Humidity control liquid maximization pressure support device

A method of delivering a humidity controlled pressurized flow of breathable gas to the airway of a subject, the method comprising:

• generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject;
• holding a volume of liquid in a humidifier;
• controllably elevating the temperature of the liquid within the humidifier such that vapor formed from the heated liquid humidifies the pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• generating one or more output signals conveying information related to the pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• obtaining a level of the liquid held by the humidifier;
• estimating the usage time of the subject for a current usage session based on the output signals conveying information related to the usage time parameters;
• and
• controlling the humidifier to heat the liquid based on the estimated usage time for the current usage session and the level of the liquid held by the humidifier, thereby ensuring an amount of liquid will remain in the humidifier at the conclusion of the estimated usage time.

A pressure support system comprising:

• means to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to the airway of a subject;
• means to hold a volume of liquid and controllably elevate the temperature of the liquid within the means to hold a volume of liquid such that vapor formed from the heated liquid humidifies the pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• means to generate output signals conveying information related to the pressurized flow of breathable gas;
• and
• means to execute computer program modules, the computer program modules comprising:
• means to obtain a level of the liquid held by the means to humidify;
• means to estimate the usage time of the subject for a current usage session based on the output signals generated by the means to generate output signals conveying information related to one or more usage time parameters;
• and
• means to control the means to humidify to heat the liquid based on the estimated usage time for the current usage session and the level of the liquid held by the means to humidify, thereby ensuring an amount of liquid will remain in the means to humidify at the conclusion of the estimated usage time.