Apparatus for humidifying a respiratory gas
First Claim
1. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
- a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas;
a humidifier base located downstream of the CPAP unit and having a gas feed passage positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit and having a gas discharge passage, the humidifier base being integrated directly into the CPAP unit or removably joined together with the CPAP unit, the humidifier base comprising a receiving portion with a bottom wall heater plate;
a refilling module with a metallic bottom portion configured to be supported by and come into heat conducting contact with the heater plate of the humidifier base when the refilling module is at least partially inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base, the refilling module being removably inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base to complete a gas flow path from the gas feed passage to the gas discharge passage, and being configured to a) hold a volume of water and b) humidify the positive pressure gas; and
a respiration tube connecting portion positioned to remain in communication with the gas discharge passage of the humidifier base when the refilling module is removed from the humidifier base, the respiration tube connecting portion being configured to be connected to a respiration tube and deliver the humidified positive pressure gas to the respiration tube.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient includes a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas. A humidifier base is positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit. A receiving portion of the humidifier base is configured to removably receive a refilling module. The refilling module is configured to hold a volume of water, complete a gas flow path partially defined by the humidifier base, and humidify the positive pressure gas. In addition, a respiration tube connecting portion is positioned to remain in communication with a gas discharge passage of the humidifier base when the refilling module is removed from the humidifier base. The respiration tube connecting portion is configured to be connected to a respiration tube and deliver the humidified positive pressure gas to the respiration tube.
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Citations
98 Claims
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1. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas; a humidifier base located downstream of the CPAP unit and having a gas feed passage positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit and having a gas discharge passage, the humidifier base being integrated directly into the CPAP unit or removably joined together with the CPAP unit, the humidifier base comprising a receiving portion with a bottom wall heater plate; a refilling module with a metallic bottom portion configured to be supported by and come into heat conducting contact with the heater plate of the humidifier base when the refilling module is at least partially inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base, the refilling module being removably inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base to complete a gas flow path from the gas feed passage to the gas discharge passage, and being configured to a) hold a volume of water and b) humidify the positive pressure gas; and a respiration tube connecting portion positioned to remain in communication with the gas discharge passage of the humidifier base when the refilling module is removed from the humidifier base, the respiration tube connecting portion being configured to be connected to a respiration tube and deliver the humidified positive pressure gas to the respiration tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A modular positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas, the CPAP unit comprising a CPAP unit engagement face with a plurality of connection devices, the plurality of connection devices comprising a gas outlet port, a CPAP unit electrical connector and a CPAP unit connector; and a humidifier configured to be removably coupled and locked to the CPAP unit, the humidifier comprising a humidifier engagement face configured to engage the CPAP unit engagement face, the humidifier engagement face including a plurality of connection devices, the plurality of connection devices comprising a humidifier gas inlet connecting member, a humidifier electrical connector and a humidifier connector, wherein the CPAP unit and the humidifier are structured so that when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other; (1) the CPAP unit gas outlet port sealingly engages the humidifier gas inlet connecting member, (2) the CPAP unit electrical connector engages the humidifier electrical connector, and (3) the CPAP unit connector engages the humidifier connector and locks the CPAP unit to the humidifier. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for supplying positive pressure respiratory gas to a patient interface, the system comprising:
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a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of respiratory gas; and a humidifier configured to humidify the respiratory gas, wherein the CPAP unit comprises; a housing with a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face and two side faces extending from the front face to the rear face, the front face including an opening; a first respiratory gas outlet connecting member recessed within the opening on the front face, the first respiratory gas outlet connecting member including a first tubular structure surrounded by a first channel; a first electrical connecting member with contact elements positioned within a recess on the front face located in a lower portion of the CPAP unit; a first securing member configured to secure the CPAP unit to the humidifier, the first securing member being positioned in the lower portion of the CPAP unit; a display, user input devices and a handle positioned on the top face of the housing; and a plurality of support feet positioned on the bottom face of the housing, wherein the humidifier comprises; a base with a connecting surface adapted to engage the front face of the CPAP unit; a respiratory gas inlet connecting member adapted to be received within the first channel and adapted to sealingly receive the first tubular structure; a liquid storage container removable from the base; a heater plate in the base adapted to heat a bottom surface of the liquid storage container when the liquid storage container is attached to the base; a second electrical connecting member adapted to engage the first electrical connecting member and provide electrical power to the heater plate when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are coupled together; a second respiratory gas outlet connecting member including a second tubular structure surrounded by a second channel, a second securing member configured to engage the first securing member to rigidly secure the CPAP unit to the humidifier; and a plurality of support feet positioned on a bottom of the base, and wherein, the liquid storage container comprises a baffle configured to change a direction of gas flowing through the liquid storage container, a bottom of the liquid storage container comprises thermally conductive material, and the respiratory gas inlet connecting member of the humidifier is oriented so that a longitudinal axis of the respiratory gas inlet connecting member is parallel to a direction in which the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved to be coupled. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A modular positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas, the CPAP unit comprising; a housing with a lateral face and a gas outlet port; and a first locking portion at a lower portion of the CPAP unit housing lateral face; and a humidifier configured to be coupled and locked to the CPAP unit, the humidifier comprising; a housing with a lateral face; a second locking portion at a lower portion of the humidifier housing lateral face; and a gas inlet connecting member, wherein the CPAP unit housing and the humidifier housing are structured to lock to each other when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other, wherein the CPAP unit gas outlet port and the humidifier gas inlet connecting member are positioned to sealingly engage each other when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other, and wherein the CPAP unit and the humidifier are structured so that the first locking portion engages the second locking portion when the CPAP unit housing lateral face engages the humidifier housing lateral face. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A modular positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas, the CPAP unit comprising a CPAP unit engagement face with a gas outlet port and a CPAP unit electrical connector; a humidifier configured to be removably coupled and locked to the CPAP unit, the humidifier comprising a humidifier engagement face configured to engage the CPAP unit engagement face, the humidifier engagement face including a humidifier gas inlet connecting member and a humidifier electrical connector; and a latch configured to removably lock the CPAP unit to the humidifier, wherein the CPAP unit and the humidifier are structured so that when the CPAP unit and the humidifier are moved laterally toward each other; (1) the CPAP unit gas outlet port sealingly engages the humidifier gas inlet connecting member, (2) the CPAP unit electrical connector engages the humidifier electrical connector, and (3) the latch locks the CPAP unit to the humidifier. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas; a humidifier base located downstream of the CPAP unit and having a gas feed passage positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit and having a gas discharge passage that is connected to a respiration tube connecting portion configured to be connected to and deliver the positive pressure gas to a respiration tube, the humidifier base being integrated directly into the CPAP unit or removably joined together with the CPAP unit, the humidifier base comprising a receiving portion with a bottom wall heater plate; and a refilling module with a metallic bottom portion, the refilling module being removably inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base to complete a gas flow path from the gas feed passage to the gas discharge passage and being configured to a) hold a volume of water and b) humidify the positive pressure gas, wherein the metallic bottom portion of the refilling module is supported by and comes into heat conducting contact with the heater plate of the humidifier base when the refilling module is inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base, and wherein the respiration tube connecting portion remains connected to the gas discharge passage of the humidifier base when the refilling module is removed from the humidifier base. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas; a humidifier base having a gas feed passage positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit and having a gas discharge passage, the humidifier base being integrated directly into the CPAP unit, the humidifier base comprising a receiving portion with a bottom wall heater plate; an electrical connection between the humidifier base and the CPAP unit; a refilling module with a metallic bottom portion configured to be supported by and come into heat conducting contact with the heater plate of the humidifier base when the refilling module is at least partially inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base, the refilling module being removably inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base to complete a gas flow path from the gas feed passage to the gas discharge passage, and being configured to a) hold a volume of water and b) humidify the positive pressure gas; and a respiration tube connecting portion positioned to remain in communication with the gas discharge passage of the humidifier base when the refilling module is removed from the humidifier base, the respiration tube connecting portion being configured to be connected to a respiration tube and deliver the humidified positive pressure gas to the respiration tube, wherein the refilling module comprises a gas feed opening configured to receive the positive pressure gas from the gas feed passage of the humidifier base and comprises a gas discharge opening configured to discharge the humidified positive pressure gas to the gas discharge passage of the humidifier base, wherein the refilling module and the receiving portion are configured so that upon the refilling module being inserted into the receiving portion, the gas feed opening is automatically aligned with the gas feed passage and the gas discharge opening is automatically aligned with the gas discharge passage, wherein the gas feed passage originates at a gas inlet of the humidifier base, wherein the refilling module has a housing portion made of translucent or transparent material, wherein the heater plate is configured to provide heat to the water in the refilling module via the metallic bottom portion of the refilling module, wherein the refilling module comprises at least one baffle configured to change a direction of the positive pressure gas flowing through the refilling module, wherein the CPAP unit further comprises a display and a user input device configured to control the CPAP unit and the humidifier base, and wherein the respiration tube connecting portion comprises a hollow tubular structure surrounded by a channel.
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97. A positive pressure gas supply system configured to supply positive pressure gas to a patient, the system comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of positive pressure gas; a humidifier base having a gas feed passage positioned to receive the flow of positive pressure gas from the CPAP unit and having a gas discharge passage that is connected to a respiration tube connecting portion configured to be connected to and deliver the positive pressure gas to a respiration tube, the humidifier base being integrated directly into the CPAP unit, the humidifier base comprising a receiving portion with a bottom wall heater plate; and a refilling module with a metallic bottom portion, the refilling module being removably inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base to complete a gas flow path from the gas feed passage to the gas discharge passage and being configured to a) hold a volume of water and b) humidify the positive pressure gas, wherein the metallic bottom portion of the refilling module is supported by and comes into heat conducting contact with the heater plate of the humidifier base when the refilling module is inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base, wherein the respiration tube connecting portion remains connected to the gas discharge passage of the humidifier base when the refilling module is removed from the humidifier base, wherein the refilling module comprises a gas feed opening configured to receive the positive pressure gas from the gas feed passage of the humidifier base and comprises a gas discharge opening configured to discharge the humidified positive pressure gas to the discharge passage of the humidifier base, wherein the refilling module and the receiving portion are configured so that upon the refilling module being inserted into the receiving portion, the gas feed opening is automatically aligned with the gas feed passage and the gas discharge opening is automatically aligned with the gas discharge passage, wherein the gas feed passage originates at a gas inlet of the humidifier base, wherein the respiration tube connecting portion comprises a hollow tubular structure surrounded by a channel, wherein the channel is shaped so that the respiration tube is connectable to the respiration tube connecting portion in only one orientation, wherein the refilling module comprises a trough element, a cover and a seal between the trough element and the cover, wherein the cover is removable from the trough element, wherein the trough element has a humidifying region in which the positive pressure gas receives water vapor from the volume of water, wherein the system further comprises a pressure measuring port proximate the gas feed passage, wherein the heater plate is configured to provide heat to the water in the refilling module via the metallic bottom portion of the refilling module, wherein the metallic bottom portion of the refilling module comes into intimate contact with the heater plate of the humidifier base when the refilling module is inserted into the receiving portion of the humidifier base, wherein at least a portion of the refilling module comprises a translucent or transparent material, wherein the refilling module comprises at least one baffle configured to change a direction of the positive pressure gas flowing through the refilling module, and wherein the CPAP unit further comprises a display and a user input device configured to control the CPAP unit and the heater of the humidifier base. - View Dependent Claims (98)
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Specification