Moisture detection and management in a gases supply system

A humidifier system configured to deliver a flow of gases to a user, the humidifier system comprising:

• a humidifier configured to heat and humidify the gases;
• at least one sensor configured to output at least one sensor signal based on an amount of moisture and/or humidity present in a component of the system;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the humidifier, wherein the controller is further configured to:
• determine a value indicative of the amount of moisture and/or humidity present in the component based on the at least one sensor signal, and
• determine a humidity of the flow of gases based on the value indicative of the amount of moisture and/or humidity present in the component.

A humidifier system configured to deliver a flow of gases to a user, the humidifier system comprising:

• a humidifier configured to heat and humidify the gases;
• a first sensor associated with a first location, the first sensor configured to output at least one first sensor signal based on an amount of moisture present at the first location;
• a second sensor associated with a second location, the second sensor configured to output at least one second sensor signal based on an amount of moisture present at the second location;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the humidifier, wherein the controller is further configured to determine:
• a first value indicative of an amount of humidity and/or moisture present at the first location based on a first sensor signal, and
• a second value indicative of the amount of humidity and/or moisture present at the second location based on a second sensor.

A humidifier system useable in a gases supply system, the humidifier system comprising:

• a humidifier configured to heat and humidify the gases;
• a conduit configured to transport the gases from the humidifier to the user, the conduit further comprising:
• a first electrically conductive element;
• and
• a second electrically conductive element;
• and
• a controller configured to monitor capacitance and/or capacitance change of a capacitor formed between the first electrically conductive element and the second electrically conductive element to detect presence of skin in close vicinity or contact with the conduit.

A method of determining a condition of a medical humidifier configured to provide gases to a patient, the method comprising:

• reducing power to a heater wire of a breathing tube coupled to the medical humidifier, wherein the medical humidifier comprises a heater plate and a temperature based flow sensor;
• measuring a condensate metric;
• determining whether the measured condensate metric satisfies an expected condensate metric;
• and
• outputting the condition of the medical humidifier to a controller of the medical humidifier in response to the measured condensate metric not satisfying the expected condensate metric, wherein outputting the condition of the medical humidifier comprises disregarding reading from the temperature based flow sensor for control of the medical humidifier.

A method of determining a condition of a medical humidifier configured to provide gases to a patient, the method comprising:

• reducing power to a heater wire of a breathing tube coupled to the medical humidifier, wherein the medical humidifier comprises a heater plate;
• measuring a condensate metric;
• determining whether the measured condensate metric satisfies an expected condensate metric;
• and
• outputting the condition of the medical humidifier to a controller of the medical humidifier in response to the measured condensate metric not satisfying the expected condensate metric.

A method to determine a condition of a humidifier configured to provide gases to a patient, the method comprising:

• determining a startup condition;
• reducing power to a heater plate of a medical humidifier coupled to a breathing tube and comprising a heater plate;
• determining whether a measured condensate metric satisfies an expected condensate metric;
• and
• outputting the condition of the humidifier to a controller of the humidifier based on whether the measured condensate metric does not satisfy the expected condensate metric.

A method of controlling power to a heating element of an inspiratory tube coupled to a humidifier of a humidifier system, the method comprising:

• measuring a condensate metric of the humidifier system;
• determining whether the measured condensate metric satisfies an expected condensate metric;
• and
• controlling power to the heating element based on at least whether the measured condensate metric satisfies the expected condensate metric.

A humidifier system configured to deliver a flow of gases to a user, the humidifier system comprising:

• a humidifier configured to heat and humidify the gases;
• at least one sensor configured to output at least one sensor signal based on an amount of moisture present in a component of the system;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the humidifier, wherein the controller is further configured to:
• determine at least one value indicative of the amount of moisture present in the component based at least in part on the at least one sensor signal, and
• execute one or more moisture management responses based on the at least one value indicative of the amount of moisture present in the component.