Humidifier reservoir

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11298499-B2
Application number	US-202117471856-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2021
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2022
Grant date	Apr 12, 2022

Abstract

An integrated respiratory pressure therapy device and humidifier for pressurising and humidifying breathable air to treat a respiratory disorder in a patient, includes a blower configured to pressurise the breathable air; a water reservoir configured to hold a volume of water to be used for humidification of the breathable air, the water reservoir comprising a water reservoir base, a water reservoir lid connected to the water reservoir base, and a compliant portion. The compliant portion is constructed from an elastomeric material and configured to seal between the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid. A water reservoir dock forms a cavity configured to partially receive the water reservoir. The water reservoir lid includes a protrusion and the water reservoir dock includes a recess configured to releasably engage one another to secure the water reservoir to the water reservoir dock.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An integrated respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) device and humidifier for pressurising and humidifying breathable air to treat a respiratory disorder in a patient, the RPT device comprising:
a blower configured to pressurise the breathable air;
a water reservoir configured to hold a volume of water to be used for humidification of the breathable air, the water reservoir comprising a water reservoir base, a water reservoir lid pivotably connected to the water reservoir base by a hinged joint, and a compliant portion, the compliant portion being constructed from an elastomeric material and configured to seal between the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid, when the water reservoir lid is in a closed position on the water reservoir base, and the water reservoir lid including a water reservoir inlet and a water reservoir outlet; and
a water reservoir dock that forms a cavity configured to partially receive the water reservoir, the water reservoir dock and the water reservoir being shaped and dimensioned such that a portion of the water reservoir is positioned outside of the cavity when the water reservoir is received in the water reservoir dock,
wherein the water reservoir lid includes a protrusion and the water reservoir dock includes a recess, the protrusion and the recess being configured to releasably engage one another when the water reservoir is received in the water reservoir dock to secure the water reservoir to the water reservoir dock; and
wherein, in the closed position, the water reservoir lid with the protrusion is movable relative to the water reservoir base under the bias of the compliant portion, to allow the water reservoir to be releasable engaged with the water reservoir dock.

2. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir is configured so that, when the water reservoir is received in the water reservoir dock, the compliant portion urges the water reservoir lid towards a corresponding portion of the water reservoir dock to maintain engagement between the protrusion and the recess and secure the water reservoir in the water reservoir dock.

3. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir is configured so that pressing the water reservoir lid towards the water reservoir base compresses the compliant portion, disengages the protrusion from the recess, and allows removal of the water reservoir from the water reservoir dock.

4. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the water reservoir that is received in the cavity of the water reservoir dock has a complementary shape to a portion of the water reservoir dock that receives the water reservoir.

5. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein a height of the portion of the water reservoir that is received in the cavity of the water reservoir dock is less than a height of the portion of the water reservoir dock that receives the water reservoir when the compliant portion is compressed to enable insertion of the water reservoir into the cavity and engagement of the protrusion and the recess or to disengage the protrusion and the recess to enable removal of the water reservoir from the water reservoir dock.

6. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the compliant portion is compressible to allow relative movement between the water reservoir and the water reservoir dock.

7. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is tapered so as to increase in height in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the water reservoir into the water reservoir dock.

8. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , further comprising a spring-biased heater plate forming an inner surface of the water reservoir dock,
wherein the water reservoir base includes a conductor plate constructed from a heat conducting material such that when the water reservoir is received in the water reservoir dock, the conductor plate thermally engages with the heater plate so as to allow transfer of heat from the heater plate to the conductor plate during operation of the heater plate.

9. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir further includes a latch to secure the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid together.

10. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 9 , wherein when the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid are secured together by the latch, the compliant portion is compressed between the water reservoir base and the water reservoir lid.

11. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 9 , wherein the hinged joint is positioned on an insertion end of the water reservoir, and the latch is positioned on an opposite side of the water reservoir, on the portion of the water reservoir positioned outside of the cavity.

12. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir base further comprises an inner lip positioned radially inward of the compliant portion when the water reservoir lid is in the closed position to discourage egress of liquid from the water reservoir.

13. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir includes a rotation stop and a rotation guide to limit rotation of the water reservoir lid relative to the water reservoir base when the water reservoir lid is in a fully open position.

14. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir lid includes ribs to form a grip surface.

15. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the compliant portion is engaged with the water reservoir lid by friction fitting.

16. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein the water reservoir dock is configured to receive the water reservoir by sliding the water reservoir horizontally into the cavity.

17. The integrated RPT device and humidifier of claim 1 , wherein:
the water reservoir is configured so that, when the water reservoir is received in the water reservoir dock, the compliant portion urges the water reservoir lid towards a corresponding portion of the water reservoir dock to maintain engagement between the protrusion and the recess and secure the water reservoir in the water reservoir dock,
the water reservoir is configured so that pressing the water reservoir lid towards the water reservoir base compresses the compliant portion, disengages the protrusion from the recess, and allows removal of the water reservoir from the water reservoir dock,
a portion of the water reservoir that is received in the cavity of the water reservoir dock has a complementary shape to a portion of the water reservoir dock that receives the water reservoir,
a height of the portion of the water reservoir that is received in the cavity of the water reservoir dock is less than a height of the portion of the water reservoir dock that receives the water reservoir when the compliant portion is compressed to enable insertion of the water reservoir into the cavity and engagement of the protrusion and the recess or to disengage the protrusion and the recess to enable removal of the water reservoir from the water reservoir dock,
the protrusion is tapered so as to increase in height in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the water reservoir into the water reservoir dock,
wherein the water reservoir dock includes a heater plate forming an inner surface of the water reservoir dock, wherein the water reservoir base includes a condu

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Bath Andrew Roderick
• Bertinetti Mark
• Formica Justin John
• Harrington Matthew Rolf
• Nasr Saad
• Ormrod Joseph Samuel
• Romagnoli José Ignacio
• Row Nathan John
• Stanislas Luke Andrew
• Verma Hargopal

Classifications

• A61M2205/586

  Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users · CPC title

• A61M16/0075

  Bellows-type · CPC title

• A61M16/0066

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M2016/0027

  pressure meter · CPC title

• A61M16/1065

  in the expiratory path · CPC title