Humidifying device for breathing gases

A process for operating a humidifying device for breathing gases, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a humidifying device with a housing with a recess, a water reservoir, a heater and an evaporating chamber introduced at least partially into the recess, the evaporating chamber having a water feed, a breathing gas feed channel, a breathing gas outlet channel, a float element and a filling level indicator, said float element being located at a position below said water feed, said float element comprising a float element surface, said float element surface rising and falling based on a level of water in said evaporating chamber, wherein breathing gas is supplied to a patient via at least said breathing gas outlet channel;
• feeding water from the water reservoir into the evaporating chamber;
• blocking the water feed to the evaporating chamber with said float element surface when a water level set point is exceeded in the evaporating chamber, wherein said float element surface is in direct contact with said water feed when the water level set point is exceeded in the evaporating chamber;
• heating of the water in the evaporating chamber by the heater;
• and
• detecting a drop in the water level from a water level set point with the filling level indicator as a function of the position of float element.

A humidifying device for breathing gas, the humidifying device comprising:

• a housing with an evaporating chamber;
• a water reservoir;
• a water feed from the water reservoir to the evaporating chamber, the evaporating chamber receiving water from said water reservoir through said water feed;
• a heater in contact with said evaporating chamber for heating water in said evaporating chamber;
• a breathing gas feed channel connected to said evaporating chamber;
• a breathing gas outlet channel connected to said evaporating chamber, wherein a patient is supplied with a breathing gas via at least said breathing gas outlet channel;
• a float element guided in a floatingly movable manner on the water and said float element having an integral float portion, said float element being arranged at a position below said water feed, said integral float portion comprising an integral float portion surface, said integral float portion surface rising and falling based on a level of the water in said evaporating chamber, said integral float portion closing the water feed above a water level set point in said evaporating chamber, wherein said integral float portion surface engages said water feed with the level of the water above the water level set point;
• and
• a filling level indicator, said filling level indicator recognizing a drop of the water level from the water level set point as a function of a position of said float element.

A humidifying device for breathing gas, the humidifying device comprising:

• a housing with a recess;
• a water reservoir;
• a heater;
• an evaporating chamber with a water feed, a breathing gas feed channel, a breathing gas outlet channel, a float element and a filling level indicator, said evaporating chamber being introduced at least partially into said recess and in contact with said heater for heating water and receiving water from said water reservoir through said water feed, said float element being guided in a floatingly movable manner on the water and closing the water feed above a water level set point in said evaporating chamber, said filling level indicator recognizing a drop of the water level from the water level set point as a function of a position of said float element;
• a flow sensor;
• and
• a remaining time means for generating a remaining time during which water will still be present in said evaporating chamber and for generating a corresponding output signal for display and for triggering an alarm from a signal of said filling level indicator and a signal of said flow sensor.

A humidifying device for breathing gas, the humidifying device comprising:

• a housing with a recess;
• a water reservoir;
• a heater;
• an evaporating chamber with a water feed, a breathing gas feed channel, a breathing gas outlet channel, a float element and a filling level indicator, said evaporating chamber being introduced at least partially into said recess and in contact with said heater for heating water and receiving water from said water reservoir through said water feed, said float element being guided in a floatingly movable manner on the water and closing the water feed above a water level set point in said evaporating chamber, said filling level indicator recognizing a drop of the water level from the water level set point as a function of a position of said float element;
• a second float element in said evaporating chamber;
• and
• a second filling level indicator in said evaporating chamber, wherein said second float element can be moved above a level of the water level set point in said evaporating chamber and said second filling level indicator is provided to recognize a position of said second float element above said water level set point.

A process for operating a humidifying device for breathing gases, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing a humidifying device with a housing with a recess, a water reservoir, a heater and an evaporating chamber introduced at least partially into the recess, the evaporating chamber having a water feed, a breathing gas feed channel, a breathing gas outlet channel, a float element and a filling level indicator;
• feeding water from the water reservoir into the evaporating chamber;
• blocking the water feed to the evaporating chamber by the float element when a water level set point is exceeded in the evaporating chamber;
• heating of the water in the evaporating chamber by the heater;
• and
• detecting a drop in the water level from a water level set point with the filling level indicator as a function of the position of float element, wherein a signal of the filling level indicator and a signal of a flow sensor, arranged at the breathing gas outlet channel, are each detected, wherein a remaining time during which water will still be present in the evaporating chamber is determined from the detected signals of the filling level indicator and of the flow sensor.

A humidifying device for breathing gas, the humidifying device comprising:

• a housing with an evaporating chamber;
• a water reservoir;
• a water feed from the water reservoir to the evaporating chamber, the evaporating chamber receiving water from said water reservoir through said water feed;
• a heater in contact with said evaporating chamber for heating water in said evaporating chamber;
• a breathing gas feed channel connected to said evaporating chamber;
• a breathing gas outlet channel connected to said evaporating chamber;
• a float element guided in a floatingly movable manner closing the water feed above a water level set point in said evaporating chamber;
• a filling level indicator, said filling level indicator recognizing a drop of the water level from the water level set point as a function of a position of said float element;
• a flow sensor;
• and
• a remaining time calculation means receiving a signal of said filling level indicator and a signal of said flow sensor for calculating a remaining time during which water will still be present in said evaporating chamber upon a drop of the water level from the water level set point based upon said flow sensor and for generating a corresponding output signal for display and for triggering an alarm.