# US 11,077,281 B2 · Humidifiers for respiratory apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,281 B2 - Document ID: US11077281B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/243,953 - Filed: 2019-01-09 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-22 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: Ian Malcolm Smith; Richard Llewelyn Jones; Hargopal Verma; Dimitri Marco Maurer; Jane Zona McHenry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077281B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/14: by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 16/162: {Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic} - A61M 16/164: {including a liquid inlet valve system} - A61M 16/165: {with a float actuator} - A61M 2205/3379: Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2209/086: Docking stations - 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 humidifier is configured to humidify a flow of pressurized respiratory gas. The humidifier includes a tub base configured to retain a body of water and a tub lid configured to cover the tub base. The humidifier also includes an inlet passage configured to receive the flow of pressurized respiratory gas and deliver the pressurized respiratory gas to an interior of the humidifier. At least a portion of the inlet passage is configured to float on the body of water retained in the tub base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A humidifier configured to humidify a flow of pressurized respiratory gas, the humidifier comprising: a tub base configured to retain a body of water; a tub lid configured to cover the tub base; and an inlet passage configured to receive the flow of pressurized respiratory gas and deliver the pressurized respiratory gas to an interior of the humidifier, at least a portion of the inlet passage being configured to float on the body of water retained in the tub base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the inlet passage is anchored to a wall of the humidifier at an inlet end, and wherein the inlet passage comprises an open end that is freely movable relative to the inlet end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The humidifier of claim 2, wherein the inlet passage is configured so that the open end of the inlet passage always stays afloat on the surface of the water in the tub base regardless of the orientation of the humidifier. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising an outlet passage configured to discharge the humidified flow of pressurized gas, the outlet passage being configured to float on the body of water retained in the tub base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The humidifier of claim 4, wherein the outlet passage is anchored to a wall of the humidifier at an outlet end, and wherein the outlet passage comprises an open end that is freely movable relative to the outlet end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the outlet passage is configured so that the open end of the outlet passage always stays afloat on the surface of the water in the tub base regardless of the orientation of the humidifier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein at least an open end of the inlet passage is made of buoyant material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The humidifier of claim 7, wherein the buoyant material is polystyrene foam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the inlet passage is attached to the tub lid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A respiratory apparatus configured to pressurize and humidify a flow of breathable gas for respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory apparatus comprising: a flow generator configured to pressurize the flow of breathable gas to a pressure of 2-30 cm H2O; and the humidifier of claim 1. ### Claim 11 A humidifier configured to humidify a flow of pressurized respiratory gas, the humidifier comprising: a tub base configured to retain a body of water; a tub lid configured to cover the tub base; and a flexible inlet passage located inside the humidifier and configured to receive the flow of pressurized respiratory gas, wherein the flexible inlet passage is configured to be supported by the body of water in the tub base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The humidifier of claim 11, wherein the inlet passage is anchored to a wall of the humidifier at an inlet end, wherein the inlet passage comprises an open end, and wherein the inlet passage is configured to flex so that the open end remains above the surface of the body of water and water is prevented from entering the open end regardless of the orientation of the humidifier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The humidifier of claim 11, wherein the inlet passage is coupled to buoyant material or at least part of the inlet passage is made of buoyant material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The humidifier of claim 11, further comprising a flexible outlet passage configured to discharge the humidified flow of pressurized gas, and wherein the outlet passage is configured to be supported by the body of water retained in the tub base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The humidifier of claim 14, wherein the outlet passage is anchored to a wall of the humidifier at an outlet end, wherein the outlet passage comprises an open end, and wherein the outlet passage is configured to flex so that the open end remains above the surface of the body of water and water is prevented from entering the open end regardless of the orientation of the humidifier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The humidifier of claim 14, wherein the outlet passage is coupled to buoyant material or at least part of the outlet passage is made of buoyant material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The humidifier of claim 14, wherein the outlet passage is attached to the tub lid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The humidifier of claim 11, wherein the inlet passage is attached to the tub lid. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A respiratory apparatus configured to pressurize and humidify a flow of breathable gas for respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory apparatus comprising: a flow generator configured to pressurize the flow of breathable gas to a pressure of 2-30 cm H2O; and the humidifier of claim 11. ### Claim 20 A humidifier configured to humidify a flow of pressurized respiratory gas, the humidifier comprising: a tub base configured to retain a body of water; a tub lid configured to cover the tub base; an inlet passage configured to receive the flow of pressurized respiratory gas, the inlet passage extending inwardly from an exterior of the humidifier; and an outlet passage configured to discharge the humidified flow of pressurized respiratory gas, the outlet passage extending inwardly from the exterior of the humidifier, wherein the inlet passage is configured to be flexed or pivoted by the surface of the water so that the inlet passage remains afloat on the water regardless of the orientation of the humidifier, and wherein the outlet passage is configured to be flexed or pivoted by the surface of the water so that the outlet passage remains afloat on the water regardless of the orientation of the humidifier.