HUMIDIFIER AND/OR FLOW GENERATOR FOR CPAP
First Claim
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 fixed 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 wherein the retaining mechanism includes a biasing structure that forces the base plate in a direction towards the heater plate, the biasing structure configured to allow disengagement during installation of the humidifier tub with the cradle and reengagement after installation of the humidifier tub.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A CPAP device comprising:
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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 fixed 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 wherein the retaining mechanism includes a biasing structure that forces the base plate in a direction towards the heater plate, the biasing structure configured to allow disengagement during installation of the humidifier tub with the cradle and reengagement after installation of the humidifier tub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18)
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14. (canceled)
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17. (canceled)
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19. A method for retaining a humidifier tub to a cradle, comprising:
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providing a cradle including a retaining mechanism, the retaining mechanism including a biasing structure;
moving the retaining mechanism to a first position that enables insertion of the humidifier and disables the biasing structure;
providing the humidifier tub to the cradle; and
moving the retaining mechanism to a second position that secures the humidifier tub in an operative position and enables the biasing structure to force a heat conducting base plate of the humidifier tub into engagement with a fixed heater plate of the cradle. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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- 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.
- 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.
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28. A humidifier assembly adapted to be coupled to a flow generator, the humidifier assembly comprising:
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a cradle having a tub support surface and a heater plate provided to the tub support surface;
a humidifier supported by the cradle and including a tub having an inlet positioned on a rear wall of the tub and an outlet located on a top lid of the tub, the inlet being adapted to be in fluid communication with an output from the flow generator in use, the outlet of the tub being adapted to be in fluid communication with an air delivery conduit in use;
the humidifier including a heat conducting base plate provided to a bottom portion of the tub and adapted to be in thermal contact with the heater plate of the cradle when the tub is positioned within the cradle by sliding the tub from front to back relative to the cradle, the tub and base plate defining a chamber that is adapted to receive a volume of water, wherein, in use, a supply of pressurized air from the flow generator enters the inlet of the tub and collects moisture through contact with water within the tub before continuing on to the outlet of the tub;
a connector positioned adjacent the inlet of the tub, the connector including an attaching portion and a flexible sealing portion formed in one piece with the attaching portion, the flexible sealing portion defining a face seal of silicone, the face seal comprising an aperture that is adjacent to or abuts a flat surface surrounding the inlet of the tub when the tub is properly docked on the cradle, wherein the flexible sealing portion has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the attaching portion. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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54. A CPAP device according to claim 54, wherein the catch includes a stop positioned in front of the tub when the catch is closed to retain the tub in place.
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60. A CPAP device comprising:
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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 retaining structure to retain the humidifier tub in the cradle, wherein the retaining structure includes a hinged securing catch that lifts up and down to enable release or insertion of the humidifier tub and lateral portions to provide downwardly directed force to ensure good thermal contact between the base plate of the tub and the heater plate. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A CPAP device, comprising:
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a flow generator to generate pressurized gas in a range of 4-28 cm H2O;
a humidifier assembly to humidify the pressurized gas flow, the humidifier assembly comprising a tub to store liquid and including an inlet to receive the pressurized gas flow and direct the pressurized gas flow into contact with the liquid, a heat conducting base plate provided to a bottom portion of the tub, and an outlet to deliver the humidified pressurized gas flow, and a cradle to support the tub in an operative position to receive the pressurized gas flow, the cradle including a heater plate in contact with the heat conducting base plate of the humidifier tub in the operative position, a retaining mechanism to retain the tub in the cradle and to bring the base plate into engagement with the heater plate, and a spring to bias the heater plate and the base plate into firm thermal contact with one another; and
a connector including an inlet to receive the pressurized gas flow from the flow generator, an outlet to deliver the pressurized gas flow to the inlet of the tub, and a conforming, bellows-type seal to seal the inlet of the tub when the tub is in the operative position and a pressurized gas flow is in the connector.
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Specification