Abrégé

A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gas to be purged from a healthcare facility (110) The condensation-type anesthetic reclamation method and apparatus comprise one or more of the following preferred embodiments a low-flow anesthetic gas scavenging unit, a frost fractionation process for collecting waste anesthetic gases as frost on the cooling surfaces of a cold trap/fractionator (25), a compressor with at least one compression stage, and a self-contained unit requiring minimal interfacing with the utility infrastructure and supplies of the healthcare facility (110).

Classes IPC  ?

• A62B 7/04 - Appareils respiratoires à air ou oxygène comprimé et avec valves commandées par les poumons

Abrégé

A method and system for removal of nitrous oxide and volatile halocarbon gas components from waste anesthetic gases using a low-flow scavenging or reclamation system preferably including an intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection unit fluidly coupled between each individual anesthetic machine and the waste gas evacuation manifold. Through a system including a collection chamber, a pressure detector, and a exhaust valve which is actuated based on the detected pressure in the collection chamber, the waste anesthetic gas collection unit allows flow to the waste suction manifold only in the presence of waste gas and interrupts all flow into the suction manifold when no waste gas is present.

Classes IPC  ?

• F25B 3/00 - Machines à compression rotatives à groupes incorporés, c.-à-d. avec compresseur, condenseur et évaporateur tournant comme un seul bloc
• F24F 5/00 - Systèmes ou appareils de conditionnement d'air non couverts par ou

Abrégé

A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. Prior to a condensation step, a compressor is used to increase the waste anesthetic gas pressure in order to facilitate condensation of anesthetic gas components at higher temperatures and in greater amounts than through condensation at lower pressures. Condensing the anesthetic gas components from the compressed waste anesthetic gas stream is then achieved using conventional condensation systems, which remove anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. A preferred embodiment of the invention may be used with existing high-flow scavenging or reclamation systems but is more preferably used with low-flow scavenging or reclamation systems, which employ intelligent waste anesthetic gas collection units to minimize the ingress of atmospheric gas when no waste anesthetic gas is to be purged from the healthcare facility.

Classes IPC  ?

• F25J 3/00 - Procédés ou appareils pour séparer les constituants des mélanges gazeux impliquant l'emploi d'une liquéfaction ou d'une solidification
• B01D 9/04 - Cristallisation à partir de solutions en concentrant les solutions par extraction du solvant congelé
• C02F 1/22 - Traitement de l'eau, des eaux résiduaires ou des eaux d'égout par congélation
• F24F 5/00 - Systèmes ou appareils de conditionnement d'air non couverts par ou
• A62B 19/00 - Cartouches à substances absorbantes pour appareils respiratoires
• A62B 23/02 - Filtres en vue de la protection des voies respiratoires pour appareils respiratoires

Abrégé

A method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering and separating anesthetic gas components from waste anesthetic gases to be purged from a healthcare facility. With minimal reliance on the utility infrastructure and supplies of a healthcare facility, the method and apparatus needs only electrical or mechanical power, a source of waste anesthetic gases, and an atmospheric vent in order to operate. A heat exchanger/condenser, which uses a dedicated heat transfer fluid as a refrigerant, is employed to condense anesthetic gas components from the waste anesthetic gases as either liquid condensates or solid frosts. The warmed heat transfer fluid is cooled in a separate refrigeration unit and recycled back to the heat exchanger/condenser. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a self-contained, packaged unit which can be easily accommodated in a physician's office, small animal clinic, dental office or other healthcare facility requiring effective waste anesthetic gas management.

Classes IPC  ?

• F25J 3/00 - Procédés ou appareils pour séparer les constituants des mélanges gazeux impliquant l'emploi d'une liquéfaction ou d'une solidification
• B01D 9/04 - Cristallisation à partir de solutions en concentrant les solutions par extraction du solvant congelé
• F24F 5/00 - Systèmes ou appareils de conditionnement d'air non couverts par ou