# US 12,178,963 B2 · Conduit for respiratory therapy apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,963 B2 - Document ID: US12178963B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/705,706 - Filed: 2022-03-28 - Published: 2022-07-07 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-07 - Assignees: ResMed Pty Ltd - Applicants: ResMed Pty Ltd - Inventors: David Creusot; Matthew Rolf Harrington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178963B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/024: {including calculation means, e.g. using a processor} - A61M 16/0816: {Joints or connectors} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 16/1095: {in the connecting tubes} - A61M 16/122: {with dilution} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/161: {with means for measuring the humidity} - G06F 1/1683: {for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - H05B 1/025: {For medical applications} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3569: sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable - A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth® - A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/6018: providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration - A61M 2205/6054: Magnetic identification systems - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2205/8243: by induction - 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)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A respiratory conduit apparatus that conducts a breathable gas for respiratory therapy may include electrical circuit components to assist with therapy. In an example, a delivery conduit for connection with a patient interface and a respiratory therapy device may include a cuff having a microcontroller unit. The cuff may be configured with circuit components for accessory identification, gas characteristic detection for therapy control, heating and communications. In some versions, the delivery conduit may include a controller in a circuit board assembly located at an end of the delivery conduit. The printed circuit board may be configured to control and power the components of the cuff, as well as communicate with a respiratory therapy device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A respiratory apparatus comprising: a respiratory therapy device to generate a flow of breathable gas; a delivery conduit to conduct the generated flow of breathable gas from the respiratory therapy device to a patient interface; a first controller located at the respiratory therapy device; a second controller located at or adjacent to a patient-end of the delivery conduit; and a set of wires along the delivery conduit connecting the first controller and the second controller, the set of wires comprising three wires for both heating of the delivery conduit and for data communication between the first controller and the second controller, wherein one or both of the first controller and second controller is configured to interleave communication operations and heating operations in alternating fashion through the set of wires. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of wires comprises a first wire, a second wire, and a ground wire, wherein the first wire and ground wire provide for data communication between the first controller and the second controller, and wherein the second wire and said ground wire provide heat for the delivery conduit using power from a power supply of the respiratory therapy device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first switch located at the respiratory therapy device and controlled by the first controller, and a second switch located at the delivery conduit and controlled by the second controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein closing each of the first switch and the second switch controls the heating operations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein closing the first switch and opening the second switch permits control of the communication operations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the communication operation comprises a transmission of a measurement from one or more sensors in the delivery conduit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to measure at least one of air flow, pressure, temperature, and relative humidity in the delivery conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the communication operation comprises a transmission of an identification of an accessory coupled to the delivery conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cuff and sheath attached to the patient end of the delivery conduit, wherein the second controller is disposed on the cuff and covered by the sheath. ### Claim 10 A control method for a respiratory apparatus, the respiratory apparatus including a respiratory therapy device to generate a flow of breathable gas, a delivery conduit to conduct the generated flow of breathable gas from the respiratory therapy device to a patient interface, and a set of wires to couple a first controller with a second controller, the set of wires extending along the delivery conduit and separating the first controller and the second controller, the control method comprising: receiving data through the set of wires at the first controller in a communications operation; transmitting the data through the set of wires from the second controller in said communications operation; heating the set of wires with one or both of the first controller and second controller in a heating operation to heat a flow of breathable gas through the delivery conduit; and interleaving the heating operation and the communications operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control method of claim 10, wherein the data of the communications operation indicates one or more of flow, pressure, temperature, and relative humidity of the breathable gas flowing through the delivery conduit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The control method of claim 10, wherein the heating operation is controlled by a pulse width modulation signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The control method of claim 11, wherein the heating operation is controlled by a pulse width modulation signal.