Method and apparatus for delivering humidified air to a face mask
First Claim
1. A humidifier comprising:
- (a) a first compartment and a second compartment;
(b) an air inlet for receiving a supply of intake air;
(c) a first chamber located in said first compartment for holding a first volume of the intake air;
(d) a second chamber located in said first compartment for holding a volume of water and a second volume of the intake air, wherein the second volume of air is passed over the water contained within said second chamber;
(e) a heater for heating the water and the first and second volumes of air;
(f) a mixing conduit for receiving and mixing together separate first and second streams of air discharged from said first and second chambers respectively, wherein said mixing conduit extends from first compartment into said second compartment;
(g) an air outlet connectable to a face mask; and
(g) a fan mounted in said second compartment for conveying air from said mixing conduit to said air outlet.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pass-over humidifier for delivering a supply of heated, humidified air through an elongated conduit to a mask worn by a patient. The humidifier is designed for wear by a patient during sleep to treat chronic breathing disorders such as allergic rhinitis. A supply of air is drawn into a humidification chamber by a fan and is passed over the surface of a water reservoir where it picks up moisture. The moisture-laden air is mixed with a stream of relatively dry heated air within the humidifier to form a humidified air stream. The humidified air stream is discharged from the humidifier into the elongate conduit at a temperature within the range of approximately 45-57° C. and at a relative humidity within the range of approximately 25-55%. Since the humidified air is preferably heated to a temperature exceeding 45° C., the humidifier is essentially self-sterilizing. The temperature of the humidified air stream drops significantly as it passes tough the conduit between the humidifier and the mask. By the time the air stream has reached the mask the temperature is preferably within the range of 30-35° (i.e. slightly less than body temperature) and the relative humidity has increased to approximately 90-100%. The humidifier is configured such that temperature drop over the length of the conduit does not result in condensation of water vapor within the conduit upstream from the mask.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A humidifier comprising:
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(a) a first compartment and a second compartment;
(b) an air inlet for receiving a supply of intake air;
(c) a first chamber located in said first compartment for holding a first volume of the intake air;
(d) a second chamber located in said first compartment for holding a volume of water and a second volume of the intake air, wherein the second volume of air is passed over the water contained within said second chamber;
(e) a heater for heating the water and the first and second volumes of air;
(f) a mixing conduit for receiving and mixing together separate first and second streams of air discharged from said first and second chambers respectively, wherein said mixing conduit extends from first compartment into said second compartment;
(g) an air outlet connectable to a face mask; and
(g) a fan mounted in said second compartment for conveying air from said mixing conduit to said air outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of delivering humidified air through an unheated conduit to a patient, said conduit having an inlet connected to a humidifier and an outlet connected to a breathing mask worn by said patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) drawing intake air into from the ambient environment surrounding said humidifier by the operation of a fan located within said humidifier;
(b) heating a first volume of the intake air in said humidifier to form a supply of heated dry air;
(c) heating a volume of water in said humidifier and passing a second volume of the intake air over the surface of said water to form a supply of heated moisture-laden air;
(d) mixing said heated dry air and said moisture-laden air together in said humidifier to form a stream of heated humidified air;
(e) conveying said heated humidified air from said humidifier through said conduit to said mask, wherein the temperature and humidity of said humidified air are sufficient to substantially prevent condensation of said humidified air in said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of treating inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract of a patient during a treatment period comprising multiple treatment sessions comprising:
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(a) providing a portable humidifier apparatus, said apparatus comprising a source of heated humidified air, a face mask and an air delivery tube for delivering said heated humidified air from said humidifier to said face mask;
(b) fitting said face mask over at least the nose of said patient;
(c) delivering said heated humidified air from said humidifier to said face mask for a prolonged period of time during said treatment sessions while said patient is at rest, wherein said humidified air at said face mask is at a temperature within the range of 25-35°
C. and at a relative humidity exceeding 90%; and
(d) rinsing the sinuses of said patient at intervals between said treatment sessions with an isotonic saline solution. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification