Humidifier and/or flow generator for CPAP device

• US 20090194106A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, John Michael, Lithgow, Perry David, Smith, Ian Malcolm, Kao, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0075 Bellows-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0616 with face sealing means comprising a flap or membrane projecting inwards, such that sealing increases with increasing inhalation gas pressure
• 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 16/08 Bellows; Connecting tubes having means for taking samples G01N1/22; Water traps; Patient circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• 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 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/02 characterised by a particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/21 insensitive to tilting or inclination, e.g. spill-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 47/02 by passing the gas or air or vapour over or through a liquid bath

Abstract

A CPAP device includes a humidifier including humidifier tub having a heat conducting base plate; and a cradle to support the humidifier tub in an operative position. The cradle may also support a flow generator in operative relation to the humidifier tub. The cradle includes a heater plate in communication with the heat conducting base plate of the humidifier tub in use. The cradle further includes a retaining mechanism to retain the humidifier tub in the cradle, the retaining mechanism being structured to force the base plate into engagement with the heater plate. The humidifier and/or flow generator may include various features to manage inadvertent back-spill of water from the humidifier to the flow generator.

Claims

1. A CPAP device comprising:

a humidifier tub including a heat conducting base plate; and

a cradle to support the humidifier tub in an operative position, the cradle including a heater plate in communication with the heat conducting base plate of the humidifier tub in use, the cradle further including a retaining mechanism to retain the humidifier tub in the cradle, the retaining mechanism structured to force the base plate into engagement with the heater plate.

2. The CPAP device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism includes at least one spring that forces the base plate into engagement with the heater plate.

3. The CPAP device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a securing catch that lifts up and down to enable release or insertion of the humidifier tub.

5. The CPAP device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a spring-biased clamping edge that clamps the humidifier tub to the cradle.

6. The CPAP device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a pivotable front guard and a pivotable humidifier retaining portion, the front guard being pivotable in a first direction to release the humidifier retaining portion for receiving the humidifier tub and pivotable in an opposing second direction to secure the humidifier retaining portion together with the humidifier tub in the operative position.

7. The CPAP device according to claim 1, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a front guard that enables release or insertion of the humidifier and at least two pressure pads that maintain engagement between the base plate and the heater plate.

8. The CPAP device according to claim 1, further comprising a flow generator provided to the cradle and in communication with the humidifier tub.

9. The CPAP device according to claim 8, wherein the flow generator includes a motor having a motor outlet, a muffler chamber having an inlet coupled to the motor outlet and an muffler outlet in communication with a flow generator outlet.

10. The CPAP device according to claim 9, wherein an axis of the motor outlet is offset from an axis of the muffler outlet and/or the flow generator outlet.

11. The CPAP device according to claim 9, wherein the muffler chamber is structured to store a predetermined amount of water that may be inadvertently introduced into the flow generator outlet from the humidifier.

12. The CPAP device according to claim 9, wherein said muffler chamber includes an upper part conduit portion and a lower storage portion integrally formed with the part conduit portion.

13. The CPAP device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined amount of water is about 100 ml.

4. The CPAP device according to clam 1, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a docking portion that is slidable between a humidifier locking position and a humidifier unlocking position.

14. A CPAP device including:

a cradle having a fixed heating plate; and

a humidifier tub having a heat conducting base coupled to the tub, the base being is forcibly coupled with the fixed heating plate of the cradle upon assembly of the cradle and the humidifier tub.

15. The CPAP device according to claim 14, wherein the cradle and/or humidifier tub includes alignment structure such that the tub can only be oriented in one way relative to the cradle.

16. The CPAP device according to claim 14, further comprising a locking structure to secure the humidifier tub relative to the cradle during use.

17. The CPAP device according to claim 14, further comprising a biasing structure to urge the base towards the heater plate, to ensure good thermal contact.

18. The CPAP device according to claim 14, wherein the heater plate includes a ceramic heating element.

19. A method for retaining a humidifier tub to a cradle, comprising:

providing a cradle including a retaining mechanism;

moving the retaining mechanism to a first position that enables insertion of the humidifier;

providing the humidifier tub to the cradle;

moving the retaining mechanism to a second position that secures the humidifier tub in an operative position; and

forcing a heat conducting base plate of the humidifier tub into engagement with a heater plate of the cradle.

20. A CPAP device comprising a flow generator including a flow generator outlet, a motor having a motor outlet, a muffler chamber having an inlet coupled to the motor outlet and a muffler chamber outlet in communication with a flow generator outlet, wherein an axis of the motor outlet is offset from an axis of the muffler chamber outlet and/or the flow generator outlet.

21. The CPAP device according to claim 20, wherein the muffler chamber is structured to store a predetermined amount of water that may be inadvertently introduced into the flow generator outlet from the humidifier.

22. The CPAP device according to claim 21, wherein the predetermined amount of water is about 100 ml.

23. A CPAP device comprising a flow generator including a flow generator outlet, a motor having a motor outlet, a muffler chamber having an inlet coupled to the motor outlet and a muffler chamber outlet in communication with a flow generator outlet, wherein said muffler chamber includes an upper part conduit portion and a lower storage portion integrally formed with the part conduit portion.

24. The CPAP device according to claim 23, wherein the upper part conduit portion includes inlet and outlet fittings to be coupled with the motor outlet and the flow generator outlet, respectively.

25. The CPAP device according to claim 23, wherein an axis of the motor outlet is aligned with an axis of the muffler chamber outlet and/or the flow generator outlet.

26. The CPAP device according to claim 23, wherein the lower storage portion is structured to store a predetermined amount of water that may be inadvertently introduced into the flow generator outlet from the humidifier.

27. The CPAP device according to claim 26, wherein the predetermined amount of water is about 100 ml.