# US 11,896,772 B2 · Heating arrangements for humidification systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,772 B2 - Document ID: US11896772B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/060,124 - Filed: 2016-12-21 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-23 - Assignees: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited - Applicants: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited - Inventors: Richard John Boyes; Andrew Martin Letton; Jeremy Livingston Miller; Andrew John Partington; Nordyn Alami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896772B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - H05B 3/04: Waterproof or air-tight seals for heaters - H05B 3/146: {Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics} - H05B 3/44: heating conductor arranged within rods or tubes of insulating material - H05B 3/78: Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating - A61M 2205/02: characterised by a particular materials - A61M 2205/0233: Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2206/14: Static flow deviators in tubes disturbing laminar flow in tubes, e.g. archimedes screws - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids - H05B 2203/022: Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material - 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)} - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract An electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material can be used to heat water in a reservoir of a respiratory humidifier to encourage heating and/or humidification of gases passing through the respiratory humidifier. The electrically conductive plastic material can at least in part overmould the base and/or walls of the chamber and/or the reservoir of the respiratory humidifier. The reservoir can also partially or fully be formed from the electrically conductive plastic material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A humidifier comprising: a heater for heating a liquid in a reservoir that is part of or is received by the humidifier; wherein the heater comprises an electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material and a thermoconductive layer that is non-electrically conductive at least partially covering the ECP material, the ECP material including an electrically conductive additive or a doping agent distributed therethrough or being an intrinsically conductive plastic, wherein the thermoconductive layer is disposed between the electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material and the liquid, wherein the thermoconductive layer comprises visually pronounced features which are observable to an unaided eye that form or function as a heat sink to improve a contact area between the thermoconductive layer and the liquid, and wherein the thermoconductive layer is uncovered within the reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the humidifier comprises a chamber to receive said reservoir in use and the heater is located in or forms part of a wall or base of the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising said reservoir, and wherein the heater is located in or forms part of the reservoir. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The humidifier of claim 3, wherein the heater forms part of a wall or base of the reservoir. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the visually pronounced features comprise one or more of thermoconductive fins, ridges, ribs, depressions, channels and fenestrations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises biocompatible layer covering the thermoconductive layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The humidifier of claim 6, wherein the biocompatible layer is biocompatible and hydrophilic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The humidifier of claim 6, wherein the biocompatible layer is over-moulded to the thermoconductive layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the heater comprises a hydrophilic layer covering the thermoconductive layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The humidifier of claim 9, wherein the hydrophilic layer is over-moulded to the thermoconductive layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the thermoconductive layer is over-moulded to the ECP material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The humidifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermoconductive layer is biocompatible or hydrophilic or biocompatible and hydrophilic. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the thermoconductive layer is a separate component joined to the ECP material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material forms a heater plate. ### Claim 15 A humidifier comprising: a heater for heating a liquid in a reservoir that is part of or is received by the humidifier; wherein the heater is comprising an electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material and a thermoconductive layer that is non-electrically conductive directly covering the ECP material, the ECP material including an electrically conductive additive or a doping agent distributed therethrough or being an intrinsically conductive plastic, wherein the thermoconductive layer is configured to be in contact with the liquid, wherein the thermoconductive layer comprises macrostructures that improve a contact area between the thermoconductive layer and the liquid, wherein the electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material forms a heater plate, and wherein the heater is located in or forms part of a wall or base of the reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The humidifier of claim 15, wherein the thermoconductive layer is biocompatible. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The humidifier of claim 15, wherein the thermoconductive layer is hydrophilic. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The humidifier of claim 15, wherein the macrostructures comprise one or more fins, ridges, ribs, depressions, channels, or fenestrations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The humidifier of claim 15, wherein the macrostructures are observable to an unaided eye. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The humidifier of claim 15, wherein the thermoconductive layer is over-moulded to the ECP material.