Humidifier with structure to prevent backflow of liquid through the humidifier inlet
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprisinga humidifier includinga base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, at least a portion of the base being constructed of a heat conducting material,a top cover, anda seal disposed between the top cover and the base;
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7 Assignments
Litigations
3 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A humidifier includes a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, a top cover, and a seal disposed between the top cover and the base. At least a portion of the base is constructed of a heat conducting material. The top cover defines both an inlet and an outlet communicated with an interior of the base. The inlet is configured to receive pressurized breathable gas and the outlet is configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas with added humidity.
182 Citations
98 Claims
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1. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprising
a humidifier including a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, at least a portion of the base being constructed of a heat conducting material, a top cover, and a seal disposed between the top cover and the base; - and
a connecting structure configured to connect between the CPAP apparatus and humidifier and allow communication of an outlet of the CPAP apparatus with the an inlet of the humidifier, the connecting structure including a housing providing a base portion to support the humidifier thereon, and a retaining mechanism configured to secure the connecting structure 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A humidifier for humidifying a flow of breathable gas to be delivered to a patient, the humidifier comprising:
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a humidifier body configured to retain a body of liquid having a predetermined maximum volume, the humidifier body comprising; a first chamber having a first chamber inlet configured to receive the flow of breathable gas, and a second chamber in communication with the first chamber through a passage, the second chamber being structured to contain a predetermined maximum volume of liquid when the humidifier body is in a normal upright, operating position, the second chamber comprising a second chamber outlet configured to deliver the flow of breathable gas with added humidity, wherein the first chamber, the second chamber, and the passage are arranged such that when liquid is contained in the second chamber in the upright, normal operating position, the possibility of liquid flowing from the second chamber through the passage is reduced or prevented, and liquid that flows from the second chamber and through the passage is collected in the first chamber such that liquid is discouraged or prevented from spilling back from the first chamber inlet when the humidifier body is inadvertently rotated from the upright, normal operating position to a non-upright position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprising:
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a humidifier that defines a reservoir for a body of liquid, and a fluid passage between an inlet provided at a rear side of the humidifier and an outlet of the humidifier for exposure of a flow of breathable gas from the CPAP apparatus to the body of liquid, the humidifier comprising a base configured to retain the body of liquid therein and including a heat conducting material, and a top cover that covers the base, the top cover including the outlet; and a connecting structure configured to connect between the CPAP apparatus and humidifier and allow communication of an outlet of the CPAP apparatus with the inlet of the humidifier, the connecting structure comprising a housing, the housing providing a generally horizontal, open receptacle within which the humidifier may be removably disposed by generally horizontally inserting the humidifier within and pulling it out of the receptacle, the housing comprising a base portion forming a lower surface of the receptacle and configured to support the humidifier thereon, a heating element positioned on the lower surface and in thermal contact with the heat conducting material of the base when the humidifier is disposed in the receptacle, and a retaining portion positioned adjacent the top cover of the humidifier and being spaced above the base portion, the retaining portion being configured to assist in retaining the humidifier in the generally horizontal receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A humidifier, comprising:
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a humidification chamber having a reservoir configured to store a body of liquid having a maximum value, the humidification chamber defining a portion of a fluid passage, the fluid passage configured to direct a flow of breathable gas into exposure with the body of liquid to humidify the flow of breathable gas, the humidification chamber also having an inlet for the flow of breathable gas and an outlet for the humidified flow of breathable gas; and a backflow chamber forming another portion of the fluid passage and in fluid communication with the humidification chamber, the backflow chamber having an inlet to receive the flow of breathable gas and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the humidification chamber, wherein the maximum volume of the body of liquid is contained entirely in the humidification chamber when the humidifier is in a normal, upright operating position, and a level of the maximum volume of the body of liquid is below the humidification chamber inlet and/or the backflow chamber inlet when the humidifier is in a non-upright position in which a portion of the body of liquid is transferrable along the fluid passage from the humidification chamber to the backflow chamber. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A humidifier, comprising:
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a humidification chamber having a reservoir configured to store a body of liquid having a maximum volume, the humidification chamber defining a portion of a fluid passage, the fluid passage configured to direct a flow of breathable gas into exposure with the body of liquid to humidify the flow of breathable gas, the humidification chamber also having an inlet for the flow of breathable gas and an outlet for the humidified flow of breathable gas; and a backflow chamber forming another portion of the fluid passage and in fluid communication with the humidification chamber, the backflow chamber having an inlet to receive the flow of breathable gas and an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the humidification chamber, wherein the maximum volume of the body of liquid is contained entirely in the humidification chamber when the humidifier is in a normal, upright operating position, and the maximum volume of the body of liquid is retained in the humidification chamber or in the humidification chamber and the backflow chamber below the inlet of the backflow chamber in a non-upright position in which a portion of the body of liquid is transferrable along the fluid passage from the humidification chamber to the backflow chamber. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprising:
a humidifier including; a base configured to hold a volume of liquid therein, at least a portion of the base being constructed of a heat conducting material, a top cover, and a seal disposed between the top cover and the base; and a connecting structure configured to connect between the CPAP apparatus and the humidifier and allow communication of an outlet of the CPAP apparatus with an inlet of the humidifier, the connecting structure including; a housing providing a base portion to support the humidifier thereon, the base portion includes a heating element in contact with the heat conducting material of the base of the humidifier, wherein the humidifier assembly further comprises; first and second internal passages; the first passage extending from a first inlet, through the base of the humidifier configured to hold the volume of liquid, and to a common outlet; the second passage extending from a second inlet to the common outlet; the first passage being disposed so as to be exposed to a surface of said volume of liquid when held in the humidifier; the second passage being configured to be able to communicate with a pressure and/or sound sensing device arranged to obtain measurement signals of the flow of breathable gas; and
,the second passage being isolated from a surface of a said volume of liquid when held in the humidifier so as to avoid degradation of the measurement signals. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98)
Specification