APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING A RESPIRATORY GAS

• US 20160095999A1
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• 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, MADAUS, Stefan, KLOPP, Andreas, SCHATZL, Stefan, VGELE, Harald Wolfgang, LANG, Bernd Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,555,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

An apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder includes a CPAP unit with a blower configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas. The Apparatus also includes a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid. The liquid storage container has a gas feed opening, a gas discharge opening and a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material. In addition, the apparatus includes a support housing integrated directly into the CPAP unit and having a receiving space configured to removably receive the liquid storage container. The liquid storage container is structured such that when the liquid storage container is received by the support housing, the gas feed opening aligns with and engages with an ending portion of a gas feed flow path defined by the support structure and the gas discharge opening aligns with and engages with a beginning portion of a gas discharge flow path defined by the support structure so that the liquid storage container fluidly connects the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:

a CPAP unit comprising a blower configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas;

a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid, the liquid storage container comprising a gas feed opening, a gas discharge opening and a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the liquid storage container in which the pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and absorbs water vapor generated from the body of liquid; and

a support housing integrated directly into the CPAP unit and having a receiving space configured to removably receive the liquid storage container, the support housing comprising;

a gas feed flow path in fluid communication with an outlet of the CPAP unit and having an ending portion that opens up to the receiving space; and

a gas discharge flow path configured to be fluidly connected to an air delivery tube and having a beginning portion that opens up to the receiving space, the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path being separated from each other,

wherein the liquid storage container is structured such that when the liquid storage container is received by the support housing, the gas feed opening aligns with and engages with the ending portion of the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge opening aligns with and engages with the beginning portion of the gas discharge flow path so that the liquid storage container fluidly connects the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support housing comprises a heating device configured to be in thermal contact with the metallic heat conducting material when the liquid storage container is secured to the support housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening are oriented to direct gas along a horizontal plane when the apparatus is an upright working orientation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gas feed flow path terminates at a first opening in side wall of the support housing receiving space, the gas discharge flow path begins at a second opening in the side wall of the support housing receiving space, the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path being separated by the support housing receiving space.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein when the liquid storage container is fully received by the support housing, the liquid storage container gas feed opening opposes the first opening in the side wall of the support housing receiving space, and the liquid storage container gas discharge opening opposes the second opening in the side wall of the support housing receiving space.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container is secured to the support housing via an insert and twist locking mechanism.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container comprises a direction changing device configured to change a direction of the pressurized breathable gas flowing from the gas feed opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid storage container is configured to be sealed off in the receiving space by a sealing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support housing and the liquid storage container are configured so that the liquid storage container is self-positioning when inserted into the support housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support housing comprises a heating device configured to be in thermal contact with the metallic heat conducting material when the liquid storage container is secured to the support housing,

wherein the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening are oriented to direct gas along a horizontal plane when the apparatus is an upright working orientation,

wherein the gas feed flow path terminates at a first opening in side wall of the support housing receiving space, and the gas discharge flow path begins at a second opening in the side wall of the support housing receiving space, the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path being separated by the support housing receiving space,

wherein when the liquid storage container is fully received by the support housing, the liquid storage container gas feed opening opposes the first opening in the side wall of the support housing receiving space, and the liquid storage container gas discharge opening opposes the second opening in the side wall of the support housing receiving space,

wherein the liquid storage container is secured to the support housing via an insert and twist locking mechanism

wherein the liquid storage container comprises a direction changing device configured to change a direction of the pressurized breathable gas flowing from the gas feed opening,

wherein the liquid storage container is configured to be sealed off in the receiving space by a sealing device, and

wherein the support housing and the liquid storage container are configured so that the liquid storage container is self-positioning when inserted into the support housing.

11. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas, the CPAP unit including an integrated humidifier with a receiving space;

a trough configured to hold a body of liquid and configured to be received by the humidifier receiving space, the trough having a bottom portion comprising a metallic heat conducting material, the trough comprising;

an air inlet;

an air outlet; and

a humidifying region in which liquid from the body of liquid is evaporated into the pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit; and

an insert and twist locking mechanism configured to secure the trough within the receiving space,

wherein the humidifier has a bottom portion to support the trough thereon, the bottom portion including a heating element configured to thermally contact the heat conducting material of the trough.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bayonet fixing device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a filter device configured to filter ambient air entering the CPAP unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an electrical connection between the CPAP unit and the humidifier.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the humidifier defines two portions of an air path separated by a gap, a first portion of the air path being located on a first side of the gap and being in fluid communication with the CPAP unit, a second portion of the air path being on a second side of the gap and being configured to be in fluid communication with an air delivery tube.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the trough is configured to bridge the gap between the two portions of the air path when the trough is inserted into the humidifier.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the humidifier and the trough are configured so that the trough is self-positioning when inserted into the humidifier.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a sealing device configured to seal off the trough within the humidifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the humidifier receiving space and the trough are cylindrical.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a filter device configured to filter ambient air entering the CPAP unit;

an electrical connection between the CPAP unit and the humidifier; and

a sealing device configured to seal of the trough within the humidifier,

wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bayonet fixing device,

wherein the humidifier defines two portions of an air path separated by a gap, a first portion of the air path being located on a first side of the gap and being in fluid communication with the CPAP unit, a second portion of the air path being on a second side of the gap and being configured to be in fluid communication with an air delivery tube,

wherein the trough is configured to bridge the gap between the two portions of the air path when the trough is inserted into the humidifier,

wherein the humidifier and the trough are configured so that the trough is self-positioning when inserted into the humidifier, and

wherein the humidifier receiving space and the trough are cylindrical.

21. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas;

a refilling cartridge configured to hold a body of liquid, the refilling cartridge comprising a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the refilling cartridge in which the pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and absorbs water vapor generated from the body of liquid, the refilling cartridge further comprising a gas feed opening configured to receive the pressurized breathable gas and a gas discharge opening configured to deliver humidified pressurized breathable gas;

a base unit comprising a receiving space configured to receive the refilling cartridge, the base unit having a bottom portion to support the refilling cartridge thereon, the bottom portion including a heating element configured to contact the metallic heat conducting material of the refilling cartridge when the refilling cartridge is supported on the base unit;

a sealing device configured to seal off the refilling cartridge within the base unit; and

an airflow path defined by the refilling cartridge and the base unit, the base unit defining an air inlet portion of the airflow path and an air outlet portion of the airflow path, and the refilling cartridge defining a middle portion of the airflow path linking the air inlet and the air outlet,

wherein the refilling cartridge is structured so that when the refilling cartridge links the air inlet and the air outlet, the gas feed opening opposes the air inlet portion of the airflow path and the gas discharge opening opposes the air outlet portion of the airflow path.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the refilling cartridge comprises a gas feed opening and a gas discharge opening,

wherein the base unit receiving space comprises an interior perimeter defined by at least one wall, the air inlet of the airflow path terminating at a first opening in the interior perimeter of the receiving space and the air outlet of the airflow path beginning at a second opening in the interior perimeter of the base unit, and

wherein the refilling cartridge is self-positioning so that when the refilling cartridge is inserted into the base unit, the gas feed opening opposes the first opening in the interior perimeter of the base unit and the gas discharge opening opposes the second opening in the interior perimeter of the base unit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein both the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening are oriented to direct gas along a horizontal plane when the apparatus is an upright working orientation.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the base unit is configured to vertically receive the refilling cartridge when the apparatus is in an upright working orientation.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the refilling cartridge is configured to be secured to the base unit by a bayonet fixing device.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the apparatus further comprises a flexible respiration tube configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas to the patient, and wherein the base unit comprises a connecting plug in pneumatic communication with the air outlet of the airflow path, the connecting plug being configured to connect to the respiration tube.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the refill cartridge is configured to be sealed off in the base unit by a sealing device.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the CPAP unit comprises gripping arrangement positioned on a top side of the CPAP unit.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the CPAP unit is integrated with the base unit.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the refilling cartridge comprises a gas feed opening and a gas discharge opening,

wherein the base unit receiving space comprises an interior perimeter defined by at least one wall, the air inlet of the airflow path terminating at a first opening in the interior perimeter of the receiving space and the air outlet of the airflow path beginning at a second opening in the interior perimeter of the base unit,

wherein the refilling cartridge is self-positioning so that when the refilling cartridge is inserted into the base unit, the gas feed opening opposes the first opening in the interior perimeter of the base unit and the gas discharge opening opposes with the second opening in the interior perimeter of the base unit,

wherein both the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening are oriented to direct gas along a horizontal plane when the apparatus is an upright working orientation,

wherein the base unit is configured to vertically receive the refilling cartridge when the apparatus is in an upright working orientation,

wherein the refilling cartridge is configured to be secured to the base unit by a bayonet fixing device,

wherein the apparatus further comprises a flexibly respiration tube configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas to the patient,

wherein the base unit comprises a connecting plug in pneumatic communication with the air outlet of the airflow path, the connecting plug being configured to connect to the respiration tube,

wherein the refill cartridge is configured to be sealed off in the base unit by a sealing device,

wherein the CPAP unit comprises gripping arrangement positioned on a top side of the CPAP unit, and

wherein the CPAP unit is integrated with the base unit.