Breathable gas apparatus with humidifier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE46543-E
Application number	US-201615079098-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2003
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Apparatus for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea includes a CPAP device and a detachable humidifier. The humidifier includes a tank that is removably insertable into a humidifier base. A sealed air flow path from the CPAP device and through the water tank is established when the water tank is placed in the humidifier base.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
a continuous positive airway pressure device capable of providing a supply of air at a pressure in the a range of about 4 cmH2O to about 20 cmH2O; and
a humidifier connectable to the continuous positive airway pressure device, the humidifier including:
a humidifier base,
a humidifier lid hingedly connected to the humidifier base to allow the humidifier lid to close and open, the humidifier lid including an air delivery pipe constructed and arranged to mate with an air delivery tube, the humidifier lid further including a lid seal,
the humidifier base further including a humidifier heater plate and a humidifier base seal; and
a water tank having a water tank base to receive water and a water tank lid, the water tank base including a heat conductive portion to conduct heat from the humidifier heater plate to water in the water tank in use,
the apparatus further comprising a latch to releasably connect the continuous positive airway pressure device to the humidifier; and a locking mechanism constructed and arranged to releasably hold the humidifier lid when closed,
wherein the humidifier base is constructed and arranged to receive the water tank when the humidifier lid is open;
wherein, when the humidifier base receives the water tank, the heat conductive portion of the water tank is positioned relative to the humidifier heater plate to allow heat transfer communication therebetween in use;
wherein, when the continuous positive airway pressure device and the humidifier are latched together and the humidifier lid is closed with the water tank placed in the humidifier base, a sealed gas flow path is established, said sealed gas flow path extending from the continuous positive airway pressure device, through the humidifier base seal located between the humidifier base and a rear surface of the water tank, through an interior of the water tank, through the lid seal surrounding an outlet of the water tank lid and located on an underside of the humidifier lid, and to the air delivery pipe of the humidifier lid; and
wherein an engagement face of the continuous positive airway pressure device includes electrical connectors to deliver power to the humidifier heater plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a backflow prevention structure located adjacent a mouth of the an inlet aperture of the water tank.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the backflow prevention structure, comprises a non-return valve.

4. The apparatus of any of the claim 1 , wherein the humidifier includes a pair of flat male blade connectors for engagement with mating connectors on the continuous positive airway pressure device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the continuous positive airway pressure device is constructed and arranged to detect automatically the presence of the humidifier and adjust an automatic control algorithm of the continuous positive airway pressure device when the continuous positive airway pressure device and the humidifier are connected.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further wherein the water tank includes filling level graduations scribed or otherwise marked on the a wall of the water tank.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier base and the water tank have complementary configurations to guide positioning of the water tank in the humidifier base.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the water tank further comprises a water tank seal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the water tank is constructed and arranged to allow disengagement of the water tank base and the water tank lid.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an air delivery conduit and a patient interface, and wherein the air delivery conduit is connected to the air delivery pipe of the humidifier lid, and the air delivery conduit is connected to the patient interface for delivery of humidified air to a patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier lid is constructed and arranged so that it is rotatable from a closed position to a maximum extent of normal travel in an open position, and wherein, upon further rotation of the humidifier lid beyond the maximum extent, the humidifier lid becomes removed from the humidifier base.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to provide an audible “click” sound upon locking.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lid seal is a pressure-assisted seal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier base seal is a pressure-assisted seal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the humidifier base seal includes a connector portion and a peripheral seal to abut and seal against a flat surface radially surrounding an aperture of an inlet of the water tank.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lid seal includes a sealing flange to abut and sealingly engage a surface radially surrounding an aperture of the outlet of the water tank lid.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a user operable control for selecting a desired air humidity setting.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , constructed and arranged so that when the water tank is received in the water tank base and the humidifier lid is closed, the water tank base and the water tank lid are pressed rearwards.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a user operable control for selecting a desired air humidity setting,
wherein the humidifier includes a pair of flat male blade connectors for engagement with mating connectors on the continuous positive airway pressure device, wherein the continuous positive airway pressure device is constructed and arranged to detect automatically the presence of the humidifier and adjust an automatic control algorithm of the continuous positive airway pressure device when the continuous positive airway pressure device and the humidifier are connected, wherein the water tank includes filling level graduations marked on the wall of the water tank, wherein the humidifier base and the water tank have complementary configurations to guide positioning of the water tank in the humidifier base, wherein the water tank further comprises a water tank seal, wherein the water tank is constructed and arranged to allow disengagement of the water tank base and the water tank lid, wherein the humidifier lid is constructed and arranged so that it is rotatable from a closed position to a maximum extent of normal travel in an open position, and wherein, upon further rotation of the humidifier lid beyond the maximum extent, the humidifier lid becomes removed from the humidifier base, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to provide an audible “click” sound upon locking, wherein the lid seal is a pressure-assisted seal, wherein the humidifier base seal is a pressure-assisted seal, wherein the humidifier base seal includes a connector portion and a peripheral seal to abut and seal against a flat surface radially surrounding an aperture of an inlet of the water tank, and wherein the lid seal includes a sealing flange to abut and sealingly engage a surface radially surrounding an aperture of the outlet of the water tank lid.

20. An apparatus for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, comprising:
a continuous positive airway pressure device capable of providing a supply of air at a pressure in the range of about 4 cmH2O to about 20 cmH2O; and a humidifier connectable to the continuous positive airway pressure device, the humidifier inc

Assignees

• Resmed Ltd

Inventors

• Trevor-Wilson Duncan Lovel
• Lithgow Perry David
• Virr Alexander
• 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