Humidifier for a respiratory assistance device, a respiratory assistance device and related methods and apparatus

A humidifier for a respiratory assistance device, the humidifier comprising:

• a chamber configured to contain liquid to be evaporated;
• a metallic or carbon-based material configured to be in contact with the liquid;
• and
• the humidifier being configured such that, in use, at least a portion of an inside of the chamber is exposed to light such that light impinges on the metallic or carbon-based material to generate localised heating of liquid molecules around the metallic or carbon-based material to generate vapour for use by the respiratory assistance device.

A method of generating heat and/or vapour for providing respiratory assistance, the method comprising at least one of:

• providing a humidification fluid containing metallic and/or carbon-based material;
• providing a humidification chamber and/or heater element and/or conduit comprising metallic and/or carbon-based material;
• and
• subjecting metallic and/or carbon-based material to light so as to generate heat and/or vapour for use in respiratory assistance care.