High-volume disposable and semi-disposable cartridge humidifier with self-contained cartridge sterilizing means, and related method

• US 4,110,419 A
• Filed: 08/19/1977
• Issued: 08/29/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Creditanstalt Corporate Finance, Inc. (Unicredit SPA)
• Original Assignee: Respiratory Care, Inc. (Colgate-Palmolive Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Kenneth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lutter, Frank W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clements, Gregory N.
• Application Number:
  US05/826,119
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 261/142, 261/104, 261/101, 261/102, 261/DIG. 65, 261/128-131, 261/141, 128/186, 128/212, 128/192-194, 128/188, 219/275, 219/535
• US Class Current: 261/142
• 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 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7527 liquophilic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/10 Equipment for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/65 Vaporizers

Abstract

A cartridge-type humidifier apparatus embodying a separate heater module with a cylindrical opening for replaceably receiving therein disposable cylindrical humidifier cartridge modules. Certain upgraded embodiments of the cartridge modules are sterilizable and reusable several times before being disposed of, or portions thereof recycled. The cartridge modules each have a tubular metal main body adapted for a sliding fit within a complementary tubular walled heater. The metal tubular body has rigid plastic top and bottom end portions. The plastic top end portion is a cap with a center axial gas inlet tube, and a separate transverse gas delivery pipe, the cap forming a closed air space over a pool of humidifying liquid. Each cartridge includes an absorption column preferably of the cylindrical tube form which is adapted to lay closely adjacent and draw water up along the cartridge'"'"'s cylindrical metal body wall which serves the evaporating surface when heated by the heater modules. The gas to be humidified is dispersed within a hollow chamber formed between the gas inlet pipe projecting concentrically into the cartridge, and the radially spaced wall of the main cartridge body and absorption column. The inlet tube always terminates above the water. The water may be introduced into the lower end portion by way of conduits or other communication means.

Claims

1. Cartridge type humidifying apparatus for use with a heating means for humidifying and heating a breathable gas to be inhaled by a patient undergoing inhalation thereapy, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) humidifier cartridge module means embodying a tubular cartridge main body portion with an inner peripheral wall;

(b) said humidifier cartridge module means also including an upper end portion with cap means attached to said main body;

(c) said humidifier cartridge module means including a lower end portion terminating in a transverse wall and adapted and constructed to retain a humidifying liquid, said transverse wall having liquid inlet means adapted to be fluidly connected via conduit means with a liquid outlet means of an external liquid source;

(d) said humidifier cartridge module means further comprising liquid absorption means including an open center generally tubular liquid-absorption column member with an inner peripheral face constituting an evaporating surface for humidifying liquid disposed generally contiguously and coextensive with a substantial part of said cartridge main body and said lower end portion adapted and constructed to be wetted directly by the humidifying liquid when liquid is in said lower end portion, and to convey by capillary action the liquid upwardly of said absorpting means and onto said evaporating surface;

(e) said upper end portion cap means of said humidifier cartridge module means of paragraph (b) together with a portion of said main body providing an air space above the humidifying liquid level in said lower end portion of said paragraph (c) when liquid is in said lower end portion;

(f) said cap means including a breathable gas inlet feed pipe for directing gas to be humidified into said module and terminating in said main body;

(g) said cap means further including an outwardly projecting humidified breathable gas outlet delivery pipe in fluid communication with said air space, said delivery pipe adapted to be connected with an output delivery tube leading to a patient.

2. The cartridge type humidifying apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cartridge main body is a predetermined length of tubular metal having good heat transfer characteristics, said lower end portion and said upper end portion with cap means are constructed of a non-metallic material having a lesser-transfer factor than said cartridge main body.

3. Apparatus for humidifying and heating a breathable gas to be inhaled by a patient undergoing inhalation therapy, said apparatus comprising in combination:

(a) heating module means for heating the gas to be delivered to a patient, comprising an upright generally tubular sleeve-type heat-conducting body;

(b) humidifier cartridge module means embodying a tubular cartridge main body portion with an inner peripheral wall and adapted and constructed to be axially received and disposed generally concentrically within and heated by said heating module means;

(c) said humidifier cartridge module means also including an upper end portion with cap means attached to said main body;

(d) said humidifier cartridge module means including a lower end portion terminating in a transverse wall and adapted and constructed to retain a humidifying liquid, said transverse wall having liquid inlet means adapted to be fluidly connected via conduit means with a liquid outlet means of an external liquid source;

(e) said humidifier cartridge module means further comprising liquid absorption means including an open center generally tubular liquid-absorption column member with an inner peripheral face constituting an evaporating surface for humidifying liquid disposed generally contiguously and coextensive with a substantial part of said cartridge main body and said lower end portion adapted and constructed to be wetted directly by the humidifying liquid when liquid is in said lower end portion and to convey by capillary action the liquid upwardly of said absorption means and onto said evaporating surface;

(f) said upper end portion cap means of said humidifier cartridge module means of paragraph (c) together with a portion of said main body providing an air space above the humidifying liquid level in said lower end portion of said paragraph (d) when liquid is in said lower end portion;

(g) said cap means including a breathable gas inlet feed pipe for directing gas to be humidified into said module and terminating in said main body;

(h) said cap means further including an outwardly projecting humidified breathable gas outlet delivery pipe in fluid communication with said air space, said delivery pipe adapted to be connected with an output delivery tube leading to a patient.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cartridge main body is a predetermined length of tubular metal having good heat transfer characteristics, said lower end portion and said upper end portion with cap means are constructed of a non-metallic material having a lesser transfer factor than said cartridge main body.