Biomaterial Database

Heat and moisture exchangers. Structure and function. 1998

A R Wilkes

Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.

A bewildering array of HMEs are available, suited to many different tidal volume and other clinical requirements. Choosing among the different devices depends on many attributes. Grouping different HMEs together to describe their performance may be inappropriate. Independent tests on HMEs provide information to help when choosing among different devices, but care should be exercised to prevent inappropriate comparisons being made between results from studies using different test procedures and protocols. The use of filters in anesthesia is recommended in some countries. Some HMEs have a high moisture-conserving performance, but the use of HMEs may be inappropriate for some patient groups, and other humidifying devices may be more suitable.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011659	Pulmonary Gas Exchange	The exchange of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood that occurs across the BLOOD-AIR BARRIER.	Exchange, Pulmonary Gas,Gas Exchange, Pulmonary
D012121	Respiration, Artificial	Any method of artificial breathing that employs mechanical or non-mechanical means to force the air into and out of the lungs. Artificial respiration or ventilation is used in individuals who have stopped breathing or have RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY to increase their intake of oxygen (O2) and excretion of carbon dioxide (CO2).	Ventilation, Mechanical,Mechanical Ventilation,Artificial Respiration,Artificial Respirations,Mechanical Ventilations,Respirations, Artificial,Ventilations, Mechanical
D012122	Ventilators, Mechanical	Mechanical devices used to produce or assist pulmonary ventilation.	Mechanical Ventilator,Mechanical Ventilators,Respirators,Ventilators, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Ventilator,Pulmonary Ventilators,Ventilator, Pulmonary,Ventilators,Respirator,Ventilator,Ventilator, Mechanical
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D004869	Equipment Safety	Freedom of equipment from actual or potential hazards.	Device Safety,Hazards, Equipment,Medical Device Safety,Safety, Equipment,Device Safety, Medical,Safety, Medical Device,Equipment Hazard,Equipment Hazards,Hazard, Equipment,Safety, Device
D005374	Filtration	A process of separating particulate matter from a fluid, such as air or a liquid, by passing the fluid carrier through a medium that will not pass the particulates. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Filtrations
D006358	Hot Temperature	Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm.	Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006813	Humidity	A measure of the amount of WATER VAPOR in the air.	Humidities