APPARATUS FOR HUMIDIFYING A RESPIRATORY GAS

• US 20110073109A1
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Genger, Harald, Vogele, Harald, Madaus, Stefan, Schatzl, Stefan, Klopp, Andreas, MAYER, Wolfgang, Lang, Bernd
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0816 Joints or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/105 Filters A61M16/047, A61M16/22 take precedence; water traps A61M16/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/003 Means for influencing the temperature or humidity of the breathing gas

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas, a humidifying apparatus, a respiratory gas tube and a connecting apparatus therefor. The apparatus of the invention includes a blowing device for delivering the respiratory gas, a housing device which has a bottom region, a top surface region and a side region extending upwardly between the top surface region and the cover region, as well as a connecting device for connecting a humidifying apparatus for humidifying the respiratory gas, wherein the connecting device is arranged in the side region of the apparatus in such a way that the humidifying apparatus can be laterally coupled thereto. The humidifying apparatus according to the invention is distinguished by a partial amount discharge device for passing a partial amount of the liquid pre-stored in a liquid storage space into a humidifying region. The respiration tube according to the invention includes a connecting plug structure which has both a respiratory gas connecting portion and also a pressure measuring tube connecting portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of respiratory gas;

a humidifying apparatus adapted to be coupled to the CPAP unit and humidify the flow of respiratory gas; and

a respiration tube adapted to be coupled to the CPAP unit or the humidifying apparatus and configured to deliver the flow of respiratory gas to the patient, wherein

the CPAP unit comprises a respiratory gas connection portion on a side of the CPAP unit that is configured to be coupled to the respiration tube or the humidifying apparatus to deliver the flow of respiratory gas to the respiration tube or the humidifying apparatus, respectively,

the humidifying apparatus comprises a connection portion on a side thereof that is configured to connect to the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit, a longitudinal axis of the connection portion being provided at an exact same vertical heightwise level on the side of the humidifying apparatus as a longitudinal axis of the respiratory gas connection portion is provided on the side of the CPAP unit, such that the connection portion of the humidifying apparatus and the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit are joined when the humidifying apparatus and the CPAP unit are moved laterally towards each other while placed on a common flat surface, the humidifying apparatus comprising a fixing device to rigidly couple the humidifying apparatus to the CPAP unit,

the humidifying apparatus also comprises a respiration tube connection portion configured to connect the respiration tube to the humidifying apparatus, the respiration tube connection portion of the humidifying apparatus and the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit having respiration tube connecting members shaped to permit the respiration tube to be connected to either the CPAP unit or the humidifying apparatus,

the humidifying apparatus further comprises a housing, a heating element provided in a bottom portion of the housing, and a liquid storage container configured to store a supply of liquid to humidify the respiratory gas flow, the liquid storage container being configured to be inserted and removed from the housing in a cartridge-like manner and to be in contact with the heating element when inserted into the housing, and

the CPAP unit also comprises an electric terminal configured to receive an electric plug of the humidifying apparatus to electrically couple the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus, the electrical terminal being located in a recess of the CPAP unit below the respiratory gas connection portion so that the electric terminal does not extend beyond a surface defined by the side of the CPAP unit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bottom region of the liquid storage container configured to contact the heating element comprises metal.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the liquid storage container comprises a) a bottom portion including the bottom region, b) a top portion connected to the bottom portion, and c) a seal provided between the bottom portion and the top portion.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the bottom portion of the liquid storage container comprises a respiratory gas feed opening configured to receive the flow of respiratory gas from the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit when the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit is connected to the connection portion of the humidifying apparatus.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the respiratory gas feed opening of the bottom portion of the liquid storage container is configured to deliver the respiratory gas flow to a surface of a liquid stored in the liquid storage container.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bottom portion of the liquid storage container further comprises a direction-changing device configured to change a direction of the respiratory gas flow from the respiratory gas feed opening towards the surface of the liquid stored in the liquid storage container.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the respiratory gas connection portion at the CPAP unit and the connection portion of the humidifying apparatus are correspondingly complementary shaped.

8. A method of supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising:

generating a flow of respiratory gas with a CPAP unit comprising a respiratory gas connection portion on a side of the CPAP unit; and

humidifying the flow of respiratory gas with a humidifying apparatus comprising a connection portion on a side thereof that is configured to connect to the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit, a longitudinal axis of the connection portion being provided at an exact same vertical heightwise level on the humidifying apparatus as a longitudinal axis of the respiratory gas connection portion is provided on the CPAP unit such that the connection portion of the humidifying apparatus and the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit are joined by coupling the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus by moving the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus laterally with respect to each other while placed on a common flat surface to join the respiratory gas connection portion and the connection portion together.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising:

rigidly fixing the humidifying apparatus to the CPAP unit.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising:

electrically connecting the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein electrically connecting the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus comprises:

electrically coupling a plug of the humidifying apparatus with an electric terminal of the CPAP unit configured to receive the plug of the humidifying apparatus, the electrical terminal being located in a recess of the CPAP unit below the respiratory gas connection portion so that the electric terminal does not extend beyond a surface defined by the side of the CPAP unit.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the humidifying apparatus further comprises a housing, a heating element provided in a bottom portion of the housing, and a liquid storage container configured to store a supply of liquid to humidify the respiratory gas flow, wherein the method further comprises:

inserting the liquid storage container into the housing in a cartridge-like manner to be in contact with the heating element.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein inserting the liquid storage container into the housing comprises inserting the liquid storage container in a direction perpendicular to the lateral coupling direction of the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the liquid storage container comprises a bottom portion comprising a respiratory gas feed opening configured to communicate with the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit when the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit is connected to the connection portion of the humidifying apparatus, the method further comprising:

feeding a respiratory gas flow from the CPAP unit towards a surface of a supply of liquid stored in a bottom portion of the liquid storage container through the respiratory gas feed opening.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

changing a direction of the respiratory gas flow from the respiratory gas feed opening towards the surface of the liquid stored in the liquid storage container.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising:

uniformly humidifying the respiratory gas flow.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising:

coupling a respiration tube to the humidifying apparatus to deliver the flow of respiratory gas to the patient.

18. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprising:

a liquid container including a) a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, at least a portion of the base being constructed of a heat conducting material, b) a top portion, and c) a seal disposed between the top portion and the base; and

a housing comprising a base portion to support the liquid container, a connecting structure configured to connect the CPAP apparatus and the housing and allow communication of an outlet of the CPAP apparatus with an inlet of the housing, the connecting structure including a retaining mechanism configured to secure the housing to the CPAP apparatus, wherein the base portion includes a heating element in contact with the heat conducting material of the base of the humidifier.

19. A humidifier assembly according to claim 18, wherein the housing defines both the inlet and an outlet communicated with an interior of the liquid container, the inlet configured to receive pressurized breathable gas and the outlet configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas with added humidity.

20. A humidifier assembly according to claim 19, wherein the connecting structure includes contact elements that communicate with a power supply within the CPAP apparatus.

21. A humidifier assembly according to claim 20, wherein the connecting structure is configured to allow removable attachment of the CPAP apparatus to the housing.

22. A humidifier assembly according to claim 21, wherein the heat conducting material is a metallic material.

23. A CPAP apparatus including a CPAP device and the humidifier assembly according to claim 22.

24. An apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, comprising:

a CPAP unit configured to generate a flow of respiratory gas; and

a humidifying apparatus adapted to be removably coupled to the CPAP unit and humidify the flow of respiratory gas, wherein

the CPAP unit comprises a respiratory gas connection portion on a side of the CPAP unit that is configured to be coupled to a respiration tube or the humidifying apparatus to deliver the flow of respiratory gas to the respiration tube or the humidifying apparatus, respectively,

the humidifying apparatus comprises a connection portion on a side thereof that is configured to connect to the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit and a respiration tube connection portion configured to connect the respiration tube to the humidifying apparatus,

each of the respiration tube connection portion of the humidifying apparatus and the respiratory gas connection portion of the CPAP unit having a respiration tube connecting member shaped to permit the respiration tube to be connected to either the CPAP unit or the humidifying apparatus,

the humidifying apparatus further comprises a housing, a heating element provided in a bottom portion of the housing, and a liquid storage container configured to store a supply of liquid to humidify the respiratory gas flow, the liquid storage container being configured to be inserted and removed from the housing and to be in contact with the heating element when inserted into the housing, and

the housing defines both an inlet and an outlet communicated with an interior of the liquid storage container, the liquid storage container being positioned between the inlet and the outlet, the inlet configured to receive pressurized breathable gas and the outlet configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas with added humidity.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising an electrical connecting device configured to electrically couple the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus when the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus are connected by the connection portion.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the electrical connecting device comprises an electric plug on the side of the humidifying apparatus including the connection portion and an electric terminal on the side of the CPAP unit including the respiratory gas connection portion.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the electric terminal of the CPAP unit is located in a recess below the respiratory gas connection portion so that the electric terminal does not extend beyond a surface defined by the side of the CPAP unit.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a latch configured to detachably hold the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus when the CPAP unit and the humidifying apparatus are connected by the connection portion.

29. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the liquid storage container may be inserted or removed from the housing without disconnecting the respiration tube from the respiration tube connection portion.

30. Apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas under an increased pressure comprising:

a blowing device to deliver the respiratory gas;

a housing device having a bottom region, a top surface region and a side region extending upwardly between the top surface region and the bottom region; and

a connecting device to connect a peripheral apparatus, the connecting device being arranged in the side region in such a way that the peripheral apparatus can be laterally coupled thereto,

wherein the connecting device includes a respiratory gas port structured to conduct respiratory gas to the peripheral apparatus and a pressure-measuring port structured to couple to a pressure-measuring conduit provided to the peripheral apparatus, and wherein the connecting device further includes at least one electrical connecting member configured to afford an electrical connection to a humidifying apparatus.

31. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein the respiratory gas port and the pressure-measuring port each include an end portion arranged in a recessed opening provided in the side region.

32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 31, wherein the recessed opening includes a sufficient depth to allow coupling of the end portion of each of the respiratory gas port and the pressure-measuring port to the peripheral apparatus.

33. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein the respiratory gas port includes a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the pressure-measuring port.

34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, further comprising a hose or conduit provided to the pressure-measuring port, the hose or conduit being connected to a portion of the flow path downstream from the external interface.

35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein the respiratory gas port and the pressure-measuring port each include an end portion arranged in a recessed opening provided in the side region.

36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 35, wherein the recessed opening includes a sufficient depth to allow coupling of the end portion of each of the respiratory gas port and the pressure-measuring port to a peripheral apparatus.

37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 30, wherein the respiratory gas port includes a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the pressure-measuring port.