Breathing assistance apparatus
First Claim
1. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity, flow and temperature for treatment of a patient comprising:
- a) gases supply means providing a flow of gases,b) a humidifier having a chamber adapted to receive a volume of water and a chamber heater to heat said water in said chamber, said chamber including an inlet and an outlet,c) transportation pathway means to convey said humidified gases from said humidifier to said patient, said pathway means comprising a pathway heater having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being adjacent the humidifier, andd) a controller having stored instructions to complete the following steps following the end of said treatment of said patient;
i) switch off power to said chamber heater,ii) set said flow of gases from said gases supply means to a predetermined flow for a predetermined time, wherein said pathway heater is adapted to deliver heat to said flow of gases during at least a portion of the predetermined time, and said power is switched off to said chamber heater for at least a portion of the predetermined time, andiii) after said predetermined time switch off said gases supply means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breathing assistance apparatus and method of controlling a breathing assistance apparatus is disclosed. Particularly, the breathing assistance apparatus is controlled such that it has a drying cycle to enable drying of the tubing that supplies gases to a user and prevent the harboring of pathogens within the tube. The drying cycle is preferably operated automatically by internal controllers in the apparatus. However, it may be manually activated by pressing a button on the apparatus. The drying cycle is preferably activated at the end of a user'"'"'s treatment session.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity, flow and temperature for treatment of a patient comprising:
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a) gases supply means providing a flow of gases, b) a humidifier having a chamber adapted to receive a volume of water and a chamber heater to heat said water in said chamber, said chamber including an inlet and an outlet, c) transportation pathway means to convey said humidified gases from said humidifier to said patient, said pathway means comprising a pathway heater having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end being adjacent the humidifier, and d) a controller having stored instructions to complete the following steps following the end of said treatment of said patient; i) switch off power to said chamber heater, ii) set said flow of gases from said gases supply means to a predetermined flow for a predetermined time, wherein said pathway heater is adapted to deliver heat to said flow of gases during at least a portion of the predetermined time, and said power is switched off to said chamber heater for at least a portion of the predetermined time, and iii) after said predetermined time switch off said gases supply means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling a breathing assistance apparatus where said apparatus is adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity, flow and temperature for treatment of a patient, said apparatus comprising a gases source adapted to provide a flow of gases, a humidifier having a chamber adapted to receive a volume of water and a chamber heater adapted to heat said water in said chamber, a conduit adapted to convey said humidified gases from said humidifier adjacent a proximal end of the conduit to said patient adjacent a distal end of said conduit, said conduit comprising a heater, and a controller that stores a program which causes the controller after the end of said treatment of said patient to:
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a) switch off power to said chamber heater, b) set said flow of gases from said gases source to a predetermined flow for a predetermined time, wherein said conduit heater is adapted to deliver heat to said flow of gases during at least a portion of the predetermined time, and said power is switched off to said chamber heater for at least a portion of the predetermined time, and c) after said predetermined time switch off said gases source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity, flow and temperature for treatment of a patient, the apparatus comprising a gases source that is adapted to provide a flow of gases, a humidifier chamber that is adapted to receive the flow of gases, the humidifier chamber also adapted to receive a volume of water, a chamber heater adapted to heat the volume of water, the humidifier chamber comprising an inlet and an outlet, a conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the outlet of the humidifier, the conduit being adapted to convey the flow of gases from the outlet of the humidifier toward the distal end of the conduit, the conduit comprising a conduit heater, the apparatus comprising a controller, the controller comprising stored instructions to complete the following steps following the end of said treatment of the patient:
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i) switch off power to the chamber heater; ii) set the flow of gases from the gases source to a predetermined flow for a predetermined time, wherein the conduit heater is adapted to heat the flow of gases during at least a portion of the predetermined time; and
said power is switched off to said chamber heater for at least a portion of the predetermined time, and,iii) after the predetermined time, stop the flow of gases from the gases source. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification