Hyperthermic humidification system

• US 10,092,722 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Original Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Inventors: Niland, William F., Bamford, Owen S., Cortez, Jr., Felino V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODWARD, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/547,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20150144136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/006 operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/122 with dilution
• 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 16/203 Proportional
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 : Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 : Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 : interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 : with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 : Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 : used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 : Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 : Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 : Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3673 : thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 : with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 : with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 : connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 : Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 : Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient are provided. The apparatus includes a humidification system configured to deliver humidified breathing gas to a patient. The humidification system includes a vapor transfer unit and a base unit. The vapor transfer unit includes a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, and a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage. The base unit includes a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit. The liquid passage is not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow therebetween when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit.

Claims

1. A vapor transfer unit for delivering breathing gas, the vapor transfer unit comprising:

a releasable interface configured to couple the vapor transfer unit to a base unit;

a liquid inlet configured to receive liquid from a liquid supply line;

a gas inlet configured to receive gas from a gas outlet on the base unit;

a vapor transfer device releasably mounted to the vapor transfer unit, wherein the vapor transfer device is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the gas inlet when mounted to the vapor transfer unit and combines liquid and gas to supply humidified gas;

a breathing gas outlet in fluid communication with the vapor transfer device; and

a heat conduction plate configured to receive heat transferred from a second heater on the base unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit.

2. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, comprising a main body that interfaces with the vapor transfer device when the vapor transfer device is mounted to the vapor transfer unit.

3. The vapor transfer unit of claim 2, further comprising a tubular support structure extending from a side of the main body, wherein the tubular support structure mates with the vapor transfer device when the vapor transfer device is mounted to the vapor transfer unit.

4. The vapor transfer unit of claim 3, wherein the tubular support structure defines a first passage that connects with a second passage of the vapor transfer device when the vapor transfer device is mounted to the vapor transfer unit.

5. The vapor transfer unit of claim 4, wherein liquid is exchanged through the first and second passages.

6. The vapor transfer unit of claim 4, wherein gas is exchanged through the first and second passages.

7. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, wherein the gas inlet of the vapor transfer unit is configured to engage the gas outlet on the base unit and form an airtight seal.

8. The vapor transfer unit of claim 7, wherein the gas inlet comprises a gas receiving portion that is configured to engage a recessed portion of the base unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit.

9. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the vapor transfer device.

10. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, further comprising an exterior wall configured to engage a guide on the base unit to align the vapor transfer unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit.

11. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, further comprising a sight glass that provides an indication of liquid level in the vapor transfer unit.

12. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, further comprising a plastic ball and a reflector that is visible through the sight glass, wherein in operation light reflected from the reflector indicates the level of liquid in the vapor transfer unit.

13. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, further comprising a temperature reflector that provides an indication of liquid temperature in the vapor transfer unit.

14. The vapor transfer unit of claim 13, wherein the temperature reflector provides an indication of a temperature of liquid that exits the vapor transfer unit at an outlet in fluid communication with a delivery tube.

15. The vapor transfer unit of claim 13, wherein the temperature reflector provides an indication of a temperature of liquid that enters the vapor transfer unit at an inlet in fluid communication with a delivery tube.

16. The vapor transfer unit of claim 1, further comprising a first pump portion configured to be operationally coupled to a second pump portion in the base unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit.

17. A method of delivering breathing gas, the method comprising:

mounting a vapor transfer device to a vapor transfer unit such that liquid and gas communication is provided between the vapor transfer device and the vapor transfer unit;

mounting the vapor transfer unit to a base unit such that breathing gas supplied to the base unit flows into the vapor transfer unit and through the vapor transfer device;

blending breathing gas at a gas blending device to form a blended gas;

activating a heating device that heats liquid in a liquid passage of the vapor transfer unit;

passing the heated liquid and blended gas through the vapor transfer device, thereby forming heated and humidified breathing gas; and

actuating an electronic reader that detects the presence of the vapor transfer device and identifies a flow parameter of the vapor transfer device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing fluid to the vapor transfer device in accordance with the identified flow parameter.