# US 11,305,089 B2 · Humidifier and respiratory assistance device

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- Number: US 11,305,089 B2
- Document ID: US11305089B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/092,891
- Filed: 2017-04-11
- Published: 2019-05-09
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-13
- Assignees: Metran Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Metran Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kazufuku Nitta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305089B2

## CPC

- A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent}
- A61M 11/002: {by flow deviation causing inertial separation of transported particles}
- A61M 11/003: {by passing the aerosol trough sieves or filters}
- A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 11/06: of the injector type
- A61M 16/0003: {Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure}
- A61M 16/0666: {Nasal cannulas or tubing (devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02)}
- A61M 16/0672: {Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy}
- A61M 16/0808: {Condensation traps}
- A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors}
- A61M 16/1055: {bacterial}
- A61M 16/107: {in the inspiratory path}
- A61M 16/1095: {in the connecting tubes}
- A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)}
- A61M 16/162: {Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic}
- A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes}
- A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit}
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
- A61M 2205/7536: allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
- 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 that can easily control temperature and humidity in an independent manner, irrespective of a flow rate of medical gas to be supplied, is provided. The humidifier is connected to a respiratory assistance device configured to regulate or assist ventilation of a user. The humidifier is configured to add moisture to gas fed from a gas source in the form of fine particles or water vapor. The humidifier includes a liquid container configured to contain liquid containing at least water, a mist-droplet generation unit configured to generate mist droplets being fine particles of the liquid, and a water retaining member configured to hold at least a part of the mist droplets.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A humidifier that is to be connected to a respiratory assistance device configured to regulate or assist ventilation of a user, the humidifier being configured to add moisture to a gas fed from a gas source in the form of fine particles or water vapor, the humidifier comprising:
a liquid container configured to contain a liquid containing at least water;
a mist-droplet generation unit configured to generate mist droplets being fine particles of the liquid; and
a water retaining member configured to hold at least a part of the mist droplets;
wherein a part of the gas passes through an inside of the water retaining member, and a remaining part of the gas does not pass through the inside of the water retaining member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein one end of the water retaining member that is open on the side of the gas source is joined to an inner peripheral surface of the humidifier, and the water retaining member closes a passage through which the gas flows.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The humidifier according to claim 2, wherein the humidifier has the passage through which the gas flows, the passage is closed by the water retaining member, and the water retaining member partitions the passage into an upstream side that is on a side of the gas source and has the liquid container and the mist-droplet generation unit, and a downstream side that is on a side of the user.