# US 10,245,398 B2 · Respiratory humidifier and lighting device for respiratory humidifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,398 B2 - Document ID: US10245398B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/348,974 - Filed: 2012-09-27 - Published: 2014-10-09 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-01 - Assignees: Hamilton Medical AG - Applicants: Hamilton Bonaduz AG - Inventors: Rudolf Buechi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245398B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices} - A61M 16/021: {operated by electrical means (A61M16/202 – A61M16/205 take precedence)} - A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - F21V 33/0068: {Medical equipment} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback - A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback - A61M 2205/587: Lighting arrangements - 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)} - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A lighting device for a respiratory humidifier (1) is provided, the humidifier comprising a liquid container (3) with a bottom plate and a housing (2) with a heating plate (8), wherein the heating plate (8) can be heated for heating the liquid in the liquid container (3), and wherein the bottom plate can be brought into contact with the heating plate (8), wherein the housing (2) comprises a light source (20) and a light exit portion (22), and the liquid container (3) comprises a light entrance portion (21), wherein the light proceeding from the light source (20) proceeds in a lighting direction through the light exit portion (22) and the light entrance portion (21) and thus arrives in the liquid container (3). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A respiratory humidifier with a lighting device to facilitate observation of the fill level of water in a liquid container from which humidity is added to the breathing gas, the humidifier including a housing with a heating plate and the liquid container with a bottom plate which, when brought into contact with the heating plate, heats the liquid in the liquid container, wherein: the housing includes a projecting portion having a downwardly-facing wall surface with a light-exit portion, the housing containing an electrical light source directed toward the light-exit portion such that light from the electrical light source exits downwardly therefrom; the liquid container includes an upwardly-facing light-entrance portion directly adjacent to and facing the light-exit portion and positioned above the water therein such that light proceeds from the light source through the light-exit portion and light-entrance portion downwardly into the liquid container to illuminate the surface of the water, and at least certain parts of the container surfaces of the liquid container being transparent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein the light-exit portion and the light-entrance portion are flat. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The respiratory humidifier of claim 2 wherein the light-exit portion and the light-entrance portion are arranged at an angle of from about 20° to about 70° to the plane of the bottom plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein the light-exit portion and the light-entrance portion comprise surfaces of complementary shape and defining an air gap therebetween. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The respiratory humidifier of claim 4 wherein the light-exit portion and the light-entrance portion are flat. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The respiratory humidifier of claim 5 wherein the light-exit portion and the light-entrance portion are arranged at an angle of from about 20° to about 70° to the plane of the bottom plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein at least portions of the external surface of the light-entrance portion are polished. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein at least certain portions of the internal surface of the light-entrance portion have a matte or structured finish. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein the light source is multicolored. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The respiratory humidifier of claim 10 wherein the light source is multicolored. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 wherein the inside surface of the bottom plate is polished. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The respiratory humidifier of claim 1 further comprising a control unit adapted for activating and deactivating the lighting device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The respiratory humidifier of claim 13 wherein the control unit is adapted to activate the lighting device when a measurement value exceeds or falls below a previously-determined reference value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The respiratory humidifier of claim 14 wherein the measurement value is a fill-level value or a temperature value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) The respiratory humidifier of claim 5 wherein the light-exit portion and light-entrance portion are substantially parallel.