Breathing assistance apparatus with a manifold to add auxiliary gases to ambient gases

• US 8,733,353 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Original Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
• Inventors: Kramer, Martin Paul Friedrich, O'Donnell, Kevin Peter, Quill, Christopher Simon James, Payton, Matthew Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US11/916,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,889 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.24, 128/201.13, 128/203.12, 128/203.16, 128/203.17, 128/203.26, 128/203.27, 128/204.17, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 261/DIG.65, 261/129, 261/154, 122/4.A, 122/5.5 A, 122/7.A, 122/13.01, 122 133- 192, 122/33, 122/487, 122/DIG.7
• US Class Current: 128/205.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• 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 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1005 with O2 features or with parameter measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence

Abstract

The breathing assistance apparatus of the present invention includes a manifold that is provided with or retrofittable to gases supply and humidifying devices. The manifold allows gases from an oxygen concentrator to be combined with the flow through a gases supply and humidifying device, most usually air. The combined output of oxygen and other breathing gases (air) is then humidified. The breathing assistance apparatus and manifold of the present invention provides a safe method to add oxygen to the input air stream of a gases supply and humidifying device and reduces the amount of accumulation of oxygen within the gases supply device, reducing fire risk should sparking occur within the device.

Claims

1. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases to a patient comprising:

a gases supply having a housing, an inlet, and a flow driver configured to draw ambient gases through the inlet, and

a manifold attachable to an area of said housing surrounding said inlet, said manifold comprising;

an inlet port configured to be connected to an auxiliary gases supply; and

at least one aperture to allow said ambient gases to be drawn into said inlet via said manifold along a substantially linear flow path;

said inlet port extending from a side of the manifold relative to the substantially linear flow path of the ambient gases.

2. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a humidifying device residing in the housing and comprising an input and an output, wherein the input is configured to receive a mixture of said auxiliary gases and said ambient gases drawn through the manifold, and wherein said humidifying device is configured to humidify said mixture and deliver said humidified mixture to the patient via the output.

3. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture is an air intake when said gases supply is supplying gases and a gases outlet to allow auxiliary gases to spill to ambient when said gases supply is not supplying gases.

4. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary gases are oxygen.

5. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gases supply includes an internal sensor that is capable of sensing a fraction of oxygen flowing through said breathing assistance apparatus.

6. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said gases supply includes a controller connected to said internal sensor.

7. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said gases supply includes a display controlled by said controller and said controller causes said fraction of oxygen to be displayed and updated on said display.

8. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said manifold includes a filter disposed over said at least one aperture.

9. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said gases supply includes a display controlled by said controller and said controller causes said fraction of oxygen to be displayed and updated on said display.

10. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow driver comprises a variable speed pump configured to draw said ambient and auxiliary gases into said gasses supply through the inlet.

11. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said flow driver comprises a variable speed fan configured to draw said ambient and auxiliary gases into said gasses supply through the inlet.

12. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a humidifying device configured to humidify gases from the gases supply.

13. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the humidifying device comprises a humidification chamber having an outlet configured to connect and deliver humidified gases to an inspiratory conduit.

14. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the inspiratory conduit comprises a heating element configured to reduce condensation of humidified gases within the conduit.

15. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the manifold comprises an inlet port configured to connect to a tubing that delivers oxygen to the gases supply.

16. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the manifold has a recessed edge that fits into a complementary lip of the area of the housing surrounding the inlet.

17. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases to a patient comprising:

a gases supply comprising a housing, an inlet, and a flow driver configured to draw said ambient gases through said inlet; and

a manifold attachable to an area of said housing surrounding said inlet, said manifold comprising;

an inlet port configured to be connected to an auxiliary gases supply; and

at least one aperture to allow said ambient gases to be drawn into said inlet via the manifold, wherein said at least one aperture is configured to disperse said auxiliary gases outside the apparatus through said at least one aperture when the apparatus is not delivering gases to the patient to inhibit accumulation of said auxiliary gases within the gases supply and reduce a risk of fire.

18. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a humidifying device comprising an input and an output, wherein the input is configured to receive a mixture of said auxiliary gases and said ambient gases drawn through the manifold, and wherein said humidifying device is configured to humidify said mixture and deliver said humidified mixture to the patient via the output.

19. A breathing assistance apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said humidifying device is co-located in the housing with the flow driver.