Hyperthermic humidification system

• US 8,905,023 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Original Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Inventors: Niland, William F., Bamford, Owen S., Cortez, Felino V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SKORUPA, VALERIE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/973,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20090090363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,622 Days
• Field of Search: 12820316-20317, 12820325-20327, 128/204.14, 12820417-20418, 12820421-20423
• US Class Current: 128/203.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/006 operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• 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 16/107 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 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/122 with dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/203 Proportional
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0225 Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 : Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 : Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/121 : interface between cassette and base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/123 : with incorporated reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 : Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 : with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 : used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 : Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 : Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 : Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 : Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3673 : thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 : User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 : Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/70 : with testing or calibration facilities
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 : with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 : connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 : Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/365 : Air detectors A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient are provided. The apparatus includes a humidification system configured to deliver humidified breathing gas to a patient. The humidification system includes a vapor transfer unit and a base unit. The vapor transfer unit includes a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, and a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage. The base unit includes a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit. The liquid passage is not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow therebetween when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a vapor transfer unit having a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage, and a first pump portion within the vapor transfer unit operable to advance liquid through the liquid passage; and

a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit, the liquid passage not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow between the base unit and the vapor transfer unit when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit;

wherein the base unit comprises a second pump portion which drives the first pump portion to advance liquid through the liquid passage of the vapor transfer unit when the base unit engages the vapor transfer unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vapor transfer unit comprises a liquid inlet and a reservoir coupled to the liquid passage, the liquid inlet being configured to transmit liquid from a liquid source into the reservoir and the liquid passage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vapor transfer device is releasably mounted to the vapor transfer unit and positioned to receive liquid and gas from the vapor transfer unit to form said vapor in the vapor transfer device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises at least two gas inlets, each gas inlet being configured to receive a gas from respective gas sources and to transmit said gases into a gas blending device to form a blended gas.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the base unit comprises a gas outlet coupled to the gas blending device to transfer gases to the vapor transfer unit when the vapor transfer unit is releasably mounted to the base unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least one of the gas inlets further comprises gas blending fins configured to promote laminar gas flow.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of baffles operatively disposed downstream of the gas blending fins to mix gases from each of the two gas inlets.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base unit further comprises a self-contained power source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the base unit further comprises at least one sensor positioned to sense a parameter in the liquid passage of the vapor transfer unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one cartridge reader and the vapor transfer device comprises an indicator positioned to align with the at least one cartridge reader.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a level sensor to sense a full level of liquid in the liquid passage.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a level sensor to sense a low level of liquid in the liquid passage.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a level sensor to sense an empty liquid passage.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pump portion and the second pump portion are magnetically coupled such that the second pump portion controls pumping of the first pump portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first pump portion comprises an impeller.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second pump portion comprises a stator operationally coupled to the impeller.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the vapor transfer unit further comprises a first heater portion positioned to heat liquid in the liquid passage;

and

the base unit further comprises a second heater portion adapted to conduct heat to the first heater portion to heat liquid in the liquid passage of the vapor transfer unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first heater portion and the second heater portion comprise heat conduction plates.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first heater portion is adapted to heat a liquid in the vapor transfer unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the liquid passage defines at least a portion of a liquid circuit, and

the first pump portion is operable to circulate liquid through the liquid portion.

21. An apparatus for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a vapor transfer unit having a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage, and a pump portion within the vapor transfer unit operable to advance liquid through the liquid passage; and

a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit, the liquid passage not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow between the base unit and the vapor transfer unit when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit;

wherein the base unit comprises at least one bubble sensor positioned to sense a parameter in the liquid passage of the vapor transfer unit and the vapor transfer unit comprises at least one reflector for the at least one bubble sensor positioned to align with the at least one bubble sensor in the base unit.

22. An apparatus for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a vapor transfer unit having a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage, and a pump portion within the vapor transfer unit operable to advance liquid through the liquid passage; and

a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit, the liquid passage not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow between the base unit and the vapor transfer unit when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit;

wherein the base unit comprises at least one temperature sensor and the vapor transfer unit comprises a temperature sensor reflector positioned to align with the at least one temperature sensor in the base unit.