Water chamber for humidifier

• US 7,616,871 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2004
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Kramer, Martin Paul Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Thor S
• Application Number:
  US10/568,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20070230927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 392386-406
• US Class Current: 392/403
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• 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 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

A water chamber (1) adapted for use in conjunction with a heater base, for humidifying an air stream. The chamber (1) including at least one horizontally oriented gases port (3) including an elongate flow tube (5) extending into the chamber (1) from the inner periphery of the gases port (3), the flow tube (5) having an opening at its distal end facing a direction transverse to the axis of the tube (5).

Claims

1. A water chamber adapted for use in conjunction with a heater base and having at least one horizontally oriented gases port in a wall thereof the improvement comprising an elongate flow tube having a longitudinal axis which extends into said water chamber from the inner periphery of said at least one gases port with an opening at a distal end of said flow tube being spaced from the wall of said chamber, said opening facing a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said tube at the distal end, said transverse direction not being downwards and said distal end of said tube being shaped in a smooth curve to provide a barrier to water.

2. A water chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said chamber includes an inlet gases port and an outlet gases port, both said inlet gases port and said outlet gases port including a said elongate flow tube.

3. A water chamber as claimed in claim 2, wherein said chamber further includes a baffle between said opening of said inlet gases port tube and said opening of said outlet gases port tube.

4. A water chamber as claimed in claim 3, wherein said baffle extends from the roof of said chamber and terminates below the surface of water in said chamber when said chamber is filled to a maximum intended water level for use.

5. A water chamber as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inlet gases port and said outlet gases port includes a said elongate flow tube having an opening facing a direction transverse to an axis of said tube, said opening of said inlet flow tube and said opening of said outlet flow tube facing upwards.

6. A water chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate flow tube has a drain hole to enable fluid to drain into said chamber from said flow tube, said drain hole positioned at a low point of said flow tube and said flow tube configured so that fluid within the flow tube flows toward said drain hole.

7. A water chamber as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate flow tube has an air bleed aperture located on a top surface to aid filing of the chamber.