Humidifier for a thermal support apparatus

A patient-support apparatus comprising

• a base,
• a patient support supported above the base, the patient support being formed to include an opening, an air inlet port, and an air outlet port,
• an electrical service connector coupled to the patient support adjacent to the opening, and
• a humidifier module including
• a container for holding water and providing an air chamber above the water, the container including an air inlet port that mates with the air outlet port of the patient-support apparatus when the humidifier module is inserted into the opening so that air can move through the air outlet port of the patient-support apparatus and into the air chamber, the container including an air exhaust port that mates with the air inlet port of the patient-support apparatus when the humidifier module is inserted into the opening so that air can move out of the air chamber and through the air inlet port of the patient-support apparatus, and
• a heater for heating the water, the heater including an electrical connector that aligns with and automatically connects to the electrical service connector of the patient-support apparatus to receive power therefrom when the humidifier module is inserted into the opening,
• whereby the patient-support apparatus is provided with a humidified environment for a patient when the humidifier module is inserted into the patient-support apparatus.

A patient-support apparatus comprising

• a patient support including a fluid circulation system having a flow path along which circulated fluid is directed to provide a thermally controlled environment for a patient, a compartment for accepting a removable humidifier module, an inlet port in fluid communication with the compartment, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the compartment,
• a first door pivotably coupled to the patient support and normally closing the inlet port,
• a second door pivotably coupled to the patient support and normally closing the outlet port, and
• a humidifier module including a water container for containing water, an inlet port for connecting with the outlet port of the patient support when the humidifier module is inserted into the compartment, an exhaust port for connecting with the inlet port of the patient support when the humidifier module is inserted into the compartment, and first and second door openers arranged to engage and pivot the respective first and second doors to an opened position to allow at least some of the fluid in the flow path to be diverted through the humidifier module and over the water contained in the water container.

A humidifier module for a patient-support apparatus including a fluid circulation system for circulating fluid and an opening into which the humidifier module is inserted, the humidifier module comprising

• a container for holding water and providing an air chamber above the water, the container including an air inlet and an air outlet, the fluid circulation system moving air through the air chamber,
• a heater for heating the water,
• a water reservoir for holding additional water,
• a control valve coupled to the water reservoir and coupled to the container, the control valve having a closed configuration blocking the flow of water from the water reservoir to the container and the control valve having an opened configuration allowing the flow of water from the water reservoir to the container, and
• a level sensor for sensing the water level in the container and providing a signal to the control valve to move the control valve between the opened and closed configurations.

A patient-support apparatus comprising

• a patient support including a fluid circulation system for circulating fluid, a compartment for accepting a removable self-contained humidifier module, and a lock pin-receiving space adjacent to the compartment,
• a humidifier module comprising
• a container for holding water and providing an air chamber above the water, the fluid circulation system circulating fluid through the air chamber when the humidifier module is inserted into the opening,
• a heater for heating the water,
• a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of a surface of the humidifier module, and
• a locking mechanism including a locking pin, the locking mechanism being coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to move the locking pin in response to the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, the locking pin having an extended position received in the lock-pin receiving space to lock the humidifier module to the patient support when the temperature sensed exceeds a predetermined temperature, and the locking pin having a retracted position pulled out of the lock pin-receiving space to unlock the humidifier module from the patient support when the temperature sensed is below the predetermined temperature.