Breathing assistance apparatus with a manifold to add auxiliary gases to ambient gases
First Claim
1. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases to a patient, the breathing assistance apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an inlet port;
a blower positioned within the housing and configured to draw gases through the inlet port into the housing;
the apparatus configured to receive a humidification chamber configured to hold a volume of water and to receive gases drawn through the inlet port, the humidification chamber having a heat conductive base configured to transfer heat into the volume of water from a heat source outside of the chamber to produce water vapor to humidify the gases received from the inlet port; and
a manifold attachable to an area of the housing surrounding the inlet port, the manifold comprising;
a first wall and a second wall extending at an angle from the first wall;
an auxiliary gases port extending from the first wall and configured to be connected to an auxiliary gases supply; and
at least one aperture defined by the second wall and configured to allow ambient gases to be drawn into the inlet port such that ambient gases pass through the manifold before entering the inlet port;
wherein the manifold is configured to add auxiliary gases received from the auxiliary gases supply to the ambient gases drawn through the at least one aperture into the inlet port when the device is delivering gases to the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The breathing assistance apparatus of the present invention includes a manifold that is provided with or retrofittable to gases supply and humidifying devices. The manifold allows gases from an oxygen concentrator to be combined with the flow through a gases supply and humidifying device, most usually air The combined output of oxygen and other breathing gases (air) is then humidified. The breathing assistance apparatus and manifold of the present invention provides a safe method to add oxygen to the input air stream of a gases supply and humidifying device and reduces the amount of accumulation of oxygen within the gases supply device, reducing fire risk should sparking occur within the device.
31 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases to a patient, the breathing assistance apparatus comprising:
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a housing having an inlet port; a blower positioned within the housing and configured to draw gases through the inlet port into the housing; the apparatus configured to receive a humidification chamber configured to hold a volume of water and to receive gases drawn through the inlet port, the humidification chamber having a heat conductive base configured to transfer heat into the volume of water from a heat source outside of the chamber to produce water vapor to humidify the gases received from the inlet port; and a manifold attachable to an area of the housing surrounding the inlet port, the manifold comprising; a first wall and a second wall extending at an angle from the first wall; an auxiliary gases port extending from the first wall and configured to be connected to an auxiliary gases supply; and at least one aperture defined by the second wall and configured to allow ambient gases to be drawn into the inlet port such that ambient gases pass through the manifold before entering the inlet port; wherein the manifold is configured to add auxiliary gases received from the auxiliary gases supply to the ambient gases drawn through the at least one aperture into the inlet port when the device is delivering gases to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device adapted to deliver humidified gases to a patient, the device comprising:
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a housing comprising an inlet port; a blower positioned inside of the housing and configured to draw gases into the housing through the inlet port in use; the device configured to receive a humidification chamber configured to hold a volume of water and receive gases drawn through the inlet port, the humidification chamber having a heat conductive base configured to transfer heat into the volume of water from a heat source outside of the chamber to produce water vapor to humidify the gases received from the inlet port; and a manifold configured to be coupled to the housing about the inlet port, the manifold comprising an outlet, a mounting portion configured to be coupled to the housing, and a protruding portion, the protruding portion comprising at least one inlet aperture, the outlet configured to be in fluid communication with the inlet port of the housing in use and the at least one inlet aperture configured to allow ambient gases to be drawn into the manifold and then the inlet port;
the protruding portion comprising an auxiliary port configured to be connected to an auxiliary gases supply;wherein the manifold is configured to add auxiliary gases received from the auxiliary gases supply to the ambient gases drawn through the at least one inlet aperture when the device is delivering gases to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification