Thermovent Heat & Moisture Exchangers

When a patient breathes through a tracheostomy or endotracheal tube, the upper airway that normally warms, humidifies, and filters inhaled air is bypassed entirely. Thermovent heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) restore that function passively — capturing heat and moisture from each exhaled breath and returning it on the next inhalation. This "artificial nose" helps keep airway secretions loose, protects the delicate mucosal lining, and reduces the drying and crusting that lead to mucus plugging and complications for ventilated and tracheostomized patients.

This collection features Thermovent HMEs designed for reliable, no-power humidification in clinical and home settings. The Sunset Healthcare Thermovent T (RES027) is a straight, lightweight polypropylene exchanger for adult patients, weighing just 5 grams with a 250 to 1,000 mL tidal volume range — supplied without an integrated filter or oxygen port for uncomplicated inline use. The Thermovent Heat & Moisture Exchanger (570016) delivers a moisture output of 25 mg H₂O, a practical benchmark clinicians use when matching an HME to a patient's ventilation needs.

Choosing the right unit comes down to a few real questions: Does the patient need supplemental oxygen delivered through a port? Is filtration required to protect against airborne contaminants? And what tidal volume and moisture output suit the ventilation setup? For patients requiring an oxygen port option, our Thermovent T2 collection offers a ported variant of the same trusted design.

These devices are single-patient, non-sterile products intended for routine replacement per your facility's protocol. Their low weight and minimal dead space make them well suited for spontaneously breathing tracheostomy patients as well as those on mechanical ventilation, keeping the breathing circuit light while maintaining effective humidification throughout the day.