HUMIDITY CONTROLLER
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Accused Products
Abstract
A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases at a desired level of humidity to a patient including a humidifier and a heated conduit is disclosed. The humidifier includes a controller which controls the humidifier, or the humidifier and the heated conduit to deliver the gases to the patient at the required humidity or temperature, without the requirement for sensors in the gases stream. The controller uses information already available to the controller, without the requirement for additional information to be provided by sensors in the gases stream. This means the need for sensors in the gases stream is dispensed with. A significant benefit is achieved as sensors are not required in the conduit and thus the apparatus is simple and less bulky.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1-12. -12. (canceled)
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13. In a humidifier comprising a heater plate, a fan, and a conduit, a method of delivering humidified gases to a patient, the method comprising:
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determining a rate of flow of gases through the humidifier by determining a loading of the fan; determining a level of heater plate power required to humidify the gases to a desired level based on the rate of flow of the gases; energizing the heater plate to the level of heater plate power; and monitoring the rate flow of the gases through the humidifier to determine if the rate of flow changes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A humidifier comprising:
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a heater plate configured to heat a body of water to create humidified gases; a fan configured to blow the humidified gases; a conduit configured to deliver the humidified gases to a patient; and a controller configured to;
determine a rate of flow of gases through the humidifier by determining a loading of the fan, determine a level of heater plate power required to humidify the gases to a desired level based on the rate of flow of the gases, energize the heater plate to the level of heater plate power, and monitor the rate flow of the gases through the humidifier to determine if the rate of flow changes. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. In a breathing assistance apparatus, a controller configured to:
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determine a rate of flow of gases through the humidifier by determining a loading of a fan; determine a level of heater plate power required to humidify the gases to a desired level based on the rate of flow of the gases; energize a heater plate to the level of heater plate power; and monitor the rate flow of the gases through the humidifier to determine if the rate of flow changes.
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Specification