US 4,753,758 A · Respiratory humidifier

Abstract

A humidifier assembly is disclosed. The humidifier assembly includes a housing, a heater in the housing, a hollow shell on the housing, a partition wall within the shell, and a liquid water inlet that is unitary with the hollow shell. The heater provides an exposed heated surface for contacting liquid water in a direct heat transfer relationship. The hollow shell and the partition wall together define a humidification chamber. The hollow shell also defines a breathable gas inlet and a humidified, breathable gas outlet, both of which communicate with the humidification chamber. The partition wall includes a hydrophobic filter that permits water vapor but not liquid water to pass therethrough. The hollow shell, the partition, wall and the housing together define a liquid water-tight but water vapor permeable water reservoir between the partition wall and the heater. The liquid water inlet comunicates directly with the water reservoir and provides liquid water that can be vaporized upon contact with the heated surface. Vaporized water passes through the hydrophobic filter into the humidification chamber to humidify the breathable gas.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A humidifier assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising:

a heater housing;
heater means mounted on said heater housing, said heater means having an exposed heated surface for contacting liquid water in a direct heat transfer relationship therewith;
a hollow shell, means on said shell and on said heater housing for removably fastening said shell to said housing, said housing including an inlet for breathable gas and an outlet for humidified breathable gas;
a partition wall means at least partially formed by a hydrophobic filter means, in the hollow shell and defining together with the shell a humidification chamber that communicates with said gas inlet and said gas outlet, said filter means being positioned for passing water vapor into the breathable gas, and the partition wall together with said hollow shell and said housing defining a water-tight but water-vapor permeable liquid water reservoir between said filter means and said heated surface;
and
liquid water supply means connected to said hollow shell and communicating directly with said water-tight reservoir;
said liquid water supply means providing liquid water in the water-tight reservoir and partially filling said reservoir and covering said heated surface, said heated surface converting a portion of said liquid water to water vapor, and a part of said reservoir above said liquid water receiving said water vapor, and said water vapor passing from the water-tight reservoir through said filter means and into said humidification chamber.

4 more elements

An assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising:

(1) a heater housing;
(2) an electric heater mounted on one side of said housing, said heater having an exposed surface for contacting liquid water.
(3) a cup-shaped shell having a bottom side, a gas inlet opening and a gas outlet opening formed in said bottom side, said shell further having an open interior space, an open side and a rim at said open side;
(4) a partition wall mounted within said interior space of said shell adjacent said open side, said partition wall and said bottom side of said shell forming an enclosed humidification chamber, said partition wall including a first portion which is water vapor permeable and liquid water impermeable, and a second portion which is water vapor and liquid water impermeable;
(5) fastening means on said heater housing and on said rim of said shell forming a sealed releasable connection between said shell and said heater housing;
(6) said shell, said partition wall and said heater housing together forming a liquid water reservoir which encloses said heater;
and
(7) a liquid water supply inlet means connected to said shell for conducting liquid water directly into said water reservoir and partially filling said reservoir with liquid water to a level which is above said heater;
(8) whereby in operation of the assembly the heater heats the water and forms heated water vapor in said reservoir and said heated water vapor flows through said water vapor permeable first portion of said partition wall and into said humidification chamber.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Respiratory humidifier

Life of this patent

Respiratory humidifier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16