Breathable gas apparatus with humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539409-B2
Application number	US-201614987275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2003
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A breathable gas supply apparatus has a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas and a humidifier base unit configured to be coupled to the flow generator. A water container is configured to be removably coupled to the humidifier base unit and includes an air inlet and an air inlet passage extending into an interior of the water container from the air inlet. The air inlet passage is configured to direct the pressurized flow of breathable gas in a direction that is substantially parallel to a base of the water container. A barrier wall is provided across an outlet end of the air inlet passage and extends downward from the air inlet passage toward the water container base. In addition, a curved wall opposes both the outlet end of the air inlet passage and the barrier wall and extends downward toward the water container base. The breathable gas supply apparatus also includes a connector defining an airflow passage between an outlet of the flow generator and the air inlet of the water container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A breathable gas supply apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas for a patient, the breathable gas supply apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas;
a humidifier base unit with a pivotable lid configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position;
an elastomeric seal mounted on an underside of the pivotable lid;
a water container removably coupled to the humidifier base unit, the water container being configured to be pneumatically connected to the flow generator and humidify the pressurized breathable gas received from the flow generator when coupled to the humidifier base unit, the water container being further configured to be retained within the humidifier base unit by the pivotable lid when the pivotable lid is in the closed position, the water container comprising:
a water container lid with an outlet configured to sealingly abut the elastomeric seal when the water container is placed on a base of the humidifier base unit and the pivotable lid is moved to closed position;
a water container base sealingly connected to the water container lid;
an air inlet in a side wall of the water container lid;
an air inlet passage extending into an interior of the water container from the air inlet, the air inlet passage being configured to direct the pressurized flow of breathable gas in a direction that is substantially parallel to the water container base;
a barrier wall provided across an outlet end of the air inlet passage and extending downward from the air inlet passage toward the water container base; and
a curved wall opposing both the outlet end of the air inlet passage and the barrier wall and extending downward toward the water container base, the curved wall being configured to deflect the pressurized flow of breathable gas exiting the air inlet passage; and

a connector defining an airflow passage between an outlet of the flow generator and the air inlet of the water container.

2. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the barrier wall does not extend all the way to the water container base.

3. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the connector is positioned within an interior of the humidifier base unit.

4. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier base unit comprises a plurality of upright walls and at least a portion of the connector is positioned within a space defined by the plurality of upright walls.

5. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the airflow passage of the connector comprises:
a first elastomeric end configured to receive an outlet of the flow generator; and
a second elastomeric end configured to engage the water container air inlet.

6. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first elastomeric end of the airflow passage is vertically offset from the second elastomeric end of the airflow passage, the first elastomeric end of the airflow passage being below the second elastomeric end of the airflow passage when the humidifier base unit is in an upright operating orientation.

7. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second elastomeric end is configured to abut and form a face seal with a portion of the sidewall of the water container lid surrounding the water container air inlet.

8. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the water container air outlet is configured to be in pneumatic communication with an air delivery hose in use.

9. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the airflow passage of the connector comprises:
a first elastomeric end configured to receive an outlet of the flow generator; and
a second elastomeric end configured to engage the water container air inlet,
wherein the first elastomeric end of the airflow passage is vertically offset from the second elastomeric end of the airflow passage, the first elastomeric end of the airflow passage being below the second elastomeric end of the airflow passage when the humidifier base unit is in an upright operating orientation,
wherein the second elastomeric end is configured to abut and form a face seal with a portion of the sidewall of the water container lid surrounding the water container air inlet,
wherein at least a portion of the barrier wall does not extend all the way to the water container base,
wherein at least a portion of the connector is positioned within an interior of the humidifier base unit,
wherein the humidifier base unit comprises a plurality of upright walls and at least a portion of the connector is positioned within a space defined by the plurality of upright walls, and
wherein the water container air outlet is configured to be in pneumatic communication with an air delivery hose in use.

10. A breathable gas supply apparatus for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas for a patient, the breathable gas supply apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas;
a humidifier base unit configured to be directly coupled to the flow generator by sliding the humidifier base unit and the flow generator relative to one another, the humidifier base unit comprising a pivotable lid configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position and comprising a plurality of upright walls, the pivotable lid comprising a lid seal;
a water container removably coupled to the humidifier base unit, the water container being configured to be pneumatically connected to the flow generator and humidify the pressurized breathable gas received from the flow generator when coupled to the humidifier base unit, the water container being further configured to be retained within the humidifier base unit by the pivotable lid when the pivotable lid is in the closed position, the water container comprising a lid with an air outlet in an upper surface of the water container lid, the lid seal being configured to engage and form a face seal with a portion of the upper surface of the water container lid surrounding the water container air outlet; and
a connector defining an airflow passage between an outlet of the flow generator and an air inlet of the water container, the air flow passage comprising a first end at a first vertical height and a second end at a second vertical height, the first and second vertical heights being different,
wherein the first and second ends are configured to receive or deliver the pressurized breathable gas in a horizontal direction.

11. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first end of the connector is elastomeric and is configured to receive the outlet of the flow generator, and wherein the second end of the connector is elastomeric and is configured to engage the air inlet of the water container.

12. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the connector is below the second end of the connector when the humidifier base unit is in an upright operating orientation.

13. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second end of the connector is configured to abut and form a face seal with a sidewall of the water container.

14. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the connector is located within a space defined by the plurality of upright walls of the humidifier base unit.

15. The breathable gas supply apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the water container comprises:
an air inlet in a side wall of the water containe

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Crumblin Geoffrey
• Janiak Michael Thomas
• Kao Dan
• Kenyon Barton John
• Lithgow Perry David
• Primrose Rohan Neil
• Saada Jim
• Snow John Michael
• Trevor-Wilson Duncan Lovel
• Virr Alexander
• Yee Arthur Kin-Wai

Classifications

• A61B2560/0475

  Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards · CPC title

• A61B7/00

  Instruments for auscultation · CPC title

• A61B5/14551

  for measuring blood gases · CPC title

• A61B5/0245

  by using sensing means generating electric signals, {i.e. ECG signals} · CPC title

• A61B2560/0462

  Apparatus with built-in sensors · CPC title