Apparatus for humidifying a respiratory gas
First Claim
1. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:
- a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unit comprising a blower configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas;
a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid, the liquid storage container comprising;
a gas feed opening configured to receive the flow of pressurized breathable gas from the CPAP unit;
a gas discharge opening;
a horizontally extending bottom comprising metallic heat conducting material; and
a humidifying region in an intermediate flow path between the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening, the humidifying region being above the metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the liquid storage container in which the flow of pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and receives water vapor generated from the body of liquid in use; and
a support housing integrated directly into the CPAP unit and having a receiving space configured to removably receive the liquid storage container, the support housing comprising;
a gas feed flow path in fluid communication with an outlet of the CPAP unit, the gas feed flow path being open to the receiving space;
a gas discharge flow path configured to be fluidly connected to an air delivery tube, the gas discharge flow path being open to the receiving space; and
a horizontally extending heater plate in a wall of a bottom region of the support housing,wherein the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path are separated from each other, andwherein the liquid storage container is structured such that when the liquid storage container is received by the support housing, the gas feed opening aligns with the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge opening aligns with the gas discharge flow path so that the liquid storage container fluidly connects the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder includes a CPAP unit with a blower configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas. The Apparatus also includes a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid. The liquid storage container has a gas feed opening, a gas discharge opening and a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material. In addition, the apparatus includes a support housing integrated directly into the CPAP unit and having a receiving space configured to removably receive the liquid storage container. The liquid storage container is structured such that when the liquid storage container is received by the support housing, the gas feed opening aligns with and engages with an ending portion of a gas feed flow path defined by the support structure and the gas discharge opening aligns with and engages with a beginning portion of a gas discharge flow path defined by the support structure so that the liquid storage container fluidly connects the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:
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a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unit comprising a blower configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas; a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid, the liquid storage container comprising; a gas feed opening configured to receive the flow of pressurized breathable gas from the CPAP unit; a gas discharge opening; a horizontally extending bottom comprising metallic heat conducting material; and a humidifying region in an intermediate flow path between the gas feed opening and the gas discharge opening, the humidifying region being above the metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the liquid storage container in which the flow of pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and receives water vapor generated from the body of liquid in use; and a support housing integrated directly into the CPAP unit and having a receiving space configured to removably receive the liquid storage container, the support housing comprising; a gas feed flow path in fluid communication with an outlet of the CPAP unit, the gas feed flow path being open to the receiving space; a gas discharge flow path configured to be fluidly connected to an air delivery tube, the gas discharge flow path being open to the receiving space; and a horizontally extending heater plate in a wall of a bottom region of the support housing, wherein the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path are separated from each other, and wherein the liquid storage container is structured such that when the liquid storage container is received by the support housing, the gas feed opening aligns with the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge opening aligns with the gas discharge flow path so that the liquid storage container fluidly connects the gas feed flow path and the gas discharge flow path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:
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a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas, the CPAP unit including an integrated humidifier with a receiving space; a trough configured to hold a body of liquid and configured to be removably received by the humidifier receiving space, the trough having a bottom portion comprising a metallic heat conducting material, the trough comprising; an air inlet; an air outlet; and a humidifying region in which liquid from the body of liquid is evaporated into the pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit; and an insert and twist lock that removably secures the trough within the receiving space, wherein the humidifier has a bottom portion to support the trough thereon, the bottom portion including a heating element configured to thermally contact the heat conducting material of the trough. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas to a patient having a sleep-related disorder, the apparatus comprising:
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a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) unit configured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas; a refilling cartridge configured to hold a body of liquid, the refilling cartridge comprising a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the refilling cartridge in which the pressurized breathable gas generated by the CPAP unit passes over and collects water vapor generated from the body of liquid, the refilling cartridge further comprising a gas feed opening configured to receive the pressurized breathable gas and a gas discharge opening configured to deliver humidified pressurized breathable gas; a base unit comprising a receiving space configured to removably receive the refilling cartridge, the base unit having a bottom portion to support the refilling cartridge thereon, the bottom portion including a horizontally oriented heating element configured to contact the metallic heat conducting material of the refilling cartridge when the refilling cartridge is supported on the base unit; at least one seal configured to portion-wise or completely seal off the refilling cartridge relative to the base unit; and an airflow path defined by the refilling cartridge and the base unit, the base unit defining an air inlet portion of the airflow path and an air outlet portion of the airflow path, and the refilling cartridge defining a middle portion of the airflow path linking the air inlet portion and the air outlet portion, wherein the refilling cartridge is structured so that when the refilling cartridge links the air inlet and the air outlet, the gas feed opening faces the air inlet portion of the airflow path without entering the air inlet portion of the airflow path and the gas discharge opening faces the air outlet portion of the airflow path without entering the air outlet portion of the airflow path. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification