Importance

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Abstract

A system 10 is provided for automatically evacuating a water trap 50 of a ventilator 20. The ventilator 20 delivers air through a humidifying water heater 30 and along an air supply line 40 to a patient requiring breathing assistance. A dip 44 in the air supply line 40 is configured with a water trap 50 for collecting condensate within the air supply line 40. A suction line 60 is located within the water trap 50 at a tip 62 and has an end 68 outside of the water trap 50 which is coupled to a canister 70. The canister 70 is also coupled to a vacuum source 100 through a valve 80. When the valve 80 is in a first open position, the vacuum source 100 provides suction along the suction line 60 so that liquids collecting within the water trap 50 are evacuated out of the water trap 50 and delivered into the canister 70. A controller 90 controls the frequency with which the valve 80 is opened and a duration for which the valve 80 remains in the opened position. In one form of the invention, a water level probe 114 can also be provided within the water trap 50 which communicates to the controller 90 information relating to a level of fluid contained within the water trap 50. Manually adjustable input devices can also be provided on the controller 90 for adjusting the frequency and duration with which the valve 80 remains in the open position. The water trap 50 is thus periodically automatically evacuated.

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First Claim