Humidifying respiratory gases

• US 9,867,959 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SunMed Group Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Korneff, Neil, Varga, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woodward, Valerie L
• Application Number:
  US14/286,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20140251331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0006 with means for creating vibrations in patients' airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• 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 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/164 including a liquid inlet valve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/21 insensitive to tilting or inclination, e.g. spill-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3382 Upper level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/368 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 : Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 : Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 6/025 : using electrical heating means F24F6/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A device for humidifying respiratory gases. The device includes: a humidification component that holds a water volume; and a heating element that converts received electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is transferred to the water volume, thereby heating the water volume to achieve a heated water volume.

Claims

1. A device for humidifying respiratory gases, said device comprising:

a humidification component comprising a wall forming a cavity for holding a water volume; and

a heating element configured for converting received electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation, wherein said electromagnetic radiation is transferred to said water volume through at least a portion of said wall that is transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation, thereby heating said water volume to achieve a heated water volume;

wherein said electromagnetic radiation transferred through the portion of said wall that is transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation is directed to said water volume by a portion of said wall comprising a non-transmissive surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said humidification component comprises a cross-linked polyethylene.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said humidification component is configured to be separable and disposed from the heating element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating element is independent of said humidification component.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating element comprises an infrared emitter.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said heating element comprises ceramic.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating element comprises a microwave emitter.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating element is reusable with multiple humidification components.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said humidification component comprises a wall of said humidification component.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said wall comprises a base of said humidification component.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said wall comprises a ceiling of said humidification component.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said wall comprises a side wall of said humidification component.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic radiation is in an infrared spectrum.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic radiation is in a microwave spectrum.

15. A method for humidifying respiratory gases, said method comprising:

receiving electrical energy at a heating element;

converting, by said heating element, said electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation, wherein said electromagnetic radiation is transferred to a water volume of a humidification component comprising a wall forming a cavity for holding a water volume, said electromagnetic radiation being transferred through at least a portion of said wall that is transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation and directing said electromagnetic radiation to said water volume by a portion of said wall comprising a non-transmissive surface, thereby heating said water volume to achieve a heated water volume that produces water vapor; and

flowing respiratory gases across said heated water volume, wherein said water vapor humidifies said respiratory gases.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving electrical energy at said heating element comprises receiving electrical energy at said heating element, wherein said heating element is configured to be separated from said humidification component.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving electrical energy at said heating element comprises receiving electrical energy at said heating element, wherein said heating element is configured to be reusable with multiple humidification components.

18. A method of manufacturing a device for humidifying respiratory gases, said method comprising:

providing a humidification component comprising a wall forming a cavity for holding a water volume;

disposing a heating element, configured for receiving electrical energy and converting said electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation, within a base unit; and

coupling said humidification component with said base unit such that said electromagnetic radiation is transferred to said water volume through at least a portion of said wall that is transmissive to said electromagnetic radiation and said electromagnetic radiation is directed to said water volume by a portion of said wall comprising a non-transmissive surface, thereby heating said water volume to achieve a heated water volume, and wherein said heating element is independent of said humidification component.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising pre-filling said humidification component with water.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising blow molding said humidification component as a single piece.