Breathable gas apparatus with humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9610420-B2
Application number	US-201615054820-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2003
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A CPAP device for delivering pressurized, humidified breathable gas for a patient includes a flow generator configured to pressurize a flow of breathable gas. The flow generator includes an air outlet and a removable water container configured to humidify the pressurized breathable gas received from the flow generator. The water container includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The CPAP device further includes a first elastomeric face seal configured to sealingly abut against a substantially flat portion of the water container surrounding the water container air inlet, the first elastomeric face seal being located at an intermediate position between the flow generator air outlet and the water container air inlet when the water container is placed into position to pneumatically communicate with the flow generator. In addition, the CPAP device includes a second elastomeric face seal, a portion of which is configured to sealingly abut against a substantially flat external surface portion of the water container surrounding the water container air outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A breathable gas supply apparatus for treatment of respiratory disorders comprising:
a flow generator with an air inlet on a rear wall, the air inlet configured to provide a supply of ambient air to a blower of the flow generator;
a water tub with a first air opening, a second air opening, a top portion, a side surface configured to face the rear wall in use and having the second air opening therein and a bottom portion, said bottom portion having a heat conducting surface;
a base with a heater, the base being configured to receive the water tub;
a lid,
a rotatably engageable catch for the lid, the catch being configured to secure the water tub in the base;
a first seal between the lid and the top portion of the water tub;
an outlet pipe configured to connect with an air delivery tube;
a first gas flow port aligned with and in a facing arrangement with the first air opening;
a second gas flow port in a facing arrangement with the second air opening; and
a second seal configured to create a sealed passage between the second gas flow port and the second air opening,
wherein the water tub and the base include complementary configurations that facilitate alignment of the water tub with respect to the base to ensure alignment between the first air opening and the first gas flow port,
wherein when the catch is engaged to the base, downwards force is maintained on the water tub to maintain heat-transfer contact between the bottom portion and the heater,
wherein the water tub is configured to be removed and refilled with water without requiring disengagement of the air delivery tube from the outlet pipe, and
wherein the first air opening, the second air opening, the first gas flow port and the second gas flow port are part of a flow path between the flow generator and the outlet pipe.

2. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a display and user input, wherein the display and user input are mounted on a circuit board that is interior to the breathable gas supply apparatus, and a power supply circuit board with a vertically oriented surface including electrical components mounted on the vertically oriented surface.

3. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
an inlet muffler cavity; and
an inlet filter provided to the air inlet, the inlet filter being configured to filter the ambient air prior to entering the flow generator; wherein
the lid, the first seal and the water tub form part of a sealed air path from the first gas flow port to an outlet of the outlet pipe;
the water tub comprises an opening in the top portion configured to enable the water tub to be fillable when the lid is removed and the water tub is received in the base;
the flow path comprises a closed passage between a rectangular aperture and a circular aperture;
the water tub comprises a flow passage with an enclosed cross-section, the flow passage extending along a top side of the water tub away from the second air opening and towards an interior region of the water tub;
the second seal is provided to the base around a periphery of the second gas flow port and
the outlet pipe extends at an acute angle with a wall of the base where the outlet pipe is disposed.

4. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first seal comprises a channel which mates with a rim on the lid, and the first seal is mounted to the lid.

5. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first seal is configured to prevent backflow of condensation on an interior side of the lid from flowing back into the flow generator.

6. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heater is not spring-loaded.

7. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the breathable gas supply apparatus is configured so that air that flows between the first air opening and the second air opening flows through at least one intermediate aperture and at least one turn.

8. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the water tub is adapted for drop-in assembly with the base and the second air opening and the second gas flow port are configured to align for sealing by way of the drop-in assembly.

9. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the water tub comprises a tub vertical wall and a surface of the base comprises a base vertical wall, the complementary configurations of the water tub and the base comprising the tub vertical wall and the base vertical wall.

10. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the heat conducting surface of the water tub has a complementary shape to the shape of an upper heating surface of the heater;
the heat conducting surface of the water tub is a bottom surface of the water tub that is horizontal; and
the heat conducting surface is metal.

11. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the catch comprises a notch and a tab that are engageable with one another by rotation; and
one of the notch or the tab is located on the base.

12. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the catch is movable by rotation from a disengaged position to an engaged position and engagement of the catch while the water tub is received in the base causes the first seal to exert downward force on the water tub.

13. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blower comprises a motor with an impeller mounted to rotate around a vertical axis.

14. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blower comprises feet that cooperate with corresponding receptacles to reduce vibration transmitted by the blower to a case of the breathable gas supply apparatus.

15. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a coupling member on an outlet of the blower and interior to the breathable gas supply apparatus, wherein the coupling member is flexible and forms a blower flow passage connected to the outlet of the blower.

16. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the coupling member comprises thermoplastic elastomer and/or silicone rubber.

17. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the coupling member comprises at least two corrugations.

18. The breathable gas supply apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising
a coupling member on an outlet of the blower and interior to the breathable gas supply apparatus, wherein the coupling member is flexible and forms a blower flow passage connected to the outlet of the blower; wherein
the coupling member comprises thermoplastic elastomer and/or silicone rubber;
the coupling member comprises at least two corrugations;
the first seal comprises a channel which mates with a rim on the lid;
the first seal is configured to prevent backflow of condensation on an interior side of the lid from flowing back into the flow generator;
the heater is not spring-loaded;
the breathable gas supply apparatus is configured so that air that flows between the first air opening and the second air opening flows through at least one intermediate aperture and at least one turn;
the water tub is adapted for drop-in assembly with the base;
the second air opening and the second gas flow port are configured to align for sealing by way of the drop-in assembly;
the bottom portion of the water tub comprises a tub vertical

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Lithgow Perry David
• Virr Alexander
• Trevor-Wilson Duncan Lovel
• Bath Andrew Roderick
• Janiak Michael Thomas
• Kao Dan
• Saada Jim

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