Humidity controller
First Claim
1. In a humidifier comprising a heater plate, a fan, and a conduit, a method of delivering humidified gases to a patient, the method comprising:
- supplying an initial level of power to the heater plate until heater plate temperature stabilizes or energizing the heater plate until the heater plate temperature reaches an initial temperature set-point;
determining an amount of power drawn by the fan;
determining, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a level of power to supply to the heater plate to change a temperature of the gases to achieve a desired level of humidity or determining, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a temperature set-point to change the temperature of the gases to achieve the desired level of humidity;
supplying the level of power to the heater plate or energizing the heater plate to maintain the heater plate temperature at the temperature set-point;
monitoring the amount of power drawn by the fan to determine a change in the amount of power drawn by the fan;
comparing the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan to first and second thresholds;
in response to determining that the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meets the first threshold and does not meet the second threshold, determining an adjusted level of power and supplying the adjusted level of power to the heater plate or determining an adjusted temperature set-point and energizing the heater plate to maintain the adjusted temperature set-point; and
in response to determining that the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meets the second threshold, supplying the initial level of power to the heater plate until the heater plate temperature stabilizes or energizing the heater plate until the heater plate temperature reaches the initial temperature set-point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity to a patient including a humidifier and a heated conduit is disclosed. The humidifier includes a controller which controls the humidifier, or the humidifier and the heated conduit to deliver the gases to the patient at the required humidity or temperature, without the requirement for sensors in the gases stream. The controller uses information already available to the controller, without the requirement for additional information to be provided by sensors in the gases stream. This means the need for sensors in the gases stream is dispensed with. A significant benefit is achieved as sensors are not required in the conduit and thus the apparatus is simple and less bulky.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. In a humidifier comprising a heater plate, a fan, and a conduit, a method of delivering humidified gases to a patient, the method comprising:
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supplying an initial level of power to the heater plate until heater plate temperature stabilizes or energizing the heater plate until the heater plate temperature reaches an initial temperature set-point; determining an amount of power drawn by the fan; determining, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a level of power to supply to the heater plate to change a temperature of the gases to achieve a desired level of humidity or determining, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a temperature set-point to change the temperature of the gases to achieve the desired level of humidity; supplying the level of power to the heater plate or energizing the heater plate to maintain the heater plate temperature at the temperature set-point; monitoring the amount of power drawn by the fan to determine a change in the amount of power drawn by the fan; comparing the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan to first and second thresholds; in response to determining that the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meets the first threshold and does not meet the second threshold, determining an adjusted level of power and supplying the adjusted level of power to the heater plate or determining an adjusted temperature set-point and energizing the heater plate to maintain the adjusted temperature set-point; and in response to determining that the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meets the second threshold, supplying the initial level of power to the heater plate until the heater plate temperature stabilizes or energizing the heater plate until the heater plate temperature reaches the initial temperature set-point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A humidifier comprising:
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a heater configured to heat a body of water to create humidified gases; a fan configured to blow the humidified gases; a conduit configured to deliver the humidified gases to a patient; and a controller configured to; supply an initial level of power to the heater until heater temperature stabilizes or energize the heater until the heater temperature reaches an initial temperature set-point; determine an amount of power drawn by the fan; determine, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a level of power to be supplied to the heater to change a temperature of the gases to achieve a desired level of humidity or determine, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a temperature set-point to change the temperature of the gases to achieve the desired level of humidity; supply the level of power to the heater or energize the heater to maintain the heater temperature at the temperature set-point; monitor the amount of power drawn by the fan to determine a change in the amount of power drawn by the fan; compare the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan to first and second thresholds; in response to the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meeting the first threshold and not meeting the second threshold, determine an adjusted level of power and supply the adjusted level of power to the heater or determine an adjusted temperature set-point and energize the heater to maintain the adjusted temperature set-point; and in response to the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meeting the second threshold, supply the initial level of power to the heater until the heater temperature stabilizes or energize the heater until the heater temperature reaches the initial temperature set-point. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. In a breathing assistance apparatus, a controller configured to:
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supply an initial level of power to a heater plate until heater plate temperature stabilizes or energize the heater plate until the heater plate temperature reaches an initial temperature set-point; determine an amount of power drawn by the fan; determine, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a level of power to be supplied to the heater plate to change a temperature of the gases to achieve a desired level of humidity or determine, based on the amount of power drawn by the fan, a temperature set-point to change the temperature of the gases to achieve the desired level of humidity; supply the level of power to the heater plate or energize the heater plate to maintain the heater plate temperature at the temperature set-point; monitor the amount of power drawn by the fan to determine a change in the amount of power drawn by the fan; compare the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan to first and second thresholds; in response to the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meeting the first threshold and not meeting the second threshold, determine an adjusted level of power and supply the adjusted level of power to the heater plate or determine an adjusted temperature set-point and energize the heater plate to maintain the adjusted temperature set-point; and in response to the change in the amount of power drawn by the fan meeting the second threshold, supply the initial level of power to the heater plate until the heater temperature stabilizes or energize the heater plate until the heater plate temperature reaches the initial temperature set-point. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification