrostatic filter media and scrim are positioned adjacent the pinch ring of a machine side filter housing portion, and the patient and machine side portions of the housing are then welded together to hold the electrostatic filter media/scrim in place adjacent the hermetically sealed hydrophobic membrane by a mechanical clamping force exerted by the pinch rings. The resultant filter includes a hydrophobic membrane which is hermetically sealed across the patient side of the filter housing, and an electrostatic filter media/scrim element which is independent of the hydrophobic membrane and which is mechanically held in place adjacent the hydrophobic membrane.

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First Claim