Descriptions for terms used within the filtration and humidification landing page.
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| Absolute Humidity (AH) | The mass of water vapour present in a given volume of air, typically expressed in grams per cubic metre (g/m³). |
| Alveoli | Microscopic air sacs in the lungs that provide a large surface area for gas exchange with the blood. |
| Artificial airway | A medical device inserted into the upper or lower respiratory tract to maintain airway patency, facilitate ventilation, and/or allow suctioning of secretions. |
| Atelectasis | Partial or complete collapse of alveoli resulting in reduced or absent gas exchange in part of the lung. |
| Bacteria | Single-celled microorganisms that lack a true nucleus. They can live independently or reproduce on their own, and while many bacteria are harmless or beneficial, some can cause disease. |
| Barotrauma | Physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between a gas-filled space inside the body (like the ear, lungs, or sinuses) and the surrounding air or water. |
| Capillaries | Fine branching blood vessels that form a network between the arterioles and venules. |
| Cardiac output | The total volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, calculated by multiplying heart rate by stroke volume. |
| Carina | A cartilage situated at the point where the trachea divides into the two bronchi. |
| Cilium/Cilia | Short, microscopic hair-like vibrating structure found in large numbers on the surface of cells in the upper airways. |
| Electrostatic media | Web of polypropylene fibers with an electrostatic charge. These positive and negative charges enhance the filter's ability to trap microbial contaminants whilst maintaining a relatively low resistance to flow. |
| Efficiency | The quantitative measure of a filter's ability to remove contaminants from a fluid stream (liquid or gas) typically expressed as a percentage of contaminants removed. |
| Hepatitis C | A viral infection caused by the HCV virus that triggers inflammation of the liver, leading to potential long-term damage like cirrhosis or liver cancer. |
| HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) | A virus that attacks the body’s immune system reducing the body's ability to fight infections, potentially leading to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). |
| Humidification | The process of adding water vapor (and often heat) to inspired gases to maintain the required moisture levels in the respiratory tract. |
| Hydrophobic | A natural resistance to water/fluid. |
| Intrathoracic | Located, occurring, or functioning within the thoracic cavity (the chest). |
| Mechanical dead space | The volume of an artificial breathing system that contains air that has been previously exhaled and does not participate in gas exchange. |
| Microbial | Anything relating to, caused by or consisting of microorganisms. Infections, agents, or ecosystems that can either cause disease or play essential roles in health, such as digestion. |
| Mucus membranes | Protective linings covering body cavities and canals that connect to the outside environment, such as the respiratory tracts. |
| Nosocomial | An infection acquired by a patient during the process of care in a hospital or healthcare facility. |
| PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure) | Maintenance of pressure in the airways above atmospheric level at the end of exhalation. |
| Pharynx | Muscle-lined tube connecting the nasal cavity and mouth to the larynx and esophagus that transports air. |
| Pulmonary oedema | Excess fluid accumulation in the lung tissue and air sacs (alveoli), resulting in impaired gas exchange and severe respiratory distress. |
| Relative Humidity (RH) | The amount of water vapor present in the air expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount needed to achieve saturation at the same temperature. |
| Resistance | The frictional opposition encountered by gas during inhalation and exhalation. |
| Tidal volume | The volume of air that is inhaled or exhaled during a single, normal, resting respiratory cycle. |
| Tracheostomy | The result of a tracheotomy, a surgical procedure creating an opening (stoma) in the anterior neck into the trachea (windpipe) to establish a direct, stable airway. |
| Viruses | A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. |
| Work of Breathing (WOB) | The energy and muscular effort required to move gas in and out of the lungs. This can be increased by obstructive diseases such as asthma and COPD. |