HUMIDIFIER TUB FOR CPAP DEVICE

• US 20100154796A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bonilla, William, Jones, Richard Llewelyn, Smith, Ian Malcolm
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.260
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• 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 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• 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 2206/14 Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/16 Rotating swirling helical flow, e.g. by tangential inflows

Abstract

A humidifier includes a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet may have an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet. A base plate is provided to the bottom of the humidifier tub. The base plate and humidifier tub define a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of water. The humidifier tub may include a guidance structure adapted to direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet to swirl downwardly and around within the humidifier tub reaching the water surface before exiting the exit port. The tub may include a structure to prevent the inadvertent entry of water from the tub to the flow generator.

Claims

1. A humidifier comprising:

a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet, the air outlet having an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet; and

a base plate provided to a bottom of the humidifier tub, the base plate and humidifier tub defining a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of water,

wherein the humidifier tub includes a guidance structure adapted to direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet to swirl downwardly and around within the humidifier tub before exiting the exit port.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the guidance structure includes a curved baffle located within the water chamber in front of the air inlet.

3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the guidance structure includes a chamfered wall portion located within the water chamber in front of the air inlet.

4. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is constructed of a heat-conductive material.

5. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is constructed of aluminum.

6. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are tubes.

7. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet comprises a female fitting having a conical shape that converge towards the water chamber.

8. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the air inlet is generally horizontally oriented.

9. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet is generally vertically oriented.

42. A CPAP device comprising:

a flow generator; and

a humidifier or a humidifier tub according to claim 1.

43. The CPAP device according to claim 42, further comprising a cradle to support the humidifier in an operative position with respect to the flow generator.

44. The CPAP device according to claim 43, wherein the humidifier tub includes structure to facilitate placement and alignment with respect to the cradle.

45. The CPAP device according to claim 43, wherein the cradle includes the or a heating element.

46. The CPAP device according to claim 44, wherein the humidifier tub includes flattened sides.

47. The CPAP device according to claim 44, wherein the humidifier tub includes a vane that is adapted to be received within a complementary recess provided in the cradle.

10. A humidifier tub for a humidifier comprising:

an upper wall and a cylindrical or substantially conical side wall defining a water chamber;

an air inlet;

an air outlet; and

a curved baffle provided within the water chamber, the curved baffle extending downwardly from the upper wall and providing a concave surface positioned between the air inlet and the air outlet.

11. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the concave surface is positioned in front of an outlet end of the air inlet.

12. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air outlet has an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet.

13. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are tubes.

14. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet is generally horizontally oriented.

15. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air outlet is generally vertically oriented.

16. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the curved baffle includes an end portion that is joined to the side wall.

17. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein opposing end portions of the curved baffle are spaced from the side Wall.

18. The humidifier tub according to claim 17, wherein a flow path is created between each of the end portions and the side wall.

19. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the upper wall includes a chamfered wall portion that provides an inclined interior surface positioned in front of the outlet end of the air inlet flow tube.

20. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the baffle extends generally vertically into the water chamber.

21. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the side wall includes flattened side portions.

22. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the baffle has a variable thickness and/or height.

23. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the humidifier tub is molded from a plastic material.

24. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the humidifier tub is molded from polypropylene.

25. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet is a tube and at least a portion of the tube is formed within the upper wall such that an upper surface of the tube forms a part of the upper wall.

26. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet is a tube and the tube is slightly downwardly angled with respect to horizontal.

27. The humidifier tub according to claim 26, wherein the tube includes a 0°

-15°

downward angle with respect to horizontal.

28. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the baffle is generally S-shaped, the S-shaped baffle extending downwardly from the upper wall and curving around the air inlet and the air outlet.

29. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet extend through the upper wall.

30. The humidifier tub according to claim 10, wherein the air outlet is located near a central axis of the upper wall.

31. A humidifier comprising:

a humidifier tub according to claim 10;

a base plate provided to a bottom of the humidifier tub; and

a heater element in thermal contact with the base plate.

32. The humidifier according to claim 31, wherein the base plate is constructed of a heat-conductive material.

33. The humidifier according to claim 31, wherein the base plate is constructed of aluminum.

34. The humidifier according to claim 31, wherein the base plate is removably mounted to the humidifier tub.

35. The humidifier according to claim 31, further comprising a sealing gasket provided between the base plate and the humidifier tub.

36. A humidifier comprising:

a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet; and

a base plate provided to a bottom of the humidifier tub, the base plate and humidifier tub defining a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of water,

wherein the humidifier tub includes a guidance structure adapted to smoothly direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet to a surface of the water before exiting via the air outlet.

37. A humidifier tub for a humidifier comprising:

a first component defining a first partial tubular air inlet flow path portion; and

a second component coupled to the first component and defining a second partial tubular air inlet flow path portion,

wherein the first and second partial tubular air inlet flow path portions cooperate to define a composite tubular air inlet flow path that directs incoming air in a generally circular manner down and around within the tub.

38. The humidifier tub according to claim 37, wherein the first component includes an air inlet flow tube, and the second component includes a barrier between the air flow path and a bottom of the tub.

39. The humidifier tub according to claim 38, wherein the second component includes an air outlet flow tube that is centrally located in the second component.

40. The humidifier tub according to claim 38, wherein the first component includes an air outlet flow tube that is centrally located in the second component.

41. The humidifier tub according to claim 40, wherein the first and second Components are coupled to one another with a snap-fit.

48. A method of humidifying air comprising:

providing a water chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet;

directing air entering the water chamber via the air inlet in a downward direction before exiting the air outlet; and

directing air entering the water chamber via the air inlet in a spiral direction down to a surface of the water before exiting the air outlet.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein directing air in the downward direction occurs before directing air in the spiral direction.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein directing air in the spiral direction occurs before directing air in the downward direction.