Self-operated nasal humidifier

• US 5,373,841 A
• Filed: 02/04/1992
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles F. Kyllonen, David M. Kyllonen
• Original Assignee: Charles F. Kyllonen, David M. Kyllonen
• Inventors: Kyllonen, David M., Kyllonen, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burr, Edgar S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RACITI, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US07/830,944
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.21, 128/203.18, 128/207.18, 128/204.25, 128/201.13, 128/200.11, 604/94
• US Class Current: 128/203.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1045 Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0625 Mouth

Abstract

A self-operated nasal humidifier comprising a container adapted to hold liquid heated and a lid detachably secured to the container by means of cooperating threads or other means. The lid houses a venturi and air passage means between the venturi and the lid bottom. The venturi has at its opposite ends inlet and outlet means detachably secured to air receiving and evacuation conduits, respectively. The means for delivering heated humidified air to the nasal cavity involves exhalation by the user into the receiving conduit and through the venturi where vapor above the heated liquid mixes with the exhaled air stream for issue at a controlled temperature.

Claims

1. A self-operated nasal humidifier for the user controlled delivery of heated humidified gas to the nasal cavity, which humidifier comprises:

a. a container component comprising, a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and associated vapors of the liquid;

b. a closure component comprising a lid adapted to provide closure of said container component, and wherein said closure component further includes;

(i) a gas inlet means secured to a gas receiving conduit, said gas receiving conduit terminating in an oral adapter, permitting the gas employed to be air exhaled by a user;

(ii) a gas passage means communicating with said gas inlet and further comprising a venturi communicating only with a vapor space above the liquid, permitting the air exhaled by the user to be humidified by the vapor of the liquid contained within said reservoir; and

(iii) a gas outlet means secured to a gas evacuation conduit terminating in a nasal adapter which delivers the humidified air to a nostril of the user.

2. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said container component and said lid component are detachable.

3. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein said gas receiving and evacuation conduits are formed of a flexible plastic or rubber tubing.

4. The humidifier of claim 3 wherein said gas receiving and evacuation conduits are detachable.

5. The humidifier of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the container component is comprised of heat resistant, insulative materials.

6. The humidifier of claim 1 further comprising air exhaled by a user, which enters the humidifier through said gas receiving conduit and gas inlet, is humidified by the liquid in said reservoir in passing over said venturi in said gas passage means, and evacuated into the nasal cavity of a user through the gas outlet, said gas evacuation means and nasal adapters, and represents the sole moving part of the humidifier in operation.

7. A self-operated nasal humidifier for the user controlled delivery of heated humidified gas to the nasal cavity, which humidifier comprises:

a. a container component comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and associated vapors of the liquid;

b. a closure component comprising a lid adapted to provide closure of said container component, and wherein said closure component further includes;

(i) a gas inlet means secured to a gas receiving conduit, said gas receiving conduit terminating in an oral adapter, permitting the gas employed to be air exhaled by a user;

(ii) a gas passage means communicating with said gas inlet and further comprising a venturi communicating with said reservoir, said gas passage means further for permitting the air exhaled by the user to be humidified by the vapor of the liquid contained within said reservoir; and

(iii) a gas outlet means secured to a gas evacuation conduit terminating in a nasal adapter which delivers the humidified air to a nostril of the user, wherein the gas inlet means, gas passage means and gas outlet means remain at a location remote from the quantity of liquid.

8. A method for the self-controlled delivery of a heated humidified gas into the nasal cavity of a user, which method comprises the steps of:

providing a self-operated nasal humidifier, which humidifier comprises;

a. a container component comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of liquid and associated vapors of the liquid;

b. a closure component comprising a lid adapted to provide closure of said container component, and wherein said closure component further includes;

(i) a gas inlet secured to a gas receiving conduit, said gas receiving conduit terminating in an oral adapter, permitting the gas employed to be air exhaled by a user;

(ii) a gas passage means communicating with said gas inlet and further comprising a venturi communicating with said reservoir; and

(iii) a gas outlet means secured to a gas evacuation conduit terminating in a nasal adapter which delivers the humidified air to a nostril of the user;

exhaling air by means of said oral adapter into said humidifier for the user-controlled delivery of heated humidified gas to the nasal cavity of a user;

humidifying said air by passing said air through said gas passage means over said venturi and exposing the air to the vapor within the reservoir; and

evacuating said heated, humidified air into the nasal cavity or the user through said gas outlet, gas evacuation conduit and nasal adapter.