Humidifier with removable water tank

A humidifier comprising:

• a humidifier base including a latch adapted to releasably engage the humidifier with a continuous positive airway pressure device;
• an air inlet adapted for sealable connection to an outlet of the continuous positive airway pressure device and being further adapted to receive a supply of air at positive pressure from said continuous positive airway pressure device through said inlet;
• a heater plate;
• a water tank adapted to receive the supply of air at positive pressure and adapted to be in heat transfer communication with the heater plate, said water tank having a water tank lid with an outlet;
• a humidifier lid connected to the humidifier base to move between open and closed positions, the humidifier lid having an air outlet adapted to mate with an air delivery tube to deliver the supply of air at positive pressure to a mask, said humidifier lid being adapted to be in sealing contact with a surface surrounding the outlet of the water tank lid when the humidifier lid is in the closed position;
• and
• wherein said humidifier is constructed and arranged to removably locate the water tank without disconnection of the air delivery tube.

A humidifier comprising

• a removable water tank having a water tank lid with an outlet,
• a humidifier base having a water tank receiving portion;
• and
• a humidifier lid having an outlet adapted to mate with an air delivery tube, the humidifier lid being connected to the humidifier base such that the humidifier lid is movable between a closed position and an open position while connected to the humidifier base;
• wherein the humidifier lid is adapted to seal against a surface surrounding the outlet of the water tank lid to such that the humidifier includes a sealed air flow path extending from the water tank and through the outlet of the humidifier lid when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

A breathable gas supply apparatus for treatment of respiratory disorders comprising:

• a continuous positive airway pressure device adapted for releasable connection to a humidifier;
• and
• a humidifier comprising:
• a humidifier base having an aperture adapted to receive a supply of breathable gas from the continuous positive airway pressure device;
• a first seal extending about the aperture;
• a removable water tank having an air inlet and an air outlet, and respective surfaces surrounding the air inlet and air outlet, the surface surrounding the inlet being flat, the water tank having a water tank lid including an outlet;
• a humidifier lid with an air delivery portion adapted to mate with an air delivery tube so that the supply of breathable gas can be provided to a patient interface;
• the humidifier lid being adapted to seal around the outlet of the water tank lid when the humidifier lid is in a closed position, via a second seal located on an underside of the humidifier lid;
• wherein the first seal is adapted to be in sealing relationship with the flat surface surrounding the air inlet of the water tank when the water tank abuts the first seal;
• and
• the second seal is adapted to be in sealing relationship with the surface surrounding the air outlet of the water tank when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

In a humidifier having a tank and a humidifier lid, a method of filling the tank with water comprising:

• leaving an air delivery tube connected to the humidifier lid;
• releasing a locking mechanism of the humidifier lid;
• rotating the humidifier lid from a closed position to an open position to release a sealed connection between the humidifier lid and an outlet of a lid of the tank;
• subsequent to rotating the humidifier lid, removing the tank from a humidifier base;
• and
• filling the tank with water.

A humidifier for delivering humidified breathable gas to a patient, including:

• a humidifier case having a hinged humidifier lid,
• a removable water tank adapted to be positioned at least partly in said case, the water tank having a tank lid,
• a heater in heat transfer communication with said water tank,
• a gas flow path including a gas inlet, a humidified gas outlet and an intermediate gas flow path to contact the gas with water vapour from said water tank,
• wherein said water tank has a gas passage inlet and a gas passage outlet communicating with said gas flow path, said gas passage outlet being formed in the tank lid,
• said humidifier further including a gas passage inlet seal to form a first sealing connection between said gas passage inlet and said gas flow path, and a gas passage outlet seal to form a second sealing connection between the gas passage outlet and said gas flow path,
• wherein said first and second sealing connections are established by inserting said water tank at least partly within the base and hinged closing of said humidifier lid to sealingly contact a surface surrounding the gas passage outlet of the tank lid.

In a humidifier assembly for a flow generator used in delivery of a supply of breathable gas to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the humidifier assembly comprising a removable water tank having an inlet and a water tank lid including an outlet, a base having a blower outlet and a water-tank-receiving-portion, and a hinged lid with an engagable locking mechanism,

• a method of forming a first seal between the water tank inlet and the blower outlet of the base and forming a second seal between the outlet of the water tank lid and the hinged lid, the method comprising:
• (i) placing the water tank at least partly in the tank-receiving-portion of the base so as to position the water tank inlet and the blower outlet adjacent one another;
• (ii) closing the hinged lid to establish sealing contact between the hinged lid and a surface surrounding the outlet of the water tank lid;
• and
• (iii) engaging the locking mechanism.

In a humidifier assembly for a flow generator used in delivery of a supply of breathable gas to a patient for treatment of sleep disordered breathing, the humidifier assembly comprising a removable water tank including a tank lid having an air outlet, the humidifier assembly including a hinged lid with an engagable locking mechanism,

• a method of forming a seal between a surface surrounding the air outlet formed on the tank lid and the air delivery portion comprising:
• (i) closing the hinged lid to establish a sealed connection between the hinged lid and the surface surrounding the air outlet of the tank lid;
• and
• (ii) engaging the locking mechanism.

An apparatus for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

• a continuous positive airway pressure device capable of providing a supply of air at a pressure in the range of about 4 cm H2O to about 20 cm H2O;
• and
• a humidifier connectable to the continuous positive airway pressure device, the humidifier including:
• a humidifier base,
• a humidifier lid hingedly connected to the humidifier base to allow the humidifier lid to close and open, the humidifier lid including an air delivery pipe constructed and arranged to mate with an air delivery tube, the humidifier lid further including a lid seal,
• the humidifier base further including a humidifier heater plate and a humidifier base seal;
• and
• a removable water tank having a tank base to receive water and a tank lid, the tank base including a heat conductive portion to conduct heat from the humidifier heater plate to water in the tank in use,
• the apparatus further comprising a latch to releasably connect the continuous positive airway pressure device to the humidifier;
• and a locking mechanism constructed and arranged to releasably hold the humidifier lid when closed,
• wherein the humidifier base is constructed and arranged to receive the water tank when the humidifier lid is open;
• wherein, when the humidifier base receives the water tank, the heat conductive portion of the water tank is positioned relative to the humidifier heater plate to allow heat transfer communication therebetween in use;
• wherein, when the continuous positive airway pressure device and the humidifier are latched together and the humidifier lid is closed with the water tank placed in the humidifier base, a sealed gas flow path is established, said sealed gas flow path extending from the continuous positive airway pressure device, through a humidifier base seal located between the humidifier base and a rear surface of the water tank, through an interior of the water tank, through the lid seal surrounding an outlet of the tank lid and located on an underside of the humidifier lid, and to the air delivery pipe of the humidifier lid;
• and
• wherein an engagement face of the continuous positive airway pressure device includes electrical connectors to deliver power to the humidifier heater plate.

A compact apparatus for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:

• a continuous positive airway pressure device;
• an air delivery tube;
• and a humidifier including:
• a humidifier base,
• a humidifier lid,
• a humidifier tank and a humidifier tank lid, and
• a humidifier heater plate;
• wherein the continuous positive airway pressure device and the humidifier are releasably connectable by a latch;
• wherein the humidifier lid includes an air delivery portion adapted to mate with the air delivery tube;
• wherein the humidifier lid and the humidifier base are connected by a hinge adapted to allow the humidifier lid to rotate between a closed position and an open position;
• wherein the humidifier lid includes a locking mechanism adapted to releasably hold the humidifier lid in the closed position;
• wherein the humidifier base is adapted to receive the humidifier tank when the humidifier lid is in an open position and to locate the humidifier tank in heat transfer communication with the humidifier heater plate,
• wherein a gas flow path extends from the continuous positive airway pressure device, through the humidifier tank to and the air delivery tube when the humidifier lid is in the closed position;
• wherein the humidifier base includes a first gas flow path extending between the continuous positive airway pressure device and an interior of the humidifier tank, and the humidifier base includes a second gas flow path extending between the interior of the humidifier tank and the air delivery tube;
• wherein the humidifier base includes a tank receiving portion and the humidifier tank and the tank receiving portion have complementary configurations to guide positioning of the humidifier tank in the tank receiving portion and to align the sealing of the gas flow passage between the base and the humidifier tank;
• wherein the first gas flow path includes an air inlet on the humidifier tank that is adapted to introduce gas flow into the humidifier tank;
• wherein the humidifier tank may be removed or refilled without the need to remove the air delivery tube, and wherein the humidifier tank can be positioned in a sealing position on the humidifier base without requiring interconnection of a tube;
• wherein the humidifier base and the humidifier lid are capable of one-handed engagement and disengagement to open and close the humidifier lid;
• wherein the humidifier tank is structured for one-handed insertion at least partly into the humidifier base and one-handed removal from the humidifier base;
• wherein the humidifier tank further comprises a rearwardly facing air inlet aperture constructed and arranged to align with an aperture of the humidifier when the humidifier tank is located at least partly in the tank receiving portion to receive the supply of gas at positive pressure from the continuous positive airway pressure device;
• wherein the humidifier lid has an underside that includes a seal forming surface comprising a removable attached gasket to seal the gas flow passage between the humidifier tank and the air delivery tube, and the humidifier tank lid has an outlet opening that is configured to communicate with the attached gasket whereby a sealing connection is easily created when the humidifier lid is closed;
• wherein the removable attached gasket comprises a curved sealing flange;
• wherein the humidifier base has an aperture adapted to receive a supply of breathable gas from the continuous positive airway pressure device and rear tank seal extending about the aperture;
• wherein the humidifier tank has an air inlet and an air outlet, and respective surfaces surrounding the air inlet and air outlet;
• wherein the humidifier lid has the air delivery portion adapted to mate with the air delivery tube so that the supply of breathable gas can be provided to a patient interface;
• wherein the rear tank seal is adapted to be in sealing relationship with the surface surrounding the air inlet of the humidifier tank when the humidifier tank abuts the seal, and the removable attached gasket is adapted to be in sealing relationship with the surface surrounding the air outlet of the humidifier tank lid when the humidifier lid is in a closed position.

A respiratory apparatus for treating a patient, comprising:

• a flow generator including:
• a fan to generate a supply of pressurized breathable gas in the range of 4-20 cm H2O, the fan including a motor and an impeller, the fan being provided within a fan housing having a cover and a base,
• the flow generator further including an engagement face and at least one electrical connector and an air connector that protrude from the engagement face, a display and at least one key or device to set one or more parameters of the flow generator, an external case having top and bottom cases of rigid plastics material, a chassis including a cavity within the external case to house the fan, the cavity including a base, side walls extending upwards from the base, and a lid to enclose the fan, a printed circuit board provided in a space between the chassis and an interior surface of the top case, the printed circuit board having the display mounted thereon, the external case having a rear wall including an air inlet that is in communication with an air inlet passage formed in the chassis, the inlet of the external case being provided with a filter, the fan housing including integral feet extending into recesses within an elastomer damping member;
• and
• a humidifier including:
• a base unit designed for attachment to the flow generator, the base unit having a heater plate and an air inlet port configured to receive the air connector of the flow generator, a water tank placable in and removable from the base unit, the water tank including a tank lid including an air outlet aperture, the water tank including a heat conductive portion to conduct heat from the heater plate to heat water in the water tank in use, the water tank having an air inlet aperture leading to a passage within the water tank, a face of the base unit includes a guide that seats in a corresponding recess in the engagement face of the flow generator when the flow generator and the humidifier are brought together by linear movement towards each other, a latch including a latch retainer movable substantially vertically and resiliently urged substantially downwardly by a spring, so that a substantially downwardly extending finger of a tongue engages in a slot in the flow generator and snaps home to releasably engage the flow generator and the humidifier, an electrical connector to mate with the electrical connector of the flow generator, an elastomer airway seal provided to the base unit, to communicate the inlet port of the base unit to the air inlet aperture of the water tank, a humidifier lid hingedly attached to the base unit and movable between open and closed positions, wherein as the humidifier lid is moved to the closed position, the water tank is translated rearwards within the base unit so that a front facing surface of the airway seal abuts a generally flat rear surface of the water tank surrounding the inlet aperture of the tank, the humidifier lid including an exit aperture and an elastomer seal on an inside surface of an upper or top wall of the lid, the elastomer seal having, in the closed position of the lid, a downwardly facing surface to sealingly contact a surface of the water tank lid that surrounds the outlet aperture of the water tank lid, the humidifier lid including an outlet pipe extending through the exit aperture and the elastomer seal and having a bent portion extending at an acute angle from an exterior surface of the upper or top wall, and a catch provided to the humidifier lid to maintain the lid in the closed position, with the water tank being held securely relative to the base unit.

A humidifier comprising:

• a latch adapted to releasably engage with a continuous positive airway pressure device;
• an air inlet port adapted for sealable connection to an outlet of the continuous positive airway pressure device and being further adapted to receive a supply of air at positive pressure from said continuous positive airway pressure device;
• a heater plate;
• a water tank adapted to receive the supply of air at positive pressure and adapted to be in heat transfer communication with the heater plate, said water tank having a water tank lid including an outlet aperture;
• a humidifier lid having a humidifier air outlet adapted for connection with an air delivery tube to deliver the supply of air at positive pressure to a mask, the humidifier lid being movable between closed and open positions to allow selective coupling and decoupling of the humidifier air outlet and the water tank lid via the outlet aperture;
• and
• wherein said humidifier is constructed and arranged to retain the water tank in place when the humidifier lid is closed and to allow removal of the water tank when the humidifier lid is open.

A humidifier comprising

• a removable water tank having a water tank lid;
• a humidifier base having a water tank receiving portion;
• and
• a humidifier lid having an outlet adapted to mate with an air delivery conduit;
• wherein the humidifier lid is adapted to be in sealing relationship with an outlet of the water tank lid to allow a flow of air from the water tank to the air delivery conduit when the humidifier lid is in a closed position.

A breathable gas supply apparatus for treatment of respiratory disorders comprising:

• a continuous positive airway pressure device;
• and
• a humidifier adapted for releasable connection to the continuous positive airway pressure device, the humidifier comprising:
• a humidifier base having 1) an air inlet port adapted to receive a supply of breathable gas from the continuous positive airway pressure device and 2) an aperture downstream of the air inlet port;
• a first seal adjacent the aperture;
• a removable water tank having an air inlet and an air outlet, and a respective surface surrounding each of the air inlet and the air outlet, the surface surrounding the air inlet being flat;
• a humidifier lid with an air delivery portion adapted to mate with an air delivery tube so that the supply of breathable gas can be provided to a patient interface;
• and
• a second seal located on an underside of the humidifier lid,
• wherein:
• the first seal is adapted to be in sealing relationship with the flat surface surrounding the air inlet of the water tank when the water tank abuts the first seal;
• and
• the second seal is adapted to be in sealing relationship with the surface surrounding the air outlet of the water tank when the humidifier lid is in a closed position.

A humidifier adapted to receive a supply of air at positive pressure for delivery to a patient circuit having an air delivery tube and a mask for treating a patient with positive pressure ventilation therapy, the humidifier comprising:

• a humidifier base defining an air inlet port connectable with an outlet port of a therapy device, a heater plate, and a latch to allow connection with the therapy device,
• a removable water tank configured to hold water for humidification, the water tank being removable from the humidifier base, the water tank having a tank base, a tank lid and a seal therebetween, the water tank having a tank inlet located on the back of the water tank and an outlet hole on the tank lid, and
• a humidifier door in sealed contact with the outlet hole of the water tank via a door seal positioned between the humidifier door and the water tank lid, the humidifier door having a pair of hinges rotatably connected to the humidifier base and having an air outlet port configured for connection to the air delivery tube and for delivering moisturized air to the mask,
• the door being rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the door having a release to release the door from the closed position.

A respiratory apparatus for a patient, comprising:

• a base unit having a hinged lid, said base unit further including a first seal portion and a second seal portion;
• and
• a removable humidifier tank having a generally flat inlet sealing surface engaged with a generally flat sealing surface of the first seal portion when the lid is open and the tank is received in the base unit, the tank including an outlet surface engaged with a surface of the second seal portion when the lid is closed,
• wherein in use the first and second seal portions seal with the inlet and outlet of the tank in sealing planes that are generally perpendicular to a direction of flow of pressurized gas through the inlet and the outlet such that the tank is sealingly positioned in the base unit without requiring tubular interconnection between the tank and base unit.

A humidifier for a continuous positive airway pressure device, the humidifier comprising:

• a removable water tank having a water tank lid, said water tank lid having a water tank outlet,
• a humidifier base having a water tank receiving portion to receive the water tank and a heater plate to heat water in the water tank;
• a humidifier lid having a humidifier lid outlet adapted to mate with an air delivery tube;
• and
• a lid seal positioned between the water tank lid and the humidifier lid, said lid seal being positioned and structured to form a seal surrounding the water tank outlet of the tank lid to establish a sealed air flow path extending from the water tank outlet of the water tank lid, and through the humidifier lid outlet,
• wherein the water tank includes an air inlet aperture structured and located to at least partly protect against flowback of water from the inlet aperture of the water tank to the continuous positive airway pressure device in use, at least when the humidifier is tipped.