Humidifier with a water tub within a pressurized chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023038396-A1
Application number	US-202217964971-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2022
Priority date	Sep 17, 2008
Publication date	Feb 9, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tub is configured to contain a supply of water and is configured to be inserted into a chamber of a humidifier. The tub includes a tub base configured to contain the supply of water. The tub also includes a tub lid and a flow plate provided between the tub base and the tub lid. The flow plate includes a water level indicator configured to indicate a level of the supply of water in the tub base. In addition, the water level indicator includes a generally rectangular portion and a generally triangular portion.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the respiratory apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to generate a flow of positive pressure breathable gas, the flow generator comprising a first electrical connector on a side wall; and a humidifier comprising:
a humidifier chamber removably connected to the flow generator, the humidifier chamber comprising:
a bottom surface with a heating plate;
a back wall;
a front opposite the back wall;
a first lateral side wall adjacent the flow generator and a second lateral side wall opposite the first lateral side wall, the first lateral side wall comprising a second electrical connector; and
an inlet configured to receive the flow of breathable gas generated by the flow generator when the first lateral side wall of the humidifier chamber engages the side wall of the flow generator, said inlet being provided on the first lateral side wall;

a tub configured to contain a supply of water and being removably insertable into the humidifier chamber, the tub comprising a tub base and a tub lid; and
a humidifier lid pivotably connected to the humidifier chamber and pivotable between an open position in which the tub is insertable into the humidifier chamber and a closed position in which the humidifier lid secures the tub at least partly in the humidifier chamber, the humidifier lid comprising at least one catch configured to be engaged to at least one latch on the front of the humidifier chamber to maintain the humidifier lid in the closed position;
an opening member configured to release the humidifier lid to allow the humidifier lid to be pivoted to the open position; and
a lid closure member comprising the at least one latch on the humidifier chamber, the lid closure member being biased to a closed position,
wherein the opening member is configured to move the lid closure member to an open position in which the at least one latch and the at least one catch become disengaged such that the humidifier lid is movable to the open position, wherein the heating plate is configured to heat the supply of water contained in the tub, and wherein when the humidifier chamber is connected to the flow generator, the electrical connector on the first lateral side wall of the humidifier chamber connects with the electrical connector on the side wall of the flow generator.

22 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the humidifier lid and the humidifier chamber are configured so that when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, an interior of the humidifier chamber is sealed off from atmosphere.

23 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the humidifier chamber insulates the tub to reduce heat loss to ambient.

24 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the humidifier includes a plurality of latches on the first lateral side wall of the humidifier chamber that are biased into engagement with a plurality of catches on the side wall of the flow generator when the humidifier and the flow generator are detachably connected.

25 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein an aperture is provided in a wall of the humidifier chamber so that a water level in the tub is viewable.

26 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the tub base and the tub lid are detachable.

27 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the humidifier lid comprises a seal configured to engage the tub when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, and wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

28 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the tub base is configured to be pressed against the heating plate when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

29 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the tub comprises a flow plate between the tub base and the tub lid.

30 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein the flow plate comprises a frame seal that is configured to seal a perimeter of the tub base when the tub lid is connected to the tub base.

31 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein the tub lid is configured to engage the frame seal around the entire perimeter of the tub base when the tub lid is connected to the tub base.

32 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the tub lid comprises at least one tub lid latch configured to engage a rim on the tub base to connect the tub lid and the tub base.

33 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the humidifier lid comprises a seal configured to engage the tub when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.

34 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the tub is formed of a plastic material, a metal or a combination thereof.

35 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein an outlet of the humidifier comprises a tube connector that is connectable to an air delivery tube.

36 . A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the respiratory apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to generate a flow of positive pressure breathable gas, the flow generator comprising a first electrical connector on a side wall; and a humidifier comprising:
a humidifier chamber removably connected to the flow generator;
a heating plate;
at least one side wall comprising a second electrical connector;
an inlet configured to receive the flow of breathable gas generated by the flow generator when the at least one side wall engages the side wall of the flow generator, said inlet being provided on the at least one side wall;
a tub configured to contain a supply of water and being removably insertable into the humidifier chamber, the tub comprising a tub base and a tub lid; and
a humidifier lid movably connected to the humidifier chamber and movable between an open position in which the tub is insertable into the humidifier chamber and a closed position in which the humidifier lid covers the tub, the humidifier lid comprising at least one catch configured to be engaged to at least one latch to maintain the humidifier lid in the closed position, and the humidifier lid comprises a seal configured to engage the tub when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, and wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position;
an opening member configured to release the humidifier lid to allow the humidifier lid to be moved to the open position; and
a lid closure member comprising the at least one latch, the lid closure member being biased to a closed position,
wherein the opening member is configured to move the lid closure member to an open position in which the at least one latch and the at least one catch are released from one another, wherein the heating plate is configured to heat the supply of water contained in the tub, and wherein when the humidifier chamber is connected to the flow generator, the second electrical connector on the at least one side wall of the humidifier chamber connects with the first electrical connector on the side wall of the flow generator.

37 . The respiratory apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein the humidifier lid and the humidifier chamber are configured so that when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, an interior of the humidifier chamber is sealed off from atmosphere.

Assignees

• ResMed Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Virr Alexander
• Bath Andrew Roderick
• Row Nathan John
• Kao Dan
• Hill Phoebe Katherine
• Earl Nicholas Andrew
• Verma Hargopal
• Chen Junning

Classifications

• A61M16/0875

  Connecting tubes · CPC title

• A61M16/0066

  Blowers or centrifugal pumps · CPC title

• A61M16/16 Primary

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

• A61M16/1075

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

• A61M2205/3382

  Upper level detectors · CPC title