Usability features for respiratory humidification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11878093-B2
Application number	US-202117445937-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2021
Priority date	Apr 27, 2012
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

A humidification system for delivering humidified gases to a user can include a heater base, humidification chamber having an inlet, outlet, and associated fluid conduit, and breathing circuit including a supply conduit, inspiratory conduit, and optional expiratory conduit. The humidification system can include various features to help make set-up less difficult and time-consuming. For example, the supply conduit, inspiratory conduit, and optional expiratory conduit can be coupled into a one-piece circuit to aid set-up. Various components can be color-coded and can have corresponding structures to indicate which components should be connected to one another during set-up. Such features can also help make the set-up process more intuitive for an operator, which can reduce the need for specialized training and reduce the number of potential errors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A humidification chamber comprising:
a top portion comprising at least one feature that defines a front of the humidification chamber and a back of the humidification chamber;
a base portion;
a cavity being at least partially defined by the top portion and the base portion, the cavity configured to hold a volume of liquid;
an inlet port extending from the top portion and defining a passage into the cavity of the humidification chamber through the top portion;
an outlet port extending from the top portion and defining a passage out of the cavity of the humidification chamber through the top portion; and
a first structure in the top portion, the first structure being configured to engage with a corresponding second structure on a heater base to enable proper orientation of the humidification chamber with the heater base, the humidification chamber having a shorter vertical height on at least a portion of the back of the humidification chamber and a taller vertical height on at least a portion of the front of the humidification chamber to reduce a likelihood of the humidification chamber being installed onto the heater base backwards.

2. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the first structure is a recess, and the second structure is a protrusion.

3. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the inlet port comprises a first sensor aperture, the first sensor aperture being configured to receive a first sensor mounted on the heater base, the outlet port comprising a second sensor aperture, the second sensor aperture being configured to receive a second sensor mounted on the heater base.

4. The humidification chamber of claim 3 , further comprising grommets positioned in the first and second sensor apertures, wherein the grommets pneumatically seal the first and second sensor apertures, the grommets being sized and shaped to receive the first and second sensors, and the grommets being configured to protect the first and second sensors from direct contact with gases passing into and out of the humidification chamber such that the first and second sensors can be reused without cleaning.

5. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the second structure is on a sensor cartridge module of the heater base to guide connection of the humidification chamber with the sensor cartridge module.

6. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the outlet port comprises a connector for connecting to an inspiratory conduit, the connector having an angled or elbow shape.

7. The humidification chamber of claim 6 , wherein the inlet port is straight, thereby providing a visual difference to a user between the inlet port and the outlet port to prevent incorrect connections.

8. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the outlet port comprises a rib to prevent incorrect connection of an inspiratory conduit connector onto the outlet port.

9. The humidification chamber of claim 8 , wherein the rib at least partially circumferentially surrounds the outlet port, the rib configured to engage a corresponding second rib on the inspiratory conduit connector.

10. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , comprising a handle configured to allow an operator to hold the humidification chamber more easily.

11. The humidification chamber of claim 10 , wherein the handle extends partially or completely around the humidification chamber.

12. The humidification chamber of claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises at least one recess on a forward facing surface of the humidification chamber.

13. A kit of parts for a humidification system, the kit comprising:
the humidification chamber of claim 1 ;
a supply conduit connectable to the inlet port of the humidification chamber; and
an inspiratory conduit connectable to the outlet port of the humidification chamber.

14. The humidification Chamber of claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises at least one side wall and a top wall, the top wall connected to the at least one side wall.

15. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the first structure is a protrusion, and the second structure is a recess.

16. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the engagement between the first structure and the second structure helps to pull or encourage the humidification chamber into a fully seated position relative to the heater base.

17. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein in use, the humidification chamber is orientated relative to the heater base such that a first temperature sensor of the heater base is configured to sense a temperature of a first flow of gases entering the humidification chamber via the inlet port and a second temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature of a second flow of gases exiting the humidification chamber via the outlet port, wherein the first temperature sensor is not in direct contact with the first flow of gases and the second temperature sensor is not in direct contact with the second flow of gases.

18. The humidification chamber of claim 1 , wherein the humidification chamber further comprises a liquid conduit extending from the humidification chamber, the liquid conduit configured to connect to a liquid source.

19. The humidification chamber of claim 18 , wherein the liquid conduit is integrally formed or permanently coupled to the humidification chamber.

20. The humidification chamber of claim 18 , the liquid source comprises a water bag or a saline bag.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Klenner Jason Allan
• Salmon Andrew Paul Maxwell
• Hamilton Mark Samuel
• Stanton James William
• Andresen Michael John
• Lambert Jonathan Andrew George

Classifications

• A61M16/16 Primary

  Devices to humidify the respiration air {(A61M16/1045 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M16/0003

  Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure · CPC title

• A61M16/024

  including calculation means, e.g. using a processor · CPC title

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M16/0883

  Circuit type · CPC title