# US 2015/0144136 A1 · Hyperthermic humidification system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144136 A1 - Document ID: US20150144136A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/547,012 - Filed: 2014-11-18 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-05 - Assignees: Vapotherm, Inc. - Applicants: Vapotherm, Inc. - Inventors: William F. Niland; Owen S. Bamford; Felino V. Cortez, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144136A1 ## CPC - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 11/006: {operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised} - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 16/0051: {with alarm devices} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - A61M 16/026: {specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis} - A61M 16/1075: {by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/12: by mixing different gases - A61M 16/122: {with dilution} - A61M 16/203: {Proportional} - A61M 16/209: {Relief valves} - A61M 5/365: {Air detectors (A61M5/1684 takes precedence; in extracorporeal blood circuits A61M1/3626)} - 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 16/107: {in the inspiratory path} - A61M 16/162: {Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic} - A61M 2016/0027: {pressure meter} - A61M 2016/0039: {in the inspiratory circuit} - A61M 2016/1025: {the O2 concentration} - A61M 2202/0208: Oxygen - A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide - A61M 2202/025: Helium - A61M 2202/0275: Nitric oxide [NO] - A61M 2205/121: interface between cassette and base - A61M 2205/123: with incorporated reservoirs - A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3313: used specific wavelengths - A61M 2205/3331: Pressure; Flow - A61M 2205/3368: Temperature - A61M 2205/3382: Upper level detectors - A61M 2205/3386: Low level detectors - A61M 2205/3389: Continuous level detection (A61M2205/3393 takes precedence) - A61M 2205/3673: thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61M 2205/6072: Bar codes - A61M 2205/70: with testing or calibration facilities - A61M 2205/8212: with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption - A61M 2205/8262: connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter - A61M 2209/08: Supports for equipment - 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 Apparatus and methods for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient are provided. The apparatus includes a humidification system configured to deliver humidified breathing gas to a patient. The humidification system includes a vapor transfer unit and a base unit. The vapor transfer unit includes a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, and a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage. The base unit includes a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit. The liquid passage is not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow therebetween when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 A vapor transfer unit for delivering breathing gas, the vapor transfer unit comprising: a releasable interface configured to couple the vapor transfer unit to a base unit; a liquid inlet configured to receive liquid from a liquid supply line; a gas inlet configured to receive gas from a gas outlet on the base unit; a vapor transfer device releasably mounted to the vapor transfer unit, wherein the vapor transfer device is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the gas inlet when mounted to the vapor transfer unit and combines liquid and gas to supply humidified gas; and a breathing gas outlet in fluid communication with the vapor transfer device. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, comprising a main body that interfaces with the vapor transfer device when the vapor transfer device is mounted to the vapor transfer unit. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The vapor transfer unit of claim 27, further comprising a tubular support structure extending from a side of the main body, wherein the tubular support structure mates with the vapor transfer device when the vapor transfer device is mounted to the vapor transfer unit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The vapor transfer unit of claim 28, wherein the tubular support structure defines a first passage that connects with a second passage of the vapor transfer device when the vapor transfer device is mounted to the vapor transfer unit. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The vapor transfer unit of claim 29, wherein liquid is exchanged through the first and second passages. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The vapor transfer unit of claim 29, wherein gas is exchanged through the first and second passages. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, wherein the gas inlet of the vapor transfer unit is configured to engage the gas outlet on the base unit and form an airtight seal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The vapor transfer unit of claim 32, wherein the gas inlet comprises a gas receiving portion that is configured to engage a recessed portion of the base unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the vapor transfer device. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, further comprising an exterior wall configured to engage a guide on the base to align the fluid transfer unit when the fluid transfer unit is mounted to the base unit. ### Claim 36 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, further comprising a sight glass that provides an indication of liquid level in the vapor transfer unit. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The vapor transfer unit of claim 36, further comprising a plastic ball and a reflector that is visible through the sight glass, wherein in operation light reflected from the reflector indicates the level of liquid in the vapor transfer unit. ### Claim 38 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, further comprising a temperature reflector that provides an indication of liquid temperature in the vapor transfer unit. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The vapor transfer unit of claim 38, wherein the temperature reflector provides an indication of a temperature of liquid that exits the vapor transfer unit at an outlet in fluid communication with a delivery tube. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The vapor transfer unit of claim 38, wherein the temperature reflector provides an indication of a temperature of liquid that enters the vapor transfer unit at an inlet in fluid communication with a delivery tube. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, wherein the vapor transfer unit comprises a heat conduction plate configured to receive heat transferred from a second heater on the base unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit. ### Claim 42 (depends on 26) The vapor transfer unit of claim 26, further comprising a first pump portion configured to be operationally coupled to a second pump portion in the base unit when the vapor transfer unit is mounted to the base unit. ### Claim 43 A method of delivering breathing gas, the method comprising: mounting a vapor transfer device to a vapor transfer unit such that liquid and gas communication is provided between the vapor transfer device and the vapor transfer unit; mounting the vapor transfer unit to a base unit such that breathing gas supplied to the base unit flows into the vapor transfer unit and through the vapor transfer device; blending breathing gas at a gas blending device to form a blended gas; activating a heating device that heats liquid in a liquid passage of the vapor transfer unit; and passing the heated liquid and blended gas through the vapor transfer device, thereby forming heated and humidified breathing gas. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43, further comprising actuating an electronic reader that detects the presence of the vapor transfer device and identifies a flow parameter of the vapor transfer device. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method of claim 44, further comprising providing fluid to the vapor transfer device in accordance with the identified flow parameter.