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Humidification of respiratory gases

  • US 8,631,789 B2
  • Filed: 09/17/2009
  • Issued: 01/21/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, comprising:

  • a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas at a pressure in a range of about 2-30 cm H2O, the flow generator having a front side, a rear side and two opposing lateral sides, the flow generator comprising an outlet for the flow of breathable gas in one of the lateral sides, a filtered inlet in the rear side for introduction of breathable gas into the flow generator, at least one latch receiving structure in the lateral side comprising the outlet, and a display on a top portion of the flow generator, the display being generally rectangular and longer sides of the display being generally parallel to the front and rear sides of the flow generator; and

    a humidifier configured to be connected to the flow generator, the humidifier including a cradle and a tub supported by the cradle, the tub being configured to store a supply of liquid for humidifying the flow of breathable gas, the humidifier comprising a front side, a rear side, and two opposing lateral sides, the humidifier further comprising a recess configured to receive the tub, the humidifier comprising a lid that is pivotably connected to the cradle by a hinge having a hinge axis that extends along the rear side of the humidifier, the lid being movable between at least one open position in which the recess is open to receive and remove the tub and a closed position in which the tub cannot be removed from the recess, the lid comprises a lid seal configured to engage the tub when the lid is in the closed position, the humidifier further comprising an inlet on one of its lateral sides and configured to receive the flow of breathable gas from the outlet of the flow generator and at least one latch on the lateral side comprising the inlet and configured to be received in the at least one latch receiving structure of the flow generator, and a heating plate on a bottom surface of the recess that contacts a heat conducting surface on a bottom surface of the tub when the tub is fully inserted into the recess, a sealing ring oriented towards the rear side of the humidifier and in sealing engagement with an aperture in a rear side of the tub corresponding to the rear side of the humidifier when the tub is inserted into the recess and the lid is in the closed position, wherein the flow generator and the humidifier are configured to be connected at the lateral sides respectively comprising the at least one latch and the at least one latch receiving structure by moving the flow generator and the humidifier relative to one another in a direction parallel to the hinge axis so that the at least one latch is received in the at least one latch receiving structure, and the lid in the open position provides an insertion direction for the tub that is substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis.

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