Control of humidifier chamber temperature for accurate humidity control
First Claim
1. A breathing assistance system for delivering a flow of gases to a patient for therapeutic purposes, comprising:
- a humidifier unit comprising an inlet port and an exit port, said humidifier unit configured to hold and heat a volume of water, said humidifier unit further configured to permit a flow of gases to enter said humidifier unit via said inlet port, pass through said humidifier unit and become heated and humidified, and exit said humidifier unit via said exit port,an ambient temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of said flow of gases before said flow of gases enters said humidifier unit,a conduit configured to deliver said flow of gases from said exit port to said patient via an interface, said conduit comprising a heater wire configured to heat said flow of gases within said conduit,a patient end temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of said flow of gases close to said patient,a flow probe configured to measure a flow rate of said flow of gases through said breathing assistance system, anda controller configured to;
receive data relating to said temperature of said flow of gases measured by said patient end temperature sensor, data relating to said flow rate measured by said flow probe, and data relating to said temperature measured by said ambient temperature sensor,determine a target patient end gases temperature based at least in part on said data relating to said flow rate measured by said flow probe and said data relating to said temperature measured by said ambient temperature sensor, wherein said target patient end gases temperature varies based on a change in at least one of said flow rate measured by said flow probe or said temperature measured by said ambient temperature sensor,compare said target patient end gases temperature to said temperature of said flow of gases measured by said patient end temperature sensor and determine, based on said comparison, a control output comprising a target heater wire power, andadjust power delivered to said heater wire to substantially match said heater wire power and to cause said temperature of said flow of gases measured by said patient end temperature sensor to substantially match said target patient end gases temperature,the controller further configured to;
assess that said humidifier unit is experiencing high convective heat loss when said power delivered to said heater wire meets or exceeds a first preset threshold power level for a first preset time period, and adjust power delivered to said heater wire in response to a determination that said humidifier unit is experiencing high convective heat loss.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breathing assistance system is provided for delivering a stream flow of heated, humidified gases to a user. The system includes a humidifier unit which holds and heats a volume of water, and which in use receives a flow of gases from a gases source via an inlet port. The flow of gases passes through the humidifier and exits via an exit port. The system further includes a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the gases exiting the humidifier unit, an ambient temperature sensor which measures the temperature of gases before they enter the humidifier unit, and a flow sensor which measures the flow rate of the gases stream. The system also includes a controller which receives data from the temperature and flow sensors, and which determines a control output in response. The control output is configured to adjust the power to the humidifier unit to achieve a desired output at the humidifier unit exit port.
39 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A breathing assistance system for delivering a flow of gases to a patient for therapeutic purposes, comprising:
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a humidifier unit comprising an inlet port and an exit port, said humidifier unit configured to hold and heat a volume of water, said humidifier unit further configured to permit a flow of gases to enter said humidifier unit via said inlet port, pass through said humidifier unit and become heated and humidified, and exit said humidifier unit via said exit port, an ambient temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of said flow of gases before said flow of gases enters said humidifier unit, a conduit configured to deliver said flow of gases from said exit port to said patient via an interface, said conduit comprising a heater wire configured to heat said flow of gases within said conduit, a patient end temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of said flow of gases close to said patient, a flow probe configured to measure a flow rate of said flow of gases through said breathing assistance system, and a controller configured to; receive data relating to said temperature of said flow of gases measured by said patient end temperature sensor, data relating to said flow rate measured by said flow probe, and data relating to said temperature measured by said ambient temperature sensor, determine a target patient end gases temperature based at least in part on said data relating to said flow rate measured by said flow probe and said data relating to said temperature measured by said ambient temperature sensor, wherein said target patient end gases temperature varies based on a change in at least one of said flow rate measured by said flow probe or said temperature measured by said ambient temperature sensor, compare said target patient end gases temperature to said temperature of said flow of gases measured by said patient end temperature sensor and determine, based on said comparison, a control output comprising a target heater wire power, and adjust power delivered to said heater wire to substantially match said heater wire power and to cause said temperature of said flow of gases measured by said patient end temperature sensor to substantially match said target patient end gases temperature, the controller further configured to;
assess that said humidifier unit is experiencing high convective heat loss when said power delivered to said heater wire meets or exceeds a first preset threshold power level for a first preset time period, and adjust power delivered to said heater wire in response to a determination that said humidifier unit is experiencing high convective heat loss. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification