Humidifier reservoir

• US 10,342,950 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bath, Andrew Roderick, Bertinetti, Mark, Formica, Justin John, Harrington, Matthew Rolf, Nasr, Saad, Ormrod, Joseph Samuel, Romagnoli, Jose Ignacio, Row, Nathan John, Stanislas, Luke Andrew, Verma, Hargopal
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/777,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20160022954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 122233, 220 412, 220 413, 220 426, 220 427, 220 232, 220 234
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0826 Detecting or evaluating apnoea events A61B5/4818 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0072 Tidal volume piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0075 Bellows-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1085 after being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 : pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 : electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0007 : introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 : Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0216 : Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking
• 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 2205/15 : Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/21 : insensitive to tilting or inclination, e.g. spill-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 : Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 : Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3365 : Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 : Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 : local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 : by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 : Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/586 : Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 : Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/14 : Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/045 : for filling, e.g. for filling reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 : Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 : Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 : Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2006/008 : Air-humidifier with water reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 : Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A reservoir configured to retain a volume of liquid for use in an apparatus for humidifying a flow of pressurized air comprises a base portion and a lid portion. The reservoir may be configured to improve its level of thermal contact to the heater plate using the flow of pressurized air. The reservoir may be configured to improve thermal contact between the reservoir and the heater plate by pre-compression upon engagement of the reservoir with the humidifier. The reservoir may comprise a removable intermediate portion, which may include the inlet tube and/or the outlet tube, for improved access for cleaning. The reservoir may also be configured to prevent overfilling. Overfill prevention features in the reservoir may include defined flow egress paths and/or formation of air locks.

Claims

1. A water reservoir for an apparatus for humidifying a flow of air for delivery to an entrance of the airways of a patient for respiratory therapy, comprising:

a base portion configured to hold a predetermined maximum volume of water,

the base portion including an overfill protection element configured and arranged to prevent filling the base portion above the maximum volume of water;

a lid portion movably connected to the base portion to allow the water reservoir to be convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid portion comprising an inlet and an outlet;

a compliant portion configured to sealingly engage the lid portion and the base portion when the water reservoir is in the closed configuration;

wherein the overfill protection element comprises at least one orifice or a sloped profile, the sloped profile being in a side profile of the base portion, and the at least one orifice or the sloped profile defines an egress path of water when the maximum volume of water is exceeded;

wherein, in the closed configuration of the water reservoir, the compliant portion is configured to block or seal the at least one orifice or sloped profile to prevent fluid communication into and out of the water reservoir through the at least one orifice or sloped profile; and

wherein, in the open configuration of the water reservoir, the at least one orifice or sloped profile is configured so that excess water above the maximum volume of water will spill out via the at least one orifice or sloped profile when the maximum volume of water is exceeded and the base portion is in its normal, working orientation.

2. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element is configured and arranged to prevent filling the base portion above the maximum volume of water when the water reservoir is in the closed configuration.

3. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element comprises the at least one orifice, and wherein the at least one orifice is provided in one or more positions along a perimeter of the base portion.

4. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element comprises the at least one orifice, and wherein the at least one orifice is provided through an upper lip or flange provided along a perimeter of the base portion.

5. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element comprises the at least one orifice, and wherein the at least one orifice includes one or more apertures, holes, slits, or slots that allows fluid communication into and out of the water reservoir.

6. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element comprises the at least one orifice, and wherein the compliant portion sealingly engages the base portion on an outside of the at least one orifice.

7. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element comprises the sloped profile, and wherein the sloped profile extends in one or more directions.

8. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overfill protection element comprises the sloped profile, and wherein the compliant portion sealing engages the base portion on an outer edge of the sloped profile.

9. The water reservoir as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an inlet tube and an outlet tube in communication with the base portion, the inlet tube and the outlet tube being arranged such that, when the maximum volume of water is reached, air in the water reservoir is prevented from escaping through the inlet tube and the outlet tube thereby preventing further ingress of water into the base portion.

10. An apparatus for humidifying a flow of air, comprising:

a water reservoir dock; and

the water reservoir according to claim 1 provided to the water reservoir dock.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the water reservoir dock forms a cavity to receive the water reservoir.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the water reservoir dock includes a heater plate adapted to thermally engage a conductive portion provided to the water reservoir.

13. A method of preventing overfilling in a humidifier reservoir for an apparatus for humidifying a flow of air for delivery to an entrance of the airways of a patient for respiratory therapy, the method comprising:

(i) providing a humidifier reservoir comprising a base portion configured to hold a predetermined maximum volume of water, a lid portion movably connected to the base portion to allow the humidifier reservoir to be convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the lid portion comprising an inlet and an outlet, and a compliant portion configured to sealingly engage the lid portion and the base portion when the humidifier reservoir is in the closed configuration;

(ii) incorporating an overfill protection element in a base portion of the humidifier reservoir, the overfill protection element comprising at least one orifice or a sloped profile, the sloped profile being in a side profile of the base portion, and the at least one orifice or the sloped profile defining an egress path of water when the maximum volume of water is exceeded;

(iii) configuring the overfill protection element so that, in the open configuration of the humidifier reservoir, excess water above a predetermined maximum volume of water will spill out via the at least one orifice or sloped profile when the maximum volume of water is exceeded and the base portion is in its normal, working orientation; and

(iv) configuring the compliant portion to block or seal the at least one orifice or sloped profile in the closed configuration of the humidifier reservoir to prevent fluid communication into and out of the humidifier reservoir through the at least one orifice or sloped profile.