# US 9,750,916 B2 · Humidified gas delivery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,916 B2 - Document ID: US9750916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/240,730 - Filed: 2012-08-23 - Published: 2015-04-23 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-23 - Assignees: Armstrong Medical Limited - Applicants: Ciarán Dominic Magee - Inventors: Ciarán Dominic Magee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750916B2 ## CPC - A61M 16/1045: {Devices for humidifying or heating the inspired gas by using recovered moisture or heat from the expired gas} - A61M 16/0875: {Connecting tubes} - A61M 16/108: {before being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent} - A61M 16/1085: {after being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent} - A61M 16/109: {the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent} - A61M 16/1095: {in the connecting tubes} - A61M 16/16: Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} - A61M 16/167: {acting vertically on the valve} - F16L 53/34: using electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields, e.g. induction, dielectric or microwave heating - A61M 16/0833: {T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece} - A61M 2205/3653: by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract This invention relates to a method for delivering humidified gas to a user or patient during respiratory gas ventilation support, such as, but not limited to, mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure breathing, and bi-directional positive airway pressure breathing; the method comprising the steps of heating a humidified gas from a humidified gas reservoir; transferring the heated humidified gas to a patient; receiving expired gas from a patient; heating the expired gas; and transferring the heated expired gas to a gas outlet; wherein the humidified gas and the expired gas are heated to different temperatures. Also disclosed is a humidified gas delivery system, which finds utility as a breathing circuit of a respiratory gas humidification system by delivering humidified gases to a user or patient during mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure breathing, bi-directional positive airway pressure breathing, or other mode of respiratory support provided to users or patients. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A humidified gas delivery system comprising at least one conduit defining a lumen and an electrically conductive resistor positioned within the lumen of the conduit; wherein the electrically conductive resistor comprises a wire; and wherein at least part of the wire extends circumferentially within at least a portion of the lumen and at least part of the wire extends diametrically across a transverse cross-section of the lumen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the wire is formed from a series of at least two segments, wherein each segment, at least part of the wire is arranged to extend circumferentially within at least a portion of the lumen and at least part of the wire is arranged to extend across a transverse cross-section of the lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 2; wherein each segment has a serpentine form. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 2; wherein each segment has a first portion having distal and proximal ends, a middle portion having distal and proximal ends, a second portion having distal and proximal ends, and a connector having distal and proximal ends. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 4; wherein the first portion is substantially curvilinear in form; the middle portion is substantially linear in form; the second portion is substantially curvilinear in form; and the connector is substantially linear in form. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 4; wherein the first portion is substantially curvilinear in form, the proximal end of which first portion is connected to the distal end of the middle portion, which middle portion is substantially linear in form; and the proximal end of the middle portion is connected to the distal end of the second portion, which second portion is substantially curvilinear in form; and wherein the connector is substantially linear in form and extends between the distal end of a first portion of a first segment of the wire and the proximal end of a second portion of an adjacent segment of the wire. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 2; wherein each segment is deformed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive resistor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 7; wherein the distal end of a first portion of a first segment of the wire and the proximal end of a second portion of an adjacent segment of the wire are spaced apart with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive resistor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 7; wherein the wire is formed from a series of at least two segments adjacently arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive resistor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the wire has a resistivity of about 0.1×10-3 Ωm (0.1 milliohmmeters) to about 25.0×10-3 Ωm (25.0 milliohmmeters). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the power dissipated by the wire is from about 18 to about 42 watts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the wire has a resistance of about 1.5 to about 3.0 ohms per meter length. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the wire is formed from a metal or an alloy selected from Aluminum; Brass; Carbon; Constantan; Copper; Iron; Manganin; Molybdenum; Nichrome; Nickel; Platinum; Stainless steel; Steel; Tungsten; and Zinc. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the at least one conduit comprises a flexible pipe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 1; wherein the wire is formed from a series of at least two segments, each segment shaped in the form of a letter S. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 15; wherein each segment comprises a first end, a middle portion, a second end, and a connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 16; wherein the middle portion of each segment extends diametrically across the transverse cross-section of the lumen. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 16; wherein the first end and the second end of each segment are connected by the middle portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 16; wherein the connector is oriented in an opposing direction to the middle portion of each segment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The humidified gas delivery system according to claim 19; wherein the connector of each segment extends diametrically across the transverse cross-section of the lumen.