Humidification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12053589-B2
Application number	US-202218046081-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Sep 13, 2013
Publication date	Aug 6, 2024
Grant date	Aug 6, 2024

Abstract

A humidification system can include a heater base, a chamber, and a breathing circuit. The heater base includes a heater plate positioned in a recessed region, and a heat conductive portion of the chamber is configured to contact the heater plate. The heater base includes a guard configured to control movement of the chamber into and out of the recessed region. The guard includes an anti-racking mechanism. The chamber includes an inlet port, an outlet port. A downward extension extends into the chamber from the inlet port, and a baffle is disposed at a lower end of the downward extension. A component of the breathing circuit can include a conduit hanging end cap for shipping and storage. The end cap can include a hanging component to allow the breathing circuit component to be hung from a medical stand. The system can detect when breathing circuits are connected in reverse.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heater base for supplying humidified gases to a patient, the heater base comprising:
a base portion, the base portion comprising a recessed region;
a heater plate positioned in the recessed region, the heater plate being able to contact a heat conductive portion of a removable humidification chamber;
a guard extending along a front portion of the base portion, the guard comprising a first end and a second end, the guard being able to move between a first position and a second position, the first position allows the removable humidification chamber to access the heater plate and the recessed region, the second position allows the guard to retain the removable humidification chamber against removal from the heater base; and
an anti-racking mechanism coupled to the guard, the anti-racking mechanism being able to allow the guard to translate vertically, the anti-racking mechanism cooperating with the guard such that vertical movement of the first end causes coordinated vertical movement of the second end.

2. The heater base of claim 1 , wherein the anti-racking mechanism comprises an elongated rod-like member that connects to the first end of the guard and to the second end of the guard.

3. The heater base of claim 2 , wherein the elongated rod-like member extends between a first arm and a second arm, the first arm being connected to the first end of the guard and the second arm being connected to the second end of the guard.

4. The heater base of claim 3 , wherein the elongated rod-like member comprises an elongated central portion between the first arm and the second arm, and the first arm and the second arm extend perpendicular from the elongated central portion.

5. The heater base of claim 3 , wherein the guard comprises a first post near the first end of the guard and a second post near the second end of the guard, wherein the first arm is connected to the first post and the second arm is connected to the second post.

6. The heater base of claim 5 , wherein the first post and the second post extend downwardly from the guard, and wherein the first arm and the second arm of the elongated rod-like member are able to connect to respective ends of the first post and the second post distal from the guard.

7. The heater base of claim 6 , wherein the heater base further comprises an inner chassis comprising a first guide and a second guide able to receive at least a portion of the first post and the second post, respectively.

8. The heater base of claim 1 , wherein the guard is able to translate axially relative to an inner chassis of the heater base.

9. The heater base of claim 1 , wherein a biasing member is disposed between the guard and an inner chassis or other relatively stationary portion of the heater base.

10. The heater base of claim 9 , wherein the biasing member is able to urge the guard away from the inner chassis or the other relatively stationary portion of the heater base.

11. The heater base of claim 10 , wherein the biasing member comprises at least one compression spring mounted between the guard and the inner chassis or the other relatively stationary portion of the heater base.

12. The heater base of claim 11 , wherein the guard comprises a first support and a second support, and wherein the at least one compression spring comprises a first compression spring mounted to the first support and a second compression spring mounted to the second support.

13. The heater base of claim 11 , wherein the guard is able to revert to the second non depressed position once the removable humidification chamber has been installed to the heater base.

14. The heater base of claim 1 , wherein the guard comprises a catch being able to be received within a portion of the heater base, the catch being able to secure the guard against removal form the heater base.

15. The heater base of claim 14 , wherein the catch extends downwardly from the guard.

16. The heater base of claim 15 , wherein the catch comprises a forked component with outwardly extending tabs located at an end of the catch, the forked component being distal from the guard.

17. A heater base for supplying humidified gases to a patient, the heater base comprising:
a guard comprising a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end each being able to move between a first position and a second position;
an anti-racking mechanism operatively coupled to the guard; and
an inner surface, the anti-racking mechanism configured to contact the inner surface, wherein when the anti-racking mechanism moves along the inner surface, movement of the first end of the guard causes coordinated movement of the second end of the guard such that the entire guard translates perpendicular to the inner surface.

18. The heater base of claim 17 , wherein the anti-racking mechanism comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are rotatably coupled to the guard.

19. The heater base of claim 18 , wherein the anti-racking mechanism comprises a central portion, such that when the central portion moves along the inner surface, the anti-racking mechanism rotates relative to the guard.

20. The heater base of claim 18 , further comprising an inner chassis spaced apart or parallel to the inner surface, wherein movement of the anti-racking mechanism between the inner surface and the inner chassis is perpendicular to movement of one end of the guard being depressed.

21. The heater base according to claim 17 , wherein the anti-racking mechanism is configured to substantially prevent the guard from pivoting.

22. A heater base for supplying humidified gases to a patient, the heater base comprising:
a base portion, the base portion comprising a recessed region;
a heater plate positioned in the recessed region, the heater plate being able to contact a heat conductive portion of a removable humidification chamber;
a guard extending along a front portion of the base portion, the guard comprising a first end and a second end, the guard being able to move between a first position and a second position, the first position allows the removable humidification chamber to access the heater plate and the recessed region, the second position allows the guard to retain the removable humidification chamber against removal from the heater base, wherein the guard moves independent of the base portion and the heater plate; and
an anti-racking mechanism coupled to the guard, the anti-racking mechanism cooperating with the guard such that movement of the first end causes coordinated movement of the second end.

23. The heater base of claim 22 , wherein the anti-racking mechanism is configured to translate independently along an inner chassis of the heater base such that the guard translates perpendicularly to the inner chassis.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Jackson John James
• Manon Barry Shack
• Corrales Victor Rosales
• Van Workum Stefan Leo
• Andresen Michael John
• Evans Stephen David
• Hamilton Mark Samuel
• Buckley Paul Fleming
• Klenner Jason Allan
• Osborne Hamish
• Boggs Samuel Graham
• Stanton James William
• Griffiths Joseph Nathaniel
• Lambert Jonathan Andrew George
• Vaughan Nicholas Edward
• Kehoe James Owen
• De La Peña De La Fuente Francisco Ernesto
• Mckenna Nicholas James Michael
• Porter Rachael
• Stam Simon Mordechai
• Kemps David Robert
• Lyons Edwin Joseph
• Martin Madeleine Bess
• Shou Ada Yiwen
• Liu Huang-Ku

Classifications

• A61M2205/6027

  Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes · CPC title

• A61M2205/502

  User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards · CPC title

• A61M2205/123

  with incorporated reservoirs · CPC title

• A61M2205/0216

  Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking · CPC title

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title