APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING A RESPIRATORY GAS

• US 20130269696A1
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed R&D Germany GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: MAYER, Wolfgang, GENGER, Harald, LANG, Bernd Christoph, MADAUS, Stefan, KLOPP, Andreas, SCHATZL, Stefan, VGELE, Harald Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 9,545,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• 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 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/003 Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas, a humidifying apparatus, a respiratory gas tube and a connecting apparatus therefor. The apparatus of the invention includes a blowing device for delivering the respiratory gas, a housing device which has a bottom region, a top surface region and a side region extending upwardly between the top surface region and the cover region, as well as a connecting device for connecting a humidifying apparatus for humidifying the respiratory gas, wherein the connecting device is arranged in the side region of the apparatus in such a way that the humidifying apparatus can be laterally coupled thereto. The humidifying apparatus according to the invention is distinguished by a partial amount discharge device for passing a partial amount of the liquid pre-stored in a liquid storage space into a humidifying region. The respiration tube according to the invention includes a connecting plug structure which has both a respiratory gas connecting portion and also a pressure measuring tube connecting portion.

Claims

1. A modular positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas, the CPAP unit comprising a housing with a lateral face and a gas outlet port;

a humidifier configured to be coupled and locked to the CPAP unit, the humidifier comprising a housing with a lateral face and a flexible gas inlet connecting member,

wherein the CPAP unit housing and the humidifier housing are structured to lock to each other when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other, and

wherein the CPAP unit gas outlet port and the humidifier gas inlet connecting member are positioned to sealingly engage each other when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the CPAP unit further comprises a first locking mechanism at a lower portion of the CPAP unit housing lateral face, the humidifier further comprises a second locking mechanism at a lower portion of the humidifier housing lateral face and the CPAP unit and the humidifier are structured so that the first locking mechanism engages the second locking mechanism when the CPAP unit housing lateral face engages the humidifier housing lateral face.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the CPAP unit further comprises a first electrical connector positioned at the lower portion of the CPAP unit housing lateral face, and the humidifier comprises a second electrical connector and the CPAP unit and the humidifier are structured so that the first electrical connector engages the second electrical connector when the CPAP unit housing lateral face engages the humidifier housing lateral face.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the humidifier further comprises a base that holds a removable tank configured to contain a volume of water.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the humidifier base comprises a heater plate configured to provide heat to the water in the removable tank.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the removable tank comprises at least one baffle configured to change a direction of air flowing through the removable tank.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the CPAP unit housing is box-shaped.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the CPAP unit housing further comprises a display and a user input device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the CPAP unit housing further comprises a handle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a longitudinal axis of a grip portion of the handle is perpendicular to a direction in which the humidifier is moved to be locked in engagement with the CPAP unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display is oriented so that a bottom portion of a displayed text or graphic is closer to the CPAP unit housing lateral face than a top portion of the displayed text or graphic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user input device comprises at least one button and the at least one button is positioned between the display and the CPAP unit housing lateral face.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a latch and the second locking mechanism comprises a latch receiving portion.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the CPAP unit gas outlet port comprises a hollow tubular structure surrounded by a channel.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the humidifier gas inlet connecting member extends from a surface of the humidifier housing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the humidifier gas inlet connecting member is configured to receive the tubular structure of the CPAP unit gas outlet port and be received by the channel of the CPAP unit gas outlet port.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first electrical connector is provided in a recess in the CPAP unit housing.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the CPAP unit housing includes an opening having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being defined by a first circle with a first diameter, the second portion being defined by a second circle with a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, a perimeter of the opening being defined by the first circle, the second circle and two parallel lines that connect the first and second circle and are tangent to an outer circumference of the second circle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the CPAP unit gas outlet is recessed within the first portion of the opening in the CPAP unit housing.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the CPAP unit housing and the humidifier housing are structured to lock to each other when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are in an upright orientation and the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other, the CPAP unit and the humidifier being in the upright orientation when the display faces upward.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the CPAP unit housing lateral face and the humidifier housing lateral face are contoured to cooperate with each other to align the CPAP unit with the humidifier when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a portion of the CPAP unit housing lateral face is convex and a portion of the humidifier housing lateral face is concave, the convex portion of the CPAP unit housing lateral face being adapted to engage the concave portion of the humidifier housing lateral face when the CPAP unit housing lateral face and the humidifier lateral face are aligned and engage each other.

23. A modular positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas, the CPAP unit comprising a CPAP unit engagement face with a plurality of connection devices, the plurality of connection devices comprising a gas outlet port, a CPAP unit electrical connector and a CPAP unit locking mechanism;

a humidifier configured to be laterally coupled and locked to the CPAP unit, the humidifier comprising a humidifier engagement face configured to engage the CPAP unit engagement face, the humidifier engagement face including a plurality of connection devices, the plurality of connection devices comprising a humidifier gas inlet connecting member, a humidifier electrical connector and a humidifier locking mechanism,

wherein the CPAP unit and the humidifier are structured so that when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other;

(1) the CPAP unit gas outlet port sealingly engages the humidifier gas inlet connecting member,

(2) the CPAP unit electrical connector engages the humidifier electrical connector, and

(3) the CPAP unit locking mechanism engages the humidifier locking mechanism.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the humidifier further comprises a base that holds a removable tank configured to contain a volume of water.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the humidifier base comprises a heater plate configured to provide heat to the water in the removable tank.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein removable tank comprises at least one baffle configured to change a direction of air flowing through the removable tank.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the CPAP unit is box-shaped.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the CPAP unit further comprises a display and a user input device on an upward facing surface.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the CPAP unit further comprises a handle on the upward facing surface.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein a longitudinal axis of a grip portion of the handle is perpendicular to a direction in which the humidifier is moved to be locked in engagement with the CPAP unit.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the display is oriented so that a bottom portion of a displayed text or graphic is closer to an engagement face of the CPAP unit than a top portion of the displayed text or graphic, the engagement face of the CPAP unit being a portion of the CPAP unit configured to engage the humidifier.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the user input device comprises at least one button and the at least one button is positioned between the display and the CPAP unit engagement face.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the CPAP unit gas outlet port comprises a hollow tubular structure surrounded by a channel.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the gas inlet connecting member is configured to receive the tubular structure of the CPAP unit gas outlet port and be received by the channel of the CPAP unit gas outlet port.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a latch and the second locking mechanism comprises a latch receiving portion.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the CPAP unit engagement face has a first curved portion and the humidifier engagement face has a second curved portion, the first and second curved portions being configured to align and engage with each other when the CPAP unit is moved into engagement with the humidifier.

37. A system for supplying positive pressure respiratory gas to a patient interface, the apparatus comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of respiratory gas; and

a humidifier configured to humidify the respiratory gas,

wherein the CPAP unit comprises;

a housing with a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face and two side faces extending from the front face to the rear face, the front face including an opening;

a first respiratory gas connecting device recessed within the opening on the front face, the respiratory gas connecting device including a first tubular structure surrounded by a first channel;

a first electrical connecting device with contact elements positioned within a recess on the front face located in a lower portion of the CPAP unit;

a first securing device configured to secure the CPAP unit to the humidifier, the first securing device being positioned in the lower portion of the CPAP unit;

a display, user input devices and a handle positioned on the top face of the housing; and

a plurality of support feet positioned on the bottom face of the housing,

wherein the humidifier comprises;

a base with a connecting surface adapted to engage the front face of the CPAP unit;

a flexible respiratory gas connection member adapted to be received within the first channel and adapted to sealingly receive the first tubular structure;

a liquid storage container removable from the base;

a heater plate in the base adapted to heat a bottom surface of the liquid storage container when the liquid storage container is attached to the base;

a second electrical connecting device adapted to engage the first electrical connecting device and provide electrical power to the heater plate when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are coupled together;

a second respiratory gas outlet connecting device including a second tubular structure surrounded by a second channel,

a second securing device configured to engage the first securing device to rigidly secure the CPAP unit to the humidifier; and

a plurality of support feet positioned on a bottom of the base body, and wherein,

the liquid storage container comprises a baffle configured to change a direction of gas flowing through the liquid storage container,

a bottom of the liquid storage container comprises thermally conductive material, and

the flexible respiratory gas connecting device of the humidifier is oriented so that a longitudinal axis of the flexible respiratory gas connecting device is parallel to a direction in which the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved to be coupled.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the housing is box-shaped.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the liquid storage container is transparent.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the flexible respiratory gas connection member is comprised of silicone.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising an air delivery tube with a first end and a second end, the first end of the air delivery tube being structured to be sealingly engagable with either of the first respiratory gas connecting device and the second respiratory gas connecting device, and the second end of the air delivery tube being structured to be sealingly engagable with the patient interface.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein a perimeter of the opening in the front face of the CPAP unit housing is defined by a first circle connected to a second circle by two parallel lines that are tangent to the circumference of the second circle, a diameter of the first circle being greater than a diameter of the second circle, and the first respiratory gas connecting device is positioned within the portion of the opening defined by the first circle.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the bottom surface of the liquid storage container comprises metal.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the first securing device is a latch.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein a longitudinal axis of a grip portion of the handle is perpendicular to a direction in which the humidifier is moved to be locked in engagement with the CPAP unit.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the display is oriented so that a bottom portion of a displayed text or graphic is closer to the front face of the CPAP unit housing than a top portion of the displayed text or graphic.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the user input device comprises at least one button and the at least one button is positioned between the display and the front face of the CPAP unit housing.