Usability features for respiratory humidification system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018296791-A1
Application number	US-201815960878-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 24, 2018
Priority date	Apr 27, 2012
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

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

1 .- 27 . (canceled)

28 . A humidification apparatus comprising:
a sensor cartridge module comprising:
an electrical connector to electrically connect the sensor cartridge module to the humidification apparatus;
a mechanical connector configured to connect the sensor cartridge module to the humidification apparatus; and
a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor and the second sensor being laterally spaced apart; and
a heater base comprising a heater plate and a heater base connector for mechanically and/or electrically connecting the sensor cartridge module to the heater base.

29 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , wherein each of the first and second sensors comprises a temperature sensor.

30 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising a third sensor, the third sensor comprising a flow sensor.

31 . The humidification apparatus of claim 30 , wherein the third sensor is provided proximate the second sensor.

32 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the first and second sensors are mounted on probes.

33 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the mechanical connector is at least in part integrated with the electrical connector.

34 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the heater base connector provides for transmission of electrical power and data between the first and second sensors and the heater base.

35 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , wherein when the sensor cartridge module connects to the heater base, the first and second sensors extend horizontally.

36 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising a humidification chamber positioned on the heater plate, the humidification chamber comprising an inlet port configured connect to a supply conduit and an outlet port configured to connect to an inspiratory conduit.

37 . The humidification apparatus of claim 36 , wherein when the sensor cartridge module connects to the heater base, the first sensor is positioned to be received in a first sensor aperture in the inlet port and the second sensor is positioned to be received in a second sensor aperture in the outlet port.

38 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising a first grommet positioned in the first sensor aperture and a second grommet positioned in the second sensor aperture, wherein each of the first and second grommets pneumatically seals the corresponding aperture, each of the first and second grommets being sized and shaped to receive the corresponding sensor, and each of the first and second grommets being configured to protect the corresponding sensor from direct contact with gases passing into and out of the chamber such that the first and second sensors can be reused without cleaning.

39 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , further comprising an inspiratory conduit, the sensor cartridge module being configured to electrically connect to a heater wire and/or a sensor cable associated with the inspiratory conduit.

40 . The humidification apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the sensor cartridge module is configured to provide for power and/or data transfer between the inspiratory conduit and the heater base.

41 . The humidification apparatus of claim 39 , wherein the inspiratory conduit comprising a single-use user end temperature sensor.

42 . The humidification apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the heater base comprises a spine extending upward relative to the heater plate, and wherein the heater base connector is provided on the spine such that the sensor cartridge module mechanically and/or electrically connects to the heater base via said spine.

43 . The humidification apparatus of claim 42 , further comprising a display located on the spine above the heater base connector.

44 . The humidification apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the display is oriented at an angle relative to a vertical axis.

45 . The humidification apparatus of claim 43 , further comprising a humidification chamber, the humidification chamber comprising a first humidification chamber connector for connecting a humidification chamber inlet to a supply conduit and a second humidification connector for connecting a humidification chamber outlet to the inspiratory conduit, wherein the first and second humidification chamber connectors are provided below a plane extending perpendicular to the display from a bottom edge of the display.

46 . The humidification apparatus of claim 45 , wherein the humidification chamber connector for connecting to the inspiratory conduit has an elbow shape to prevent the humidification chamber connector from obscuring the display.

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

• A61M16/10

  Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours · CPC title

• A61M16/0003

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

• A61M16/0816

  Joints or connectors · CPC title

• A61M2205/3368

  Temperature · CPC title

• A61M16/024

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