# US 10,118,010 B2 · Temperature measuring device for a respiratory humidifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,010 B2 - Document ID: US10118010B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/348,964 - Filed: 2012-09-27 - Published: 2014-08-28 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-01 - Assignees: Hamilton Medical AG - Applicants: Hamilton Medical AG - Inventors: Rudolf Buechi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118010B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - G01J 5/0014: {for sensing the radiation from gases, flames} - G01J 5/025: {Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface} - G01J 5/0806: Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors - G01J 5/0893: {Arrangements to attach devices to a pyrometer, i.e. attaching an optical interface; Spatial relative arrangement of optical elements, e.g. folded beam path (G01J5/049 takes precedence)} - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3313: used specific wavelengths - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract A temperature-measuring device for a respiratory humidifier (1) with a liquid container (5) is provided, wherein the temperature-measuring device comprises a flow channel (9) for breathing gas and an infrared detector (21), which is directed from the outside toward the flow channel (9) for the contactless detection of the temperature of the breathing gas in the flow channel (9), wherein the flow channel (9) comprises on its lateral surface (13) a measurement portion (15), which is aligned with the surrounding areas of the lateral surface (13) and toward which the infrared detector (21) is directed, wherein the flow channel (9) comprises a flow guide element (17), which conducts the breathing gas stream to the measurement portion (15) at a previously determined inflow angle of preferably greater than 10° and less than 170°. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a temperature-measuring device for a respiratory humidifier with a liquid container, the temperature-measuring device including a flow channel for breathing gas and an infrared detector directed from the outside toward a measurement portion in the flow channel for contactless detection of the temperature of the breathing gas in the flow channel, the improvement comprising: a wall surface surrounding and defining the flow channel and having the measurement portion as a section thereof, the measurement portion being flush with surrounding areas of the wall surface without the measurement portion projecting or protruding into the interior of the flow channel; and a flow guide element within the flow channel, the flow guide element being separate from the wall surface and positioned and configured to deflect the breathing gas stream directly toward the measurement portion at an inflow angle of greater than 10° and less than 170° with respect to the measurement portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the inflow angle is greater than 30° and less than 60°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The temperature-measuring device of claim 2 wherein the inflow angle is greater than 40° and less than 50°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the flow guide element is arranged in the interior of the flow channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The temperature-measuring device of claim 4 wherein the flow guide element is a straight or curved plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the flow guide element is a straight or curved tube with a rectangular, circular, polygonal, or elliptical cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The temperature-measuring device of claim 6 wherein the flow guide element comprises a structured surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the flow guide element comprises a structured surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the measurement portion is formed with thin walls having an emissivity in the range between 0.90 and 1.00. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device according claim 1 wherein the infrared detector comprises thermal infrared measuring elements such as bolometers, pyroelectric sensors, or thermopiles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the infrared detector comprises an optical component for focusing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The temperature-measuring device of claim 1 wherein the material of the flow channel is a transparent plastic. ### Claim 13 In a respiratory humidifier for a ventilator including a housing, a liquid container, and a temperature-measuring device having a flow channel for breathing gas and an infrared detector directed from the outside toward a measurement portion in the flow channel for contactless detection of the temperature of the breathing gas in the flow channel, the improvement comprising: a wall surface surrounding and defining the flow channel and having the measurement portion as a section thereof, the measurement portion being flush with surrounding areas of the wall surface without the measurement portion projecting or protruding into the interior of the flow channel; and a flow guide element within the flow channel, the flow guide element being separate from the wall surface and positioned and configured to deflect the breathing gas stream directly toward the measurement portion at an inflow angle of greater than 10° and less than 170° with respect to the measurement portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The respiratory humidifier of claim 13 wherein the liquid container includes the flow channel with the measurement portion and the infrared detector is arranged on the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The respiratory humidifier of claim 13 including a control unit to regulate the heating output based on the measurement value provided by the temperature-measuring device.