# US 10,307,560 B2 · Positive airway pressure device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,560 B2 - Document ID: US10307560B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/663,908 - Filed: 2015-03-20 - Published: 2015-07-09 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-12 - Assignees: ResMed Limited - Applicants: ResMed Limited - Inventors: Dion Charles Chewe Martin; Barton John Kenyon; Alexander Virr; Dmitri Anatolievich Doudkine; Philip Rodney Kwok; Richard Charles Napper; John Michael Snow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307560B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/0003: {Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 16/0069: {the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation} - A61M 16/06: Respiratory or anaesthetic masks - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/108: {before being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 2016/003: {with a flowmeter} - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/3666: using heat loss of a motor - A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61M 2205/6081: Colour codes - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2205/8262: connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter - 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)} ## Abstract A positive airway pressure (PAP) device for supplying a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas and a humidifier configured to receive and humidify the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the flow generator. The PAP device also includes a power source. The flow generator, humidifier and power source are positioned so that heat generated by at least one of the flow generator and the power source is conveyed to water in the humidifier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A positive airway pressure (PAP) device for supplying a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the PAP device comprising: housing; a flow generator secured within the housing and configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas, the flow generator comprising a blower motor assembly; and a humidifier configured to be secured to the housing and receive and humidify the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the flow generator, wherein when the humidifier is secured to the housing, the flow generator and the humidifier are positioned so that heat originating from the blower motor assembly inside the housing is conveyed through the housing to water in the humidifier, and wherein the housing is configured to be directly exposed to the water in the humidifier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A PAP device according to claim 1, wherein the flow generator comprises an internal power supply and the flow generator is configured to convey heat generated by the internal power supply to the water in the humidifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A PAP device according to claim 2, wherein the flow generator further comprises power supply electronics for controlling the internal power supply, and wherein the flow generator is configured to convey heat generated by the power supply electronics to the water in the humidifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A PAP device according to claim 1, wherein the flow generator comprises a blower with an impeller driven by the blower motor assembly, the blower being configured to pressurize the flow of breathable gas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A PAP device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be submerged within the water in the humidifier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A PAP device according to claim 4, wherein the flow generator further comprises motor drive electronics configured to control the blower motor assembly, and wherein the flow generator is configured to convey heat generated by the motor drive electronics to the water in the humidifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A PAP device according to claim 6, wherein the motor drive electronics are separated from the blower. ### Claim 8 A positive airway pressure (PAP) device for supplying a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the PAP device comprising: housing; a flow generator secured within the housing and configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas; and a humidifier configured to receive and humidify the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the flow generator, the humidifier comprising a tub configured to hold a volume of water, wherein a portion of the housing is configured to be immersed within the water in the tub and convey heat generated by the flow generator to the water in the humidifier when the flow generator is secured to the humidifier. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A PAP device according to claim 8, wherein the flow generator comprises a blower assembly, the blower assembly comprising an impeller and a motor configured to drive the impeller, the impeller being configured to pressurize the breathable gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A PAP device according to claim 9, wherein the motor is secured within the portion of the housing configured to be immersed within the water in the tub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A PAP device according to claim 8, wherein the flow generator comprises an internal power supply, and wherein the internal power supply is secured within the portion of the housing configured to be immersed within the water in the tub. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A PAP device according to claim 8, wherein the flow generator comprises an internal power supply, a blower with an impeller, a blower motor assembly configured to drive the blower, and motor drive electronics configured to control the blower motor assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A PAP device according to claim 12, wherein the internal power supply and the motor drive electronics are compartmentalized from the blower and are positioned within the housing so that heat generated by at least one of the internal power supply and the motor drive electronics is conveyed to the water in the tub when the flow generator is secured to the humidifier. ### Claim 14 A positive airway pressure (PAP) device for supplying a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the PAP device comprising: a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas, the flow generator comprising a blower motor assembly; a power supply configured to provide power to the flow generator; and a humidifier positioned between the flow generator and the power supply, the humidifier being configured to receive and humidify the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the flow generator, the humidifier comprising a tub configured to hold a volume of water; and housing that contains the flow generator and the power supply, wherein the flow generator and the power supply are positioned relative to the humidifier so that heat originating from one or both of the blower motor assembly and the power supply is conveyed by conduction to the water in the tub when the tub contains water and the flow generator and the power supply are assembled to the humidifier, and wherein the housing is positioned to touch the water in the tub. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A PAP device according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the flow generator is configured to be positioned within the tub when the flow generator is secured to the humidifier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A PAP device according to claim 15, wherein the flow generator comprises a blower with an impeller driven by the blower motor assembly, the blower being configured to pressurize the breathable gas. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A PAP device according to claim 16, wherein the blower motor assembly is positioned within the portion of the flow generator configured to be positioned within the humidifier when the flow generator is secured to the humidifier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A PAP device according to claim 17, wherein the flow generator further comprises a heater configured to heat the water in the humidifier. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A PAP device according to claim 18, wherein the heater is positioned within the portion of the flow generator configured to be positioned within the humidifier when the flow generator is secured to the humidifier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) A PAP device according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the power supply is configured to be positioned within the humidifier when the power supply is secured to the humidifier. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) A PAP device according to claim 14 further comprising housing that contains the flow generator and the power supply, wherein the housing is positioned to be submerged within the water in the tub.