Apparatus for measuring properties of gases supplied to a patient
AssigneeFisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
InventorsMatthew Jon Payton, Kevin Peter O'Donnell, Andrew Baden Clark, Christopher Simon James Quill, Peter Geoffrey Hawkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The gases temperature supplied to a patient when the patient is undergoing treatment such as oxygen therapy or positive pressure treatment for conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often measured for safety and to enable controlling of the humidity delivered to the patient. The invention disclosed is related to measurement of properties, particularly temperature (thermistor), of gases flowing through a heated tube, supplying gases to a patient, which utilises the heating wire within the tube.
Claims27
An apparatus for measuring properties of gases supplied to a patient, the apparatus comprising:
- a gases supply for providing a flow of gases;
- and
- a delivery conduit configured to convey the flow of gases to the patient, the delivery conduit comprising:
- a first end configured to be in fluid communication with the gases supply;
- a second end opposite the first end, wherein gases are conveyed to the patient through the second end from the first end;
- a heater wire configured to heat the delivery conduit, the heater wire extending along the delivery conduit;
- and
- a humidity sensor positioned in the delivery conduit to be within the flow of gases, the humidity sensor proximate to the second end relative to the first end of the delivery conduit, the humidity sensor configured to measure humidity of gases flowing through the delivery conduit and provide a humidity measurement;
- a controller configured to receive the humidity measurement and control heating of the heater wire based on the humidity measurement, the controller configured to apply power to the heater wire to control humidity of gases flowing through the delivery conduit;
- and
- a circuit board positioned at or near a middle of a lumen formed by a wall of the delivery conduit, the circuit board comprising the humidity sensor, the flow of gases conveyed in the lumen of the delivery conduit.
A delivery conduit for supplying gases, the delivery conduit comprising:
- a first end configured to be in fluid communication with a gases supply;
- a second end opposite the first end, wherein gases are conveyed through the second end from the first end;
- a heater wire configured to heat the delivery conduit, the heater wire extending along the delivery conduit;
- a humidity sensor positioned in the delivery conduit to be within a flow of gases conveyed through the second end from the first end, the humidity sensor proximate to the second end relative to the first end, the humidity sensor configured to measure humidity of gases flowing through the delivery conduit and provide a humidity measurement;
- and
- a circuit board positioned at or near a middle of a lumen formed by a wall of the delivery conduit, the circuit board comprising the humidity sensor, the flow of gases conveyed in the lumen of the delivery conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.