Description:-Please see the attached .pdf file- , Claims:We claim:

1. A fluid trap for a breathing limb of a respiratory therapy system, comprising:
a. at least one inlet configured to be connected to the breathing limb to receive fluid from the breathing limb;
b. a container configured to contain fluid received from the inlet;
c. a closure, the closure and container being configured to be removeably mounted together to close the container; and
d. 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
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, and
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 and a central valve stem.

2. A fluid trap for a breathing limb of a respiratory therapy system, comprising:
a. at least one inlet configured to be connected to the breathing limb to receive fluid from the breathing limb;
b. a container configured to contain fluid received from the inlet;
c. a closure, the closure and container being configured to be removeably mounted together to close the container; and
d. 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
wherein the valve must be present for the closure to be mounted onto the container.

3. The fluid trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve is formed from a resiliently deformable material.

4. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 2 wherein resilient deformation of the valve moves the valve from the closed condition to the open condition, when the container and closure are mounted together.

5. The fluid trap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve is configured to be mounted on one of the container and the closure so as to be located between the closure and the container when the closure and the container are mounted together.

6. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 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, relative axial movement between the closure and container causing relative movement between the upper and lower projection which moves the valve between the open and closed conditions.

7. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve comprises one or more cut-outs or recesses configured to reduce the weight and/or to improve the flexibility of the valve.

8. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve is configured to provide at least:
a first function of providing a valve that opens or closes the inlet; and
a second function of providing a fluid seal between the container and the closure.

9. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 8 wherein the valve comprises a biasing means or spring to bias the valve to the open or closed condition.

10. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the container and the closure are configured to be mounted together using a push-rotate fit in which the closure and the container are pushed together in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the container/closure, and simultaneously rotated relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the container/closure.

11. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the container and the closure comprise a guiding formation configured to guide the other of the container and the closure as the container and closure are pushed and rotated together.

12. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of the container and closure comprises one or more flanges that protrude outwardly from the container or closure, the or each flange being configured to engage with the guiding formation and move along the guiding formation as the container and closure are urged together into a closed position.

13. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 12 wherein a plurality of flanges is provided.

14. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein the or each flange is disposed around the periphery of the container or closure.

15. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 14 wherein the or each flange extends generally radially outwardly from the outer periphery or circumference of the container of closure.

16. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 13 wherein a plurality of flanges are provided on the container periphery and a plurality of guiding formations are provided on the closure.

17. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16 wherein the or each guiding formation comprises an end stop configured to prevent or resist further movement of the container relative to the closure, when the closure is fully mounted on the container.

18. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the circumferential length of the or each flange is between half the distance between two guiding formations and a length equivalent to the distance between two adjacent flanges.

19. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the closure comprises the guiding formation.

20. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a security formation configured to provide at least one of an audible and tactile confirmation when the container and the closure are fully mounted together.

21. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one of the container and closure comprises a peripheral lip configured to be positioned adjacent a longitudinally extending peripheral skirt provided on the other of the container and the closure, the lip comprising at least one radially directed flange portion configured to be received in a corresponding recessed portion of the skirt, relative rotation between the container and the closure causing the flange portion to overlap with a non-recessed portion of the skirt, the overlap resisting removal of the closure from the container in a longitudinal direction.

22. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 21, wherein the peripheral lip comprises an overmoulded seal.

23. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the container comprises an upwardly projecting stem or pusher comprising a tip configured to engage the underside of the valve to push the valve stem into the closure as the container and closure are assembled together.

24. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the container comprises at least one drain channel extending along the exterior of the container from the container base.

25. The fluid trap as claimed in claim 6 wherein the engagement forces the upper and lower parts of the valve towards or away from one another which deforms the lower part of the valve, forcing a raised centre portion of the valve towards or away from the inlet so as to open or close the valve.

26. The fluid trap as claimed in any one of the preceding wherein the container comprises a mouth portion (15), and the internal walls of the mouth portion (15) configured to receive the valve (7) are outwardly flared such that a base (29) of the valve (7) is squeezed inwardly as the valve (7) and the mouth portion (15) are progressively engaged.

27. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the container (3), the closure (5) and the valve (7) are further configured such that when the closure (5) is not fully mounted on the container (3), the valve (7) is closed such that it does seal with a valve seat (24) provided in the lower end of the inlet (2) and when the closure (5) is fully mounted on the container (3), the valve (7) is open such that it does not seal with the valve seat (24).

28. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the resiliently deformable material of the valve (7) deforms and changes shape as the closure (5) and container (3) are moved together towards a fully mounted condition.

29. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 6 wherein the engaging parts of the three primary components of the container (3), the closure (5) and the valve (7) are such an assembly or reassembly of the fluid trap (1) is not possible in an incomplete state – that is, the container (3), the closure (5) and the valve (7) must all be present or (re)assembly is not possible.

30. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 10 wherein the valve (7) forms an intermediate component located between, and engages both of, the container (3) and the closure (5).

31. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 11 wherein the guiding formation (51) comprises a ramp portion (55).

32. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 31 wherein at least one of the container (3) and closure (5) comprises one or more flanges (17) that protrude outwardly from the container (3) or closure (5) , the or each flange (17) being configured to engage with the ramp portion (55) and move along the ramp portion (55) as the container (3) and closure (5) are urged together into a closed position.

33. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a base (11) of the container (3) is provided with a plurality of raised and recessed regions (73, 75).

34. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 24 wherein the external drain channels (95) extend from the base (11) of the container (3, 93) and along the sides of the container (3, 93).

35. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 7 wherein the cut outs and recesses (10) can be triangular or trapezoidal or rectangular in shape.

36. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve (7) comprises a sealing formation which sealingly engages with the closure and/or container (5, 3).

37. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in claim 36 wherein the sealing formation comprises at least one o-ring or half o-ring formation (65) configured to sealingly engage the container (3) and/or the closure (5).

38. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the container (3) and/or the closure (5) comprises a sealing formation configured to sealingly engage with the valve (7).

39. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve (7) provides a friction fit to assist in engaging the closure to the container (3).

40. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims configured for use with a breathing limb comprising an expiratory limb.

41. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims configured to be positioned part way along the length of a breathing limb.

42. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid trap (1) is configured to be reprocessable.

43. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid trap (1) is configured to be suitable for multiple patient use.

44. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 43, wherein the fluid trap (1) is configured to be disposable.

45. The fluid trap (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the valve (7), container (3) and closure (5) are totally separable such that all the parts that come into contact with fluids can be reprocessed.

Dated this the 3rd day of October 2022.

(SAKSHI MAHAJAN)
(IN/PA-2351)
Of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the Applicants