# US 10,500,366 B2 · Humidification device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,366 B2 - Document ID: US10500366B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/139,613 - Filed: 2016-04-27 - Published: 2016-10-27 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-27 - Assignees: Teleflex Medical Incorporated - Applicants: Teleflex Medical Incorporated - Inventors: Douglas Roy Drew - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500366B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 11/041: {using heaters} - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/1095: {in the connecting tubes} - A61M 16/208: {Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves} - A61M 2205/3606: cooled - A61M 2205/3633: thermally insulated - A61M 2205/368: by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR waves - 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 humidification device for a respiratory breathing circuit comprises an induction heater assembly to inject steam into a breathing circuit gas line. The assembly comprises a housing defining a housing lumen. An induction element is located around the housing lumen. A cannula is disposed within the housing lumen and surrounded by the induction element, the cannula being configured to receive a flow of water. A heating element is located inside the cannula, the heating element being at least partially surrounded by the induction element. The induction element is excited by electrical current to generate an oscillating magnetic field to create eddy currents in the heating element to heat the heating element, and thereby heat the flow of water in the cannula flowing past the heating element, to thereby vaporize the water into steam which exits the induction heater assembly and housing to be injected into the breathing circuit gas line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A humidification device for a respiratory breathing circuit, comprising: an induction heater assembly configured to inject steam into a breathing circuit gas line of the respiratory breathing circuit, the induction heater assembly comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing defining a housing lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; an induction element located around at least a portion of the housing lumen; a power assembly in the housing for connection to a power source; a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, the cannula being disposed within the housing lumen and surrounded by the induction element, the cannula being configured to receive a flow of water; a heating element located inside the cannula, the heating element being at least partially surrounded by the induction element; and a temperature sensor integrated into the cannula or placed in contact with water flowing within the cannula, wherein the induction element is configured to be excited by electrical current supplied from the power assembly, to generate an oscillating magnetic field to create eddy currents in the heating element to heat the heating element, and thereby heat the flow of water in the cannula flowing past the heating element, to thereby vaporize the water into steam which exits the induction heater assembly and housing to be injected into the breathing circuit gas line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the heating element includes Mu-metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the heating element includes a magnetic material with a relative magnetic permeability greater than ten thousand. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction element comprises at least one helically wound metallic coil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction element comprises one or more electrical conductors configured to generate an oscillating magnetic dipole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction element comprises at least two electrical conductors configured to generate an oscillating magnetic multipole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The humidification device of claim 6, wherein the at least two electrical conductors are wires or a printed circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction heater assembly further comprises a thermal insulator located between the housing and the induction element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction heater assembly further comprises a non-magnetic tube located within the housing lumen, the non-magnetic tube being disposed around the cannula. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a check valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the power assembly is located at the proximal end of the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the cannula is made from a material selected from a metal, plastic, glass, ceramic, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction heater assembly includes a standardized Luer taper connection for fluid flow into the cannula. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction heater assembly further comprises a plurality of cooling fins radially extending from an exterior surface of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the induction heater assembly further comprises a plurality of cooling fins extending into a gas flow line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The humidification device of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple that is integrated into the cannula or placed in contact with water flowing within the cannula to act as a conductor such that the thermocouple is configured to measure a temperature across the cannula or the fluid.