Respiratory humidification system
First Claim
1. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
- humidificaion chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, probe heating means adapted to heat at least a portion of said flow probe means, temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said gaseous flow, user input means to allow a user to set a required temperature of said gaseous flow, control means which receives input from said flow probe means, said temperature sensing means and said user input means and controls said heating means in response to said inputs to maintain said gaseous flow at said required temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow probe for use in a humidification system is disclosed. The flow probe is adapted to be positioned in a humidified gases flow (for example oxygen or anaesthetic gases) such as that which is provided to a patient in a hospital environment. The flow probe is designed to provide both temperature and flow rate sensing of the gases flow by incorporating two sensors (preferably thermistors) and the shape and alignment of the probe enables accurate readings by reducing the occurrence of condensation on the sensors. A number of possible applications are disclosed wherein the flow sensor is, included in humidification control systems which provide a patient with a desired humidity level or simplify the amount of user input required or wherein the flow sensor provides a controller with flow information which may then be used to determine certain, possibly dangerous, conditions (such as incorrect flow sensor placement, breathing circuit disconnected, no water in the humidification chamber or humidity out of required limits).
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidificaion chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, probe heating means adapted to heat at least a portion of said flow probe means, temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said gaseous flow, user input means to allow a user to set a required temperature of said gaseous flow, control means which receives input from said flow probe means, said temperature sensing means and said user input means and controls said heating means in response to said inputs to maintain said gaseous flow at said required temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidification chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow including sensor housing means adapted for positioning in said gaseous flow, said sensor housing means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said humidified gaseous flow and a sensing end, sensing means housed within said sensor housing means at or near said sensing end, and at least two projecting tab means extending laterally from said sensor housing means, oppositely positioned around said sensor housing means and aligned parallel to said gaseous flow, wherein liquid condensate is dispersed along the lines of intersection between said sensor housing means and said at least two tab means away from said sensing end of said sensor housing means, there existing a localized area of low surface tension along said lines of intersection, temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said gaseous flow, user input means to allow a user to set a required temperature of said gaseous flow, control means which receives input from said flow probe means, said temperature sensing means and said user input means and controls said heating means in response to said inputs to maintain said gaseous flow at said required temperature. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidification chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, said heating means utilizing a measurable quantity of power, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, control means which receives input from said flow probe means and including storage means which is programmed to;
i.) calculate the power usage required of said heating means in order to humidify said gaseous flow to a predetermined level at the gaseous flow rate sensed by said flow probe means, ii.) determine the power presently being utilized by said heating means, and iii.) supply said predetermined level of power to said heating means if the determined present power utilization of said heating means is less than said required power usage. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidification chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said gaseous flow in or adjacent said humidification chamber means, user input means to allow a user to select a desired gaseous flow humidity level of said gaseous flow configured such that in use said desired gaseous flow humidity level is substantially on delivery to said patient, data storage means containing information on target gaseous flow temperatures for various gaseous flow rates for a number of humidification chamber outlet means temperatures, control means configured to receive input from said temperature sensing means and said user input means and configured to repeatedly obtain corresponding target temperature information from said data storage means corresponding to the desired gaseous flow humidity level in relation to said flow rate and configured to vary the heat provided by said heating means until the sensed temperature is substantially equivalent to said target temperature in order to substantially obtain said desired gaseous flow humidity level on delivery to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidification chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of said gaseous flow, user input means to allow a user to select a desired gaseous flow humidity level of said gaseous flow, data storage means containing information on target gaseous flow temperatures at various gaseous flow rates for a number of humidification chamber outlet means temperatures, control means which receives input from said temperature sensing means and said user input means and using said flow information from said flow probe means repeatedly obtains corresponding target temperature information from said data storage means corresponding to the desired gaseous flow humidity level and varies the heat provided by said heating means until the sensed temperature is substantially equivalent to said target temperature in order to obtain said desired gaseous flow humidity level, wherein said flow probe means comprising;
sensor housing means adapted for positioning in said gaseous flow, said sensor housing means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said humidified gaseous flow and a sensing end, sensing means housed within said sensor housing means at or near said sensing end, and at least two projecting tab means extending laterally from said sensor housing means, oppositely positioned around said sensor housing means and aligned parallel to said gaseous flow, wherein liquid condensate is dispersed along the lines of intersection between said sensor housing means and said at least two tab means away from said sensing end of said sensor housing means, there existing a localized area of low surface tension along said lines of intersection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidification chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, and control means configured to receive input from said flow probe means and configured to compare the sensed flow rate of said gaseous flow with a predetermined minimum required gaseous flow rate and configured to place the humidification apparatus into a safe mode of operation if the sensed rate is less than said predetermined minimum rate, said safe mode including conditional logic which is configured to choose between a predetermined set of actions at least relating to the energization of said heating means. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. Humidification apparatus for humidifying a gaseous flow to be supplied to a patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow comprising:
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humidification chamber means adapted to hold a quantity of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow said gaseous flow to pass through said humidification chamber means, heating means provided adjacent said humidification chamber means and adapted to provide heat to said quantity of water in said humidification chamber means in order to provide water vapor to said gaseous flow passing through said humidification chamber means, gaseous flow transportation pathway means connected to said outlet of said humidification chamber means to convey said gaseous flow to said patient or other person in need of such gaseous flow, flow probe means adapted to sense the flow rate of said gaseous flow, and control means which receives input from said flow probe means and compares the sensed flow rate of said gaseous flow with a predetermined minimum required gaseous flow rate and places the humidification apparatus into a safe mode of operation if the sensed rate is less than said predetermined minimum rate wherein said flow probe means comprises;
sensor housing means adapted for positioning in said gaseous flow, said sensor housing means having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said humidified gaseous flow and a sensing end, sensing means housed within said sensor housing means at or near said sensing end, and at least two projecting tab means extending laterally from said sensor housing means, oppositely positioned around said sensor housing means and aligned parallel to said gaseous flow, wherein liquid condensate is dispersed along the lines of intersection between said sensor housing means and said at least two tab means away from said sensing end of said sensor housing means, there existing a localized area of low surface tension along said lines of intersection. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification