Fluid trap for a respiratory therapy system

Abstract

Disclosed is a fluid trap for use with, or comprising part of, a respiratory therapy system, and in particular comprising part of, or configured to be connected to, a breathing limb, such as an expiratory limb, of a respiratory therapy system. The fluid trap comprises a container configured to contain fluid received from an inlet; a closure, the closure and container being configured to be removeably mounted together to close the container; and a valve configured to be removeably mounted on at least one of the container and the closure, and configured to be in a closed condition which prevents fluid from flowing through the inlet when the closure is not mounted on the container, the valve being further configured to be in an open position which allows fluid from the inlet into the container when the closure is mounted on the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid trap for a breathing limb of a respiratory therapy system, the fluid trap comprising:
 a closure comprising at least one inlet, the at least one inlet configured to connect to the breathing limb such that the at least one inlet receives fluid from the breathing limb;   a container configured to be removeably mounted to the closure, the container configured to contain fluid received from the inlet; and   a resiliently deformable valve comprising a lower portion and a central portion, the valve configured to be positioned between, and engage with both the closure and the container, the valve having an open configuration when the closure is mounted on the container and a closed configuration when the closure is not mounted on the container, wherein in the open configuration the container causes the lower portion to inwardly deflect such that fluid from the at least one inlet can flow through the valve and into the container, wherein in the closed configuration the valve prevents fluid from flowing through the valve.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid trap of  claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises a valve stem extending from the central portion. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid trap of  claim 2 , wherein the valve further comprises a plurality of spokes extending radially from the valve stem and a plurality of cut-outs, each cut-out of the plurality of cut-outs being defined between each pair of adjacent spokes, the plurality of cut-outs allowing fluid from the at least one inlet to flow through the valve and into the container in the open configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid trap of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of spokes at least partially enables the deflection of the lower portion of the valve in the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid trap of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of spokes comprises between three and eight spokes. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid trap of  claim 1 , wherein the closure, the container and the valve are configured such that the container and the closure cannot be mounted together unless the valve is present. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid trap of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one inlet includes a valve seat surrounding an aperture and the valve stem includes a valve seal, the valve stem extending through the aperture when the fluid trap is assembled, wherein the valve seal seals against the valve seat in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid trap of  claim 7 , wherein the valve seal is deformed to pass through the aperture on assembly of the fluid trap. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid trap of  claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises, in transverse cross section, at least one lower projection which engages the container, at least one upper projection that engages the closure, wherein relative axial movement between the closure and container causing relative movement between the at least one upper projection and the at least one lower projection which moves the valve between the open configuration and the closed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid trap of  claim 9 , wherein the valve comprises a substantially ‘W’ shaped transverse cross section having, in transverse cross section, a pair of upper projections and a pair of lower projections. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid trap for a breathing limb of a respiratory therapy system, the fluid trap comprising:
 a closure comprising at least one inlet, the at least one inlet configured to connect to the breathing limb such that the at least one inlet receives fluid from the breathing limb;   a container configured to be removeably mounted to the closure, the container configured to contain fluid received from the inlet; and   a resiliently deformable valve comprising a lower portion and a central portion, the valve configured to be positioned between, and engage with both the closure and the container, the valve having an open configuration when the closure is mounted on the container and a closed configuration when the closure is not mounted on the container, wherein in the open configuration inward deflection of the lower portion causes an upward deflection of the central portion such that fluid from the at least one inlet can flow through the valve and into the container, wherein in the closed configuration the valve prevents fluid from flowing through the valve.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid trap of  claim 11 , wherein the valve further comprises a valve stem extending from the central portion. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid trap of  claim 12 , wherein the valve further comprises a plurality of spokes extending radially from the valve stem and a plurality of cut-outs, each cut-out of the plurality of cut-outs being defined between each pair of adjacent spokes, the plurality of cut-outs allowing fluid from the at least one inlet to flow through the valve and into the container in the open configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid trap of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of spokes at least partially enables the deflection of the lower portion of the valve in the open configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid trap of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of spokes comprises between three and eight spokes. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid trap of  claim 11 , wherein the closure, the container and the valve are configured such that the container and the closure cannot be mounted together unless the valve is present. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid trap of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one inlet includes a valve seat surrounding an aperture and the valve stem includes a valve seal, the valve stem extending through the aperture when the fluid trap is assembled, wherein the valve seal seals against the valve seat in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid trap of  claim 17 , wherein the valve seal is deformed to pass through the aperture on assembly of the fluid trap. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid trap of  claim 11 , wherein the valve comprises, in transverse cross section, at least one lower projection which engages the container, at least one upper projection that engages the closure, wherein relative axial movement between the closure and container causing relative movement between the at least one upper projection and the at least one lower projection which moves the valve between the open configuration and the closed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid trap of  claim 19 , wherein the valve comprises a substantially ‘W’ shaped transverse cross section having, in transverse cross section, a pair of upper projections and a pair of lower projections.