Humidification arrangement for a respiratory apparatus
AssigneeResMed Limited
InventorsAlexander Virr, Donald Darkin, Nathan John Row, Paul Jan Klasek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A humidifying apparatus utilizing a semi-permeable membrane portion within a gas conduit where the direction of gas flow within a central lumen is given by an arrow. The humidification apparatus has a helical configuration for the semi-permeable membrane portion, a structural reinforcing member or members, a water channel and a heating element. The helical configuration of an outer wall may be similar to conventional conduits that are in common use in respiratory apparatus. Thus the humidification apparatus may be readily substituted into existing respiratory device by exchanging the gas conduit.
Claims47
A gas conduit for a respiratory apparatus, including a lumen for passage of a breathable gas to a patient and a flexible conduit wall surrounding the lumen, the flexible conduit wall having a humidification apparatus for delivering water vapour into the gas passing through the lumen, the humidification apparatus being configured to generate the water vapour regardless of a presence of condensation in the gas conduit.
A method of humidifying a breathable gas being delivered by a respiratory apparatus to a patient, including the steps of:
- providing a gas conduit in series between a PAP device and a patient interface;
- supplying liquid water to the gas conduit;
- and
- actuating the PAP device and a humidification apparatus so that the humidification apparatus provides water vapour into the gas being delivered to the patient,
- wherein the gas conduit includes a lumen for passage of the breathable gas to the patient and a flexible conduit wall surrounding the lumen, the humidification apparatus being positioned within the flexible conduit wall.
A gas conduit for a respiratory apparatus, the gas conduit comprising:
- a lumen for passage of a breathable gas to a patient;
- a flexible conduit wall surrounding the lumen;
- and
- a humidification apparatus for delivering water vapour into the gas passing through the lumen, the humidification apparatus being positioned within the flexible conduit wall and comprising:
- a liquid water retainer positioned within the flexible conduit wall and configured to retain liquid water supplied from a liquid water source that is separate from the gas conduit;
- and
- a heater configured to generate the water vapour from the liquid water in the liquid water retainer.
A gas conduit for a respiratory apparatus, the gas conduit comprising:
- a gas passage for conveying gas through the gas conduit;
- a flexible conduit wall surrounding the gas passage;
- and
- a humidification apparatus for delivering water vapour into the gas passing through the gas passage, the humidification apparatus being positioned within the flexible conduit wall and comprising:
- one or more liquid water channels positioned around the gas passage so that the one or more liquid water channels are between an exterior surface of the gas conduit and all of the gas flowing through the gas conduit;
- and
- one or more heaters configured to generate the water vapour from liquid water in the one or more liquid water channels regardless of a presence of condensation in the gas conduit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.