Humidifier with structure to prevent backflow of liquid through the humidifier inlet
First 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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0 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.
172 Citations
33 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 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)
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8. A humidification chamber for connecting to a respiratory therapy device to provide respiratory therapy, the humidification chamber comprising:
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a bottom surface constructed of a heat conductive material, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be positioned over a heating element of the respiratory therapy device; a wall extending from the bottom surface and defining a volume to hold water in the humidification chamber; a top surface, the bottom surface, wall, and top surface together enclosing the volume; a chamber inlet configured to receive pressurized breathable gas from the respiratory therapy device when the humidification chamber is connected to the respiratory therapy device, the chamber inlet shaped to mate with an output of the respiratory therapy device through which the pressurized breathable gas is received; a chamber outlet configured to supply the pressurized breathable gas with added humidity for delivery to a patient to provide respiratory therapy; and an obstruction within the chamber that is positioned between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the obstruction has a maximum horizontal dimension that is greater than a maximum vertical dimension of the obstruction, wherein the obstruction extends at least partially across an interior of the humidification chamber along a horizontal plane, wherein the obstruction defines, at least partially, one or more fluid inlet passageways between the chamber inlet and the water contained in the humidification chamber, the one or more fluid inlet passageways causing the pressurized breathable gas received through the chamber inlet to be, at least partially, diverted around the obstruction before reaching the water contained in the humidification chamber for added humidification. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification