Tub for humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12011545-B2
Application number	US-201916656739-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2019
Priority date	Jun 7, 2007
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A humidifier includes a tub configured to hold a supply of water. The tub includes a tub lid and a tub base adapted to be coupled to the tub lid. The tub further includes a base plate formed of a heat conducting material and adapted to be coupled to the tub base and a seal positioned between the base plate and the tub base. The tub also includes a retaining mechanism with at least one projection that projects from the tub base and is configured to force the base plate against the seal so that the seal is secured against the tub base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tub for a humidifier configured to humidify a flow of pressurized respiratory gas, the tub comprising:
a tub lid with an upper horizontal wall and an air outlet opening in the upper horizontal wall;
a tub base positioned below the tub lid, the tub base and the tub lid together forming a chamber configured to receive the flow of pressurized respiratory gas and contain a body of water, the tub base comprising a bottom surface with a central rim surrounding a depression in the bottom of the tub;
a plurality of heat stakes extending downward from the tub base and positioned around the depression in the bottom of the tub; and
a base plate attached to the bottom of the tub base, a perimeter of the base plate being greater than the perimeter of the depression in the bottom of the tub, the base plate being secured to the tub base by the plurality of heat stakes,
wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of coplanar tabs, each coplanar tab comprising an opening that receives a corresponding one of the plurality of heat stakes,
wherein each heat stake has a melted head portion that is larger than the opening in the corresponding one of the plurality of coplanar tabs, and
wherein a central region of the base plate is offset from the coplanar tabs.

2. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a side wall with an air inlet opening.

3. The tub of claim 2 , wherein the tub comprises an air inlet passage that extends laterally from the air inlet opening toward an interior of the tub.

4. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the melted head portions are in the shape of a dome.

5. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the heat stakes comprise plastic.

6. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the base plate is made of a heat-conducting metal.

7. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of heat stakes are equidistant from each other.

8. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the central region of the base plate is recessed with respect to the perimeter of the base plate.

9. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the central region of the base plate is recessed with respect to the coplanar tabs.

10. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the base plate is contained in a horizontal plane that is vertically offset from a horizontal plane in which the tabs of the base plate are contained.

11. The tub of claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a side wall with an air inlet opening,
wherein the tub comprises an air inlet passage that extends laterally from the air inlet opening toward an interior of the tub,
wherein the melted head portions are in the shape of a dome,
wherein the heat stakes comprise plastic,
wherein the base plate is made of a heat-conducting metal,
wherein the plurality of heat stakes are equidistant from each other,
wherein the central region of the base plate is recessed with respect to the perimeter of the base plate, and
wherein the central region of the base plate is recessed with respect to the coplanar tabs.

12. A CPAP device configured to deliver a pressurized flow of respiratory gas to a patient's airways, the CPAP device comprising:
a flow generator configured to pressurize the flow of respiratory gas;
a humidifier cradle connected to the flow generator, the humidifier cradle comprising:
a cradle lid;
an outlet pipe extending from the cradle lid, the outlet pipe being configured to be connected to an air delivery tube; and
a cradle base with a heating element; and

the tub of claim 1 , the tub being configured to be removably inserted into the humidifier cradle and rest on the cradle base when inserted into the humidifier cradle.

13. The CPAP device of claim 12 , wherein the air outlet opening is configured to form an air flow path with the outlet pipe when the tub is received by the humidifier cradle and the cradle lid is in a closed position.

14. The CPAP device of claim 12 , wherein the base plate of the tub is configured to contact the heating element in the cradle base when the tub is received by the humidifier cradle.

15. The CPAP device of claim 12 , wherein the cradle lid is configured to sealingly engage the upper horizontal wall of the tub lid and is removable from the tub.

16. The CPAP device of claim 12 , wherein the tub comprises a side wall with an inlet opening configured to communicate with an air outlet opening of the flow generator when the tub is received by the humidifier cradle.

17. A CPAP device configured to deliver a pressurized flow of respiratory gas to a patient's airways, the CPAP device comprising:
a flow generator configured to pressurize the flow of respiratory gas;
a humidifier cradle connected to the flow generator, the humidifier cradle comprising:
a cradle lid that movable between an open position and a closed position;
an outlet pipe extending from the cradle lid, the outlet pipe being configured to be connected to an air delivery tube; and
a heating element; and

a water container configured to be removably inserted into the cradle, the water container comprising:
a water container lid with an air outlet opening that is configured to sealingly engage the cradle lid when the water container is received by the humidifier cradle and the cradle lid is in the closed position;
a water container base, the water container base comprising a bottom surface with an opening;
a plurality of heat stakes extending downward from the water container base and positioned on a rim of the opening in the water container base; and
a base plate that covers the opening in the bottom surface of the water container base and is secured to the water container base by the plurality of heat stakes, the base plate being configured to contact the heating element when the water container is received by the humidifier cradle,

wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of coplanar tabs, each coplanar tab comprising an opening that receives a corresponding one of the plurality of heat stakes,
wherein each heat stake has a melted head portion that is larger than the opening in the corresponding one of the plurality of coplanar tabs,
wherein a central region of the base plate is offset from the coplanar tabs,
wherein the cradle lid secures the water container in the cradle when the cradle lid is in the closed position, and
wherein the water container is allowed to be inserted into and removed from the cradle when the cradle lid is in the open position.

18. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the water container comprises a side wall with an inlet opening configured to communicate with an air outlet opening of the flow generator when the water container is received by the humidifier cradle.

19. The CPAP device of claim 18 , wherein the water container comprises an air inlet passage that extends laterally from the inlet opening toward an interior of the water container.

20. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the melted head portions are in the shape of a dome.

21. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the heat stakes comprise plastic.

22. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the base plate comprises a heat-conducting material.

23. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the base plate is made of metal.

24. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the water container further comprises a seal surrounding the opening in the water container base.

25. The CPAP device of claim 17 , wherein the water container further comprises a seal between the water container base and the base plate.

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Snow John Michael
• Cork Simon Robert
• Zekic John
• Hunter Benjamin John

Classifications

• A61M16/0057

  Pumps therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/109

  the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent · CPC title

• A61M16/1075

  by influencing the temperature (A61M16/1045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T403/608

  Pivoted · CPC title

• Y10T403/59

  Manually releaseable latch type · CPC title