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US 8,253,076 B2Granted
Respiratory system heater unit
AssigneeSmiths Medical ASD, Inc.
InventorsDavid F. Andel, Keith J. Bradley
Life of this patent
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AssigneeSmiths Medical ASD, Inc.
InventorsDavid F. Andel, Keith J. Bradley
Estimating the term…
A heater unit for a respiratory system is designed for natural convection cooling air to pass first through a transformer in the heater unit and then through a heat sink in the heater unit to which is mounted a power switch to conduct heat from the power switch to the cooling air passing through the heat sink. A thermal break may be provided between the heat sink and the transformer. The transformer may be a toroidal transformer with the air passing through an aperture thereof such as from a hollow projection of the heater unit extending into the aperture. One side of the transformer may be situated along a surface of the heater unit and the heat sink secured to the heater unit against the opposite side of the transformer to hold the transformer in place. A venting chamber may be associated with an air exhaust of the heater unit to provide a circuitous exit path for air exiting the heater unit. The venting chamber may extend in generally surrounding relationship with the heater of the heater unit.
A heater unit adapted to be used with a water container in a respiratory system and configured to be cooled by natural convection, the heater unit comprising:
A heater unit adapted to be used with a water container in a respiratory system and configured to be cooled by natural convection, the heater unit comprising:
A heater unit adapted to be used with a water container in a respiratory system and configured to be cooled by natural convection, the heater unit comprising:
A method for cooling a heater unit by natural convection, the heater unit adapted to be used with a water container in a respiratory system and having an electrical transformer and a power switch within a housing defining an interior chamber of the heater unit and a heat sink within the interior chamber and in thermal communication with the power switch, the heater unit further including a heater supported by the housing and locking structure on the housing adapted to selectively secure a water container to the housing in thermal communication with the heater, the method comprising passing air upwardly through the transformer and then upwardly through the heat sink.
A method of mounting an electrical transformer within a heater unit, the heater unit adapted to be used with a water container in a respiratory system, the heater unit including a housing, a heater supported by the housing, and locking structure on the housing adapted to selectively secure a water container to the housing in thermal communication with the heater, the heater unit configured to be cooled by natural convection, the method comprising positioning a first side of the transformer adjacent an interior surface of the heater unit and securing a heat sink to the heater unit against a second, opposite side of the transformer.
A method of venting a heater unit by natural convection, the heater unit adapted to be used with a water container in a respiratory system, the heater unit having a housing defining an interior chamber, a heater supported by the housing, locking structure on the housing adapted to selectively secure a water container to the housing in thermal communication with the heater, and an air exhaust, the method comprising passing air upwardly and out of the interior chamber through the air exhaust and then along a circuitous exit path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.