IN-LINE AIR HUMIDIFIER, A SYSTEM FOR HUMIDIFYING AIR AND METHODS RELATED THERETO

摘要

In preferred aspects the invention provides an in-line humidifier(Fig. 3), a system (Fig. 1) using such a humidifier, and methods related thereto; a method for infusing a gas into an eye during retinal detachment surgical procedure, and a method for treating a retinal tear. The method for infusing gas includes providing an in-line humidifier (Fig. 3), humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier (Fig. 3) by flowing the gas therethrough, and infusing the humidified gas into the eye. The in-line humidifier (Fig. 3) includes a housing (30a, 30b), and a humidifier section (24) disposed within the housing (30a, 30b), the humidifier section (24) including a hydroscopic material (Fig. 5) that releasably retains liquid therein. The housing (30a, 30b) includes an inlet (26a) and an outlet (26b) connection in fluid communication with the housing interior. The humidifier section (24) is disposed within the housing (30a, 30b) so the gas entering through the inlet connection (26a) flows through the humidifying section (24), where small quantities of the releasably retinal liquid is released by the hydroscopic material (Fig. 5) to the flowing gas, and so the humidified gas exits the housing via the outlet connection (26b).