Breathing assistance apparatus
AssigneeFisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
InventorsPaul John Seakins, Malcolm David Smith, Mohammad Thudor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A humidifier and humidity sensor is disclosed for use with a breathing assistance apparatus. The humidity sensor preferably includes senor(s) to sense absolute humidity, relative humidity and/or temperature at both the patient end and humidifier end. The humidifier may also include provision to both control independently the humidity and temperature of the gases. Further, a chamber manifold is disclosed to facilitate easy connection of the humidifier to various outlets, inlets and sensors. A heated conduit is described which provides a more effective temperature profile along its length.
Claims24
A humidification apparatus for humidifying a gases flow to be supplied to a patient or other person comprising:
- a humidifier base having a horizontal base and a vertically extending wall extending a greater distance in a vertical direction than in a horizontal direction, the vertically extending wall extending from and perpendicular to the horizontal base, the vertically extending wall and the horizontal base being integrally formed, the vertically extending wall having front and back surfaces, the front surface being perpendicular to the horizontal base, the back surface of the vertically extending wall and a back surface of the horizontal base defining a back surface of the humidifier base;
- wherein the vertically extending wall comprises first and second temperature sensors, the first and second temperature sensors each being within or located within the vertically extending wall, wherein when a humidification chamber is received by the humidifier base, one of the first or second temperature sensors is configured to measure a temperature of gases at or near an outlet of the humidification chamber;
- and
- a heater plate positioned on the horizontal base, the heater plate including a heat conductive material, the front surface of the vertically extending wall being perpendicular to the heater plate.
A humidification apparatus for humidifying a gases flow to be supplied to a patient or other person comprising:
- a humidifier base having a side profile that includes a horizontal base extending a greater distance in a horizontal direction than in a vertical direction and a upwardly extending wall extending a greater distance in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, the upwardly extending wall extending from and perpendicular to the horizontal base, the upwardly extending wall and the horizontal base forming an L- shape, the upwardly extending wall and the horizontal base being integrally formed, the upwardly extending wall having front and back surfaces, the front surface being perpendicular to the horizontal base, the back surface of the upwardly extending wall and a back surface of the horizontal base defining a back surface of the humidifier base, wherein the humidifier base includes a heater plate configured to conduct heat to a humidification chamber,
- wherein the humidifier base is configured to receive the humidification chamber configured to hold a volume of water and having an inlet and an outlet to allow the gases flow to pass through the humidification chamber from the inlet to the outlet,
- wherein the upwardly extending wall comprises first and second sensors, the first and second sensors being spaced apart from each other and being located inside the upwardly extending wall, wherein when the humidification chamber is received by the humidifier base, at least one of the first and second sensors is aligned with the inlet or outlet of the humidification chamber.
A humidification apparatus for humidifying a gases flow to be supplied to a patient or other person comprising:
- a humidifier base including an upwardly extending wall, the upwardly extending wall having front and back surfaces, the back surface of the upwardly extending wall defining at least a portion of a back surface of the humidifier base, wherein the upwardly extending wall comprises first and second sensors, the first and second sensors being spaced apart from each other and being located within the upwardly extending wall,
- the humidifier base including a heater plate,
- wherein the first and second sensors are configured to detect a property of the gases flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.