Humidifier with back-flow prevention valve

• US 20070132117A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips RS North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Martin, Daniel, Duff, Winslow, Truitt, Patrick, Kepler, Jeffery, Kimmel, Steven, Pujol, J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,701,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 261/119.100
• 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 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves

Abstract

A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Claims

1. A humidifier for use with a pressure support device, comprising:

a body having an inlet adapted to be operatively coupled to an outlet of a pressure support device such that a flow of gas generated by such a pressure support device is communicated to the inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber, and the outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber; and

a valve positioned in the inlet and upstream of the fluid chamber, wherein the valve is movable between an open position in which the inlet is substantially unblocked and a closed position in which the inlet is substantially blocked.

2. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein movement of the valve between the open position and the closed position is controlled based on a pressure the flow of gas delivered to the inlet, an orientation of the humidifier, an operating parameter of the pressure support system, a level of fluid in the fluid holding chamber, or any combination thereof.

3. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve is positioned within the inlet.

4. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust vent communicating the fluid holding chamber with an ambient atmosphere, wherein the valve substantially blocks the exhaust vent responsive to the valve being in the open position, and wherein the exhaust vent is substantially unblocked responsive to the valve being in the closed position.

5. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the valve to the closed position.

6. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring, a magnetic field, a weight, a biasing member urging against the valve, or any combination thereof.

7. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve is biased to move to the closed position responsive to the flow of gas delivered to the inlet having a pressure less than a threshold pressure.

8. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve substantially blocks the inlet responsive to the valve being in the closed position.

9. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a flap, a float, a disk, a ball, a half-ball, or any combination thereof.

10. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising:

an exhaust vent communicating the fluid holding chamber with an ambient atmosphere; and

a secondary valve, wherein the secondary valve co-acts with the valve such that the exhaust vent is substantially blocked by the secondary valve responsive to the valve being in the open position and is substantially unblocked responsive to the valve being in the closed position.

11. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a float positioned within the fluid holding chamber, and wherein the float adapted to float on fluid contained within the fluid holding chamber and to substantially block the inlet responsive to a level of the fluid in the fluid holding chamber exceeding a predetermined threshold.

12. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a heating element associated with the fluid holding chamber to heat fluid contained in the fluid holding chamber.

13. A pressure support system comprising:

a pressure support device adapted to generate a flow of gas; and

a humidifier having a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber, and the outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber; and

a first valve positioned between an outlet of the pressure support device and the inlet of the humidifier, wherein the first valve is movable between an open position in which a gas flow path between the outlet of the pressure support device and the inlet of the humidifier is substantially unblocked and a closed position in which the gas flow path is substantially blocked based on a first physical orientation of the pressure support system.

14. The pressure support system of claim 13, further comprising:

a mechanism adapted to detect the first physical orientation of the pressure support system; and

a mechanical linkage between the mechanism and the first valve so that the first valve is actuated based on the mechanism.

15. The pressure support system of claim 13, further comprising:

a sensor adapted to detect the first physical orientation of the pressure support system; and

a controller adapted to deactivate the pressure support device, move the first valve to the closed position, or both, responsive to a signal from the sensor.

16. The pressure support system of claim 15, wherein the sensor is a kill switch attached to the humidifier, the pressure support device, or both to detect whether the humidifier is maintained in a substantially horizontal position.

17. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein the sensor is a tilt switch, an accelerometer, an optical sensor, a sonic sensor, a pressure sensor, a proximity switch, or any combination thereof.

18. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein the inlet of the humidifier is rigidly coupled to the outlet of the gas supply source and the first valve is disposed in the inlet of the humidifier.

19. The pressure support system of claim 13, wherein movement of the first valve between the open position and the closed position is controlled based on a pressure the flow of gas delivered to the inlet, an orientation of the humidifier, an operating parameter of the pressure support system, a level of fluid in the fluid holding chamber, or any combination thereof.

20. The pressure support system of claim 13, further comprising a second valve positioned between an outlet of the pressure support device and the inlet of the humidifier, wherein the second valve is movable between an open position in which the inlet is substantially unblocked based on a second physical orientation of the pressure support system.