Apparatus for humidifying a respiratory gas

• US 10,052,450 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed R&D Germany GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mayer, Wolfgang, Genger, Harald, Madaus, Stefan Rolf, Klopp, Andreas, Schatzl, Stefan Thomas, Vogele, Harald Wolfgang, Lang, Bernd Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodward, Valerie L
• Application Number:
  US15/846,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20180104437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 245 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/003 Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas

Abstract

A humidifier assembly for a CPAP includes a base housing with a gas inlet configured to receive respiratory gas from the CPAP unit. The base housing includes a first connecting device located at a sidewall of the base housing and configured to directly, removably connect the base housing to the CPAP unit. The base housing also includes a second connecting device configured to be coupled to an air delivery hose. The humidifier assembly further includes a liquid storage container that is removably received in the base housing. The liquid storage container includes a liquid storage space configured to store liquid and a humidifying region configured to receive the respiratory gas from the gas feed opening and receive a partial amount of the liquid stored in the liquid storage space to enrich the respiratory gas with moisture.

Claims

1. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:

a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas;

a humidifier support housing having a refilling module receiving portion, a gas feed passage and a gas discharge passage, wherein the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage directly communicate with the receiving portion and are on opposite sides of the receiving portion;

a refilling module configured to retain a body of water and be removably received within the receiving portion of the humidifier support housing, the refilling module including a gas feed opening and a gas discharge opening, the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening being positioned to align with the flow of positive pressure gas exiting the gas feed passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion; and

a sealing device configured to partially or completely seal off the refilling module in the receiving portion, the sealing device being located above the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening,

wherein the gas feed passage is positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit,

wherein the gas discharge passage terminates at a respiration tube connecting portion that is configured to connect to a respiration tube and deliver the positive pressure gas to the respiration tube,

wherein the receiving portion has a bottom wall that comprises at least part of a heater plate and a bottom side of the refilling module comprises a metallic portion configured to contact the heater plate when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion, and

wherein the refilling module comprises a humidifying region at least partially formed by a side wall extending vertically from the bottom wall of the refilling module, the side wall including at least one of the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the refilling module comprises a direction-changing device that intervenes between the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening, the direction changing device being configured to divert the positive pressure gas downward toward the bottom wall of the refilling module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the refilling module is configured to complete an air path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas feed opening and gas discharge opening are at substantially the same height.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein refilling module is configured to be vertically lowered into the receiving portion.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion and the refilling module are configured so that the refilling module completes an airflow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the respiration tube connecting portion is fixed to a side wall of the humidifier support housing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the gas discharge passage extends through the respiration tube connecting portion.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the refilling module comprises a direction-changing device that intervenes between the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening, the direction changing device being configured to divert the positive pressure gas downward toward the bottom wall of the refilling module,

wherein the refilling module is configured to complete an air path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion,

wherein the gas feed opening and gas discharge opening are at substantially the same height,

wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions,

wherein refilling module is configured to be lowered into the receiving portion,

wherein the receiving portion and the refilling module are configured so that the refilling module completes an airflow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion,

wherein the respiration tube connecting portion is fixed to a side wall of the humidifier support housing, and

wherein a central longitudinal axis of the gas discharge passage extends through the respiration tube connecting portion.

11. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:

a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas;

a humidifier support housing having a refilling module receiving portion, a gas feed passage and a gas discharge passage, wherein the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage directly communicate with the receiving portion and are on opposite sides of the receiving portion;

a refilling module configured to contain a body of liquid and be removably received within the receiving portion of the humidifier support housing, the refilling module containing a humidifying region located in an intermediate flow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion, the humidifying region being a region in the refilling module in which the flow of positive pressure gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and receives water vapor generated from the body of liquid in use; and

a sealing device configured to partially or completely seal off the refilling module in the receiving portion, the sealing device being located above the humidifying region,

wherein the gas feed passage is positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit,

wherein the gas discharge passage terminates at a respiration tube connecting portion that is configured to connect to a respiration tube and deliver the positive pressure gas to the respiration tube,

wherein the refilling module is configured to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the gas feed passage in the same direction the flow of positive pressure gas exits the gas feed passage, and

wherein the receiving portion has a bottom wall that comprises at least part of a heater plate and a bottom side of the refilling module comprises a metallic portion configured to contact the heater plate when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the refilling module comprises a direction-changing device configured to divert the positive pressure gas downward toward the bottom side of the refilling module.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the refilling module is configured to complete an air path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein refilling module is configured to be lowered into the receiving portion.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiving portion and the refilling module are configured so that the refilling module completes an airflow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the respiration tube connecting portion is fixed to a side wall of the humidifier support housing.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the gas discharge passage extends through the respiration tube connecting portion.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the refilling module comprises a direction-changing changing device that is configured to divert the positive pressure gas downward toward the bottom side of the refilling module,

wherein the refilling module is configured to complete an air path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion,

wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions,

wherein refilling module is configured to be lowered into the receiving portion,

wherein the receiving portion and the refilling module are configured so that the refilling module completes an airflow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion,

wherein the respiration tube connecting portion is fixed to a side wall of the humidifier support housing, and

wherein a central longitudinal axis of the gas discharge passage extends through the respiration tube connecting portion.

20. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:

a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas;

a humidifier base having a receiving portion, a gas feed passage and a gas discharge passage, the receiving portion being a chamber enclosed by a plurality of side walls supported by a common bottom wall, one of the side walls having a first opening that is an outlet of the gas feed passage, another of the side walls having a second opening that faces the first opening and is an inlet of the gas discharge passage, the bottom wall including a heater plate;

a refilling module with a metallic bottom portion, the refilling module being removably inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base to complete a gas flow path from the gas feed passage to the gas discharge passage and being configured to a) hold a volume of water and b) humidify the positive pressure gas, the metallic bottom portion of the refilling module being supported by and coming into heat conducting contact with the heater plate of the receiving portion when the refilling module is inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base; and

a sealing device configured to partially or completely seal off the refilling module in the receiving portion, the sealing device being located above the first and second openings when the refilling module is inserted into the receiving portion,

wherein the refilling module is configured to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the gas feed passage in the same direction the flow of positive pressure gas exits the gas feed passage, and

wherein the refilling module is configured to discharge the flow of positive pressure gas in the same direction the positive pressure gas enters the gas discharge passage.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the refilling module comprises a direction-changing device configured to divert the positive pressure gas downward toward the bottom wall of the refilling module.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the refilling module is configured to complete an air path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein refilling module is configured to be lowered into the receiving portion.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the receiving portion and the refilling module are configured so that the refilling module completes an airflow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the refilling module comprises a direction-changing changing device configured to divert the positive pressure gas downward toward the bottom of the refilling module,

wherein the refilling module is configured to complete an air path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion,

wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions,

wherein refilling module is configured to be lowered into the receiving portion, and

wherein the receiving portion and the refilling module are configured so that the refilling module completes an airflow path between the gas feed passage and the gas discharge passage when the refilling module is engaged with the receiving portion.

27. Apparatus for delivering a flow of pressurized breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:

a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unit comprising a blower configured to generate the flow of pressurized breathable gas;

a refill module configured to hold a body of water, the refill module comprising;

a gas feed opening configured to receive the flow of pressurized breathable gas from the CPAP unit;

a gas discharge opening;

a horizontally extending bottom comprising metallic heat conducting material; and

a humidifying region in an intermediate flow path between the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening, the humidifying region being above the metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the refill module in which the flow of pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and receives water vapor generated from the body of water in use; and

a support housing integrated directly into the CPAP unit and having a receiving portion configured to removably receive the refill module, the receiving portion being a chamber with at least one side wall extending from a bottom wall, the support housing comprising;

a gas feed flow path in fluid communication with an outlet of the CPAP unit, the gas feed flow path having a first receiving portion opening that is in one of the side walls and being open to the receiving portion;

a gas discharge flow path configured to be fluidly connected to an air delivery tube, the gas discharge flow path having a second receiving portion opening that is in one of the side walls and being open to the receiving portion; and

a horizontally extending heater plate in the bottom wall of the receiving portion,

wherein the refill module is configured to be locked in place within the receiving portion of the support housing,

wherein the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path are separated from each other, and

wherein the refill module is structured so that when the refill module is received by the support housing, the gas feed opening aligns with the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge opening aligns with the gas discharge flow path,

wherein when the refill module is engaged with the receiving portion, a portion of the refill module remains outside the receiving portion,

wherein the refilling module has a top portion, a bottom portion and a seal sandwiched between the top and bottom portions,

wherein the refill module is configured to be opened by moving the top portion relative to the bottom portion,

wherein the receiving portion is open at one end,

wherein the refill module comprises a direction-changing device configured to divert the flow of pressurized breathable gas downward toward the bottom wall of the refill module, and

wherein a respiration tube connecting portion is fixed to an external side wall of the support housing.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the refill module is configured to be opened by rotating the top portion relative to the bottom portion.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the heater plate is positioned to intimately contact the metallic heat conducting material of the refill module when the refill module is secured to the support housing.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the support housing and the refill module are structured so that when at least a portion of the refill module is engaged with the support housing, the gas feed opening self positions to face the first receiving portion opening without entering the first receiving portion opening and the gas discharge opening self positions to face the second receiving portion opening without entering the second receiving portion opening.