HUMIDIFICATION OF RESPIRATORY GASES

• US 20110155132A1
• Filed: 09/17/2009
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Junning, Verma, Hargopal, Virr, Alexander, Kao, Dan, Row, Nathan John, Hill, Phoebe Katherine, Earl, Nicholas Andrew, Bath, Andrew Roderick
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• 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 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements

Abstract

A humidifier (14) for humidifying a flow of breathable gas to be delivered to a patient includes a chamber (16) configured to receive the flow of breathable gas; a tub (20) configured to contain a supply of water, the tub being configured to be inserted into the chamber; a lid (18) provided on the chamber and being movable between an open position and a closed position; and a seal (19) provided on the lid, the seal being configured to seal the chamber such that the flow of breathable gas pressurizes the chamber. The humidifier may be connectable to a flow generator (12) configured to generate the flow of breathable gas. A tube for delivering the humidified flow may be connected to the humidifier. The tube may be a heated or non-heated tube. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient may include the humidifier and the flow generator and/or the tube. A method of humidifying a flow of breathable gas comprises sealing a chamber containing a supplying a water and pressurizing the chamber by directing the flow of breathable gas into the chamber.

Claims

1-108. -108. (canceled)

109. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas at a pressure in a range of about 2-30 cm H₂O, the flow generator having a front side, a rear side and two opposing lateral sides, the flow generator comprising an outlet for the flow of breathable gas in one of the lateral sides, a filtered inlet in the rear side for introduction of breathable gas into the flow generator, at least one latch receiving structure in the lateral side comprising the outlet, and a display on a top portion of the flow generator, the display being generally rectangular and longer sides of the display being generally parallel to the front and rear sides of the flow generator; and

a humidifier configured to be connected to the flow generator, the humidifier including a cradle and a tub supported by the cradle, the tub being configured to store a supply of liquid for humidifying the flow of breathable gas, the humidifier comprising a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, the humidifier further comprising a recess configured to receive the tub, the humidifier comprising a lid that is pivotably connected to the cradle by a hinge having a hinge axis that extends along the rear side of the humidifier, the lid being movable between at least one open position in which the recess is open to receive and remove the tub and a closed position in which the tub cannot be removed from the recess, the lid comprises a lid seal configured to engage the tub when the lid is in the closed position, the humidifier further comprising an inlet on one of its lateral sides and configured to receive the flow of breathable gas from the outlet of the flow generator and at least one latch on the lateral side comprising the inlet and configured to be received in the at least one latch receiving structure of the flow generator, and a heating plate on a bottom surface of the recess that contacts a heat conducting surface on a bottom surface of the tub when the tub is fully inserted into the recess, a sealing ring oriented towards the rear side of the humidifier and in sealing engagement with an aperture in a rear side of the tub corresponding to the rear side of the humidifier when the tub is inserted into the recess and the lid is in the closed position, wherein the flow generator and the humidifier are configured to be connected at the lateral sides respectively comprising the at least one latch and the at least one latch receiving structure by moving the flow generator and the humidifier relative to one another in a direction parallel to the hinge axis so that the at least one latch is received in the at least one latch receiving structure, and the lid in the open position provides an insertion direction for the tub that is substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis.

110. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 109, wherein the humidifier further comprises a lid latch on its front side configured to maintain the lid in the closed position, the lid latch comprising an opening member that is configured to be manually actuated to release the lid and allow the lid to be moved to the at least one open position.

111. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 110, wherein the humidifier further comprises an electrical connector configured to electrically connect the humidifier to the flow generator.

112. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 111, wherein the electrical connector is adjacent the inlet of the humidifier.

113. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 111, wherein the at least one latch is biased into engagement with the at least one latch receiving structure when the humidifier and the flow generator are connected.

114. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 113, wherein the outlet of the flow generator and the inlet of the humidifier are provided at exact same vertical heightwise levels on the lateral sides of the flow generator and the humidifier, respectively.

115. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 114, wherein the tub comprises a tub base and a tub lid, the tub base comprising the heat conducting surface.

116. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 115, wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the lid seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

117. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 116, wherein the heat conducting surface of the bottom surface of the tub comprises metal.

118. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 117, wherein the tub base and the tub lid are detachable.

119. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 118, further comprising a tub seal between the tube base and the tub lid.

120. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 119, wherein the tub seal extends around an entire periphery of the tub base.

121. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 120, wherein the tub lid comprises at least one tub lid latch configured to engage at least one tub lid latch receiving structure on the tube base to detachably connect the tub lid and the tub base.

122. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 121, wherein the tub lid engages the tub seal around the entire periphery of the tub base when the tub lid is detachably connected to the tub seal.

123. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas at a pressure in a range of about 2-30 cm H₂O, the flow generator having a front side, a rear side and two opposing lateral sides, the flow generator comprising an outlet for the flow of breathable gas in one of the lateral sides, at least one latch receiving structure in the lateral side comprising the outlet, and a display on a top portion of the flow generator, the display being generally rectangular and longer sides of the display being generally parallel to the front and rear sides of the flow generator; and

a humidifier detachably connected side-by-side to the flow generator, the humidifier including a cradle and a tub supported by the cradle, the tub being configured to store a supply of liquid for humidifying the flow of breathable gas, the humidifier comprising a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, the humidifier further comprising a recess configured to receive the tub, the humidifier comprising a lid that is pivotably connected to the cradle by a hinge having a hinge axis that extends along the rear side of the humidifier, the lid being movable between at least one open position in which the recess is open to receive and remove the tub and a closed position in which the tub cannot be removed from the recess, the humidifier further comprising an inlet on one of its lateral sides and configured to receive the flow of breathable gas from the outlet of the flow generator and at least one latch on the lateral side comprising the inlet and configured to be received in the at least one latch receiving structure of the flow generator, and a heating plate on a bottom surface of the recess that contacts a heat conducting surface on a bottom surface of the tub when the tub is fully inserted into the recess, wherein the flow generator and the humidifier are detachably connected side-by-side at the lateral sides respectively comprising the at least one latch and the at least one latch receiving structure by moving the flow generator and the humidifier relative to one another in a direction parallel to the hinge axis so that the at least one latch is received in the at least one latch receiving structure, and when the tub is between the lateral sides of the cradle, an insertion direction of the tub into the cradle is substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis.

124. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 123, wherein the at least one latch is biased into engagement with the at least one latch receiving structure when the humidifier and the flow generator are detachably connected.

125. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 124, wherein the humidifier lid comprises a lid seal configured to engage the tub when the lid is in the closed position.

126. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 125, wherein the humidifier further comprises a lid latch on its front side configured to maintain the lid in the closed position, the lid latch comprising an opening member that is configured to be manually actuated to release the lid and allow the lid to be moved to the at least one open position.

127. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 126, wherein the tub comprises a tub base and a tub lid, the tub base comprising the heat conducting surface.

128. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 127, wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the lid seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

129. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 128, wherein the humidifier further comprises a sealing ring oriented towards the rear side of the humidifier and in sealing engagement with an aperture in a rear side of the tub corresponding to the rear side of the humidifier when the tub is inserted into the recess and the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

130. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 129, wherein the tub base and the tub lid are detachable.

131. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 130, further comprising a tub seal between the tube base and the tub lid.

132. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 131, wherein the tub seal extends around an entire periphery of the tub base.

133. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 132, wherein the tub lid comprises at least one tub lid latch configured to engage at least one tub lid latch receiving structure on the tube base to detachably connect the tub lid and the tub base.

134. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 133, wherein the tub lid engages the tub seal around the entire periphery of the tub base when the tub lid is detachably connected to the tub seal.

135. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 134, wherein the heat conducting surface of the bottom surface of the tub comprises metal.

136. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 135, further comprising a filtered inlet in the rear side of the flow generator for introduction of breathable gas into the flow generator.

137. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 136, wherein the humidifier further comprises an electrical connector configured to electrically connect the humidifier to the flow generator.

138. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 137, wherein the electrical connector is adjacent the inlet of the humidifier.

139. A method of supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising:

generating a flow of respiratory gas with a flow generator comprising a front side, a rear side and two opposing lateral sides, and a respiratory gas outlet and at least one latch receiving structure on one of the lateral sides of the flow generator;

humidifying the flow of respiratory gas with a humidifier comprising a cradle and a tub supported by the cradle, the tub being configured to store a supply of liquid for humidifying the flow of breathable gas, the humidifier comprising a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, the humidifier further comprising a recess configured to receive the tub, the humidifier comprising a lid that is pivotably connected to the cradle by a hinge having a hinge axis that extends along the rear side of the humidifier, the lid being movable between at least one open position in which the recess is open to receive and remove the tub and a closed position in which the tub cannot be removed from the recess, the lid comprises a lid seal configured to engage the tub when the lid is in the closed position, the humidifier further comprising a respiratory gas inlet on one of its lateral sides and configured to receive the flow of breathable gas from the respiratory gas outlet of the flow generator and at least one latch on the lateral side comprising the respiratory gas inlet and configured to be received in the at least one latch receiving structure of the flow generator,

detachably connecting the flow generator and the humidifier in a side-by-side configuration by moving the respiratory gas outlet lateral side of the flow generator and the respiratory gas inlet lateral side of the humidifying apparatus with respect to each other in a direction substantially parallel to the hinge axis to insert the at least one latch of the humidifier in the at least one latch receiving structure of the flow generator.

140. A method according to claim 139, wherein the humidifier further comprises a heating plate on a bottom surface of the recess and the tub comprises a heat conducting surface on a bottom surface of the tub, the method further comprising:

inserting the tub into the recess so that the heat conducting surface of the tub contacts the heating plate of the humidifier.

141. A method according to claim 140, wherein inserting the tub into the recess comprises inserting the tub between lateral sides of the recess in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis.

142. A method according to claim 141, further comprising:

electrically connecting the flow generator and the humidifier.

143. A method according to claim 142, wherein electrically connecting the flow generator and the humidifier comprises:

electrically coupling an electrical connector of the humidifier with an electric terminal of the flow generator.

144. A method according to claim 142, feeding a respiratory gas flow from the flow generator to a surface of the supply of liquid stored in the tub through the respiratory gas inlet.

145. A method according to claim 143, further comprising:

changing a direction of the respiratory gas flow from the respiratory gas inlet in a direction of the surface of the liquid stored in the tub.

146. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

a flow generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas, the flow generator having a front side, a rear side and two opposing lateral sides, the flow generator comprising an outlet for the flow of breathable gas in one of the lateral sides, at least one latch receiving structure in the lateral side comprising the outlet, and a display on a top portion of the flow generator, the display being generally rectangular and longer sides of the display being generally parallel to the front and rear sides of the flow generator; and

a humidifier detachably connected side-by-side to the flow generator, the humidifier including a cradle and a tub supported by the cradle, the tub being configured to store a supply of liquid for humidifying the flow of breathable gas, the humidifier comprising a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, the humidifier further comprising a recess configured to receive the tub, the humidifier comprising a lid that is pivotably connected to the cradle by a hinge having a hinge axis that extends along the rear side of the humidifier, the lid being movable between at least one open position in which the recess is open to receive and remove the tub and a closed position in which the tub cannot be removed from the recess, the humidifier further comprising an inlet on one of its lateral sides and configured to receive the flow of breathable gas from the outlet of the flow generator and at least one latch on the lateral side comprising the inlet and configured to be received in the at least one latch receiving structure of the flow generator, and a heating plate on a bottom surface of the recess that contacts a heat conducting surface on a bottom surface of the tub when the tub is fully inserted into the recess, wherein the flow generator and the humidifier are detachably connected side-by-side at the lateral sides respectively comprising the at least one latch and the at least one latch receiving structure by moving the flow generator and the humidifier relative to one another in a direction parallel to the hinge axis so that the at least one latch is received in the at least one latch receiving structure, and when the tub is between the lateral sides of the cradle, an insertion direction of the tub into the cradle is substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis.

147. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the at least one latch is biased into engagement with the at least one latch receiving structure when the humidifier and the flow generator are detachably connected.

148. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the humidifier lid comprises a lid seal configured to engage the tub when the lid is in the closed position.

149. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the humidifier further comprises a lid latch on its front side configured to maintain the lid in the closed position, the lid latch comprising an opening member that is configured to be manually actuated to release the lid and allow the lid to be moved to the at least one open position.

150. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the tub comprises a tub base and a tub lid, the tub base comprising the heat conducting surface.

151. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 150, wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the lid seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

152. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the humidifier further comprises a sealing ring oriented towards the rear side of the humidifier and in sealing engagement with an aperture in a rear side of the tub corresponding to the rear side of the humidifier when the tub is inserted into the recess and the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

153. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 150, wherein the tub base and the tub lid are detachable.

154. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 153, further comprising a tub seal between the tube base and the tub lid.

155. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 153, wherein the tub lid comprises at least one tub lid latch configured to engage at least one tub lid latch receiving structure on the tub base to detachably connect the tub lid and the tub base.

156. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 154, wherein the tub lid engages the tub seal around the entire periphery of the tub base when the tub lid is detachably connected to the tub base.

157. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the heat conducting surface of the bottom surface of the tub comprises metal.

158. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the humidifier further comprises an electrical connector configured to electrically connect the humidifier to the flow generator.

159. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 158, wherein the electrical connector is adjacent the inlet of the humidifier.

160. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, wherein the outlet of the flow generator and the inlet of the humidifier are provided at exact same vertical heightwise levels on the lateral sides of the flow generator and the humidifier, respectively.

161. A respiratory apparatus according to claim 146, further comprising a filtered inlet in the rear side of the flow generator for introduction of breathable gas.