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A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication w

A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

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1. A humidifier for use with a pressure support device, comprising: a body having an inlet adapted to be operatively coupled to an outlet of a pressure support device such that a flow of gas generated by such a pressure support device is communicated to the inlet, a liquid holding chamber, and an ou

1. A humidifier for use with a pressure support device, comprising: a body having an inlet adapted to be operatively coupled to an outlet of a pressure support device such that a flow of gas generated by such a pressure support device is communicated to the inlet, a liquid holding chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the liquid holding chamber, and the outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the liquid holding chamber, and wherein the inlet comprises a horizontally disposed conduit portion; anda valve positioned upstream of the liquid holding chamber, wherein the valve is movable between an open position in which the inlet is substantially unblocked and a closed position in which the inlet is substantially blocked, and wherein the valve is positioned in the horizontally disposed conduit portion so as to be in a path of horizontally travelling gas, andwherein the valve is constructed to be in the closed position to seal the horizontally disposed conduit portion when the liquid holding chamber is tilted to prevent liquid from substantially exiting the inlet. 2. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein movement of the valve between the open position and the closed position is controlled based on at least one from the group consisting of: a pressure the flow of gas delivered to the inlet, an orientation of the humidifier, an operating parameter of the pressure support system, and a level of liquid in the liquid holding chamber. 3. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust vent communicating the liquid holding chamber with an ambient atmosphere, wherein the valve substantially blocks the exhaust vent responsive to the valve being in the open position, and wherein the exhaust vent is substantially unblocked responsive to the valve being in the closed position. 4. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a biasing mechanism adapted to urge the valve to the closed position. 5. The humidifier of claim 4, wherein the biasing mechanism comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a spring, a magnetic field, a weight, and a biasing member urging against the valve. 6. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve is biased to move to the closed position responsive to the flow of gas delivered to the inlet having a pressure less than a threshold pressure. 7. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve substantially blocks the inlet responsive to the valve being in the closed position. 8. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a flap, a float, a disk, a ball, and a half-ball. 9. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising: an exhaust vent communicating the liquid holding chamber with an ambient atmosphere; anda secondary valve, wherein the secondary valve co-acts with the valve such that the exhaust vent is substantially blocked by the secondary valve responsive to the valve being in the open position and is substantially unblocked responsive to the valve being in the closed position. 10. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a float positioned within the liquid holding chamber, and wherein the float is adapted to float on liquid contained within the liquid holding chamber and to substantially block the inlet responsive to a level of the liquid in the liquid holding chamber exceeding a predetermined threshold. 11. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a heating element associated with the liquid holding chamber to heat liquid contained in the liquid holding chamber. 12. A pressure support system comprising: a pressure support device adapted to generate a flow of gas; anda humidifier having a body having an inlet, a liquid holding chamber, and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the liquid holding chamber, and the outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the liquid holding chamber;a first valve positioned between an outlet of the pressure support device and the inlet of the humidifier, wherein the first valve is movable between an open position in which a gas flow path between the outlet of the pressure support device and the inlet of the humidifier is substantially unblocked and a closed position in which the gas flow path is substantially blocked based on a first physical orientation of the pressure support system,a sensor adapted to detect the first physical orientation of the pressure support system; anda controller adapted to move the first valve to the closed position responsive to a signal from the sensor,wherein the first valve is constructed to be in the closed position when the liquid holding chamber is tilted to prevent liquid from substantially exiting the inlet. 13. The pressure support system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a kill switch attached to the humidifier, the pressure support device, or both to detect whether the humidifier is maintained in a substantially horizontal position. 14. The pressure support system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is a tilt switch, an accelerometer, an optical sensor, a sonic sensor, a pressure sensor, a proximity switch, or any combination thereof. 15. The pressure support system of claim 12, wherein the inlet of the humidifier is rigidly coupled to the outlet of the gas supply source and the first valve is disposed in the inlet of the humidifier. 16. The pressure support system of claim 12, wherein movement of the first valve between the open position and the closed position is controlled based on a pressure the flow of gas delivered to the inlet, an orientation of the humidifier, an operating parameter of the pressure support system, a level of liquid in the liquid holding chamber, or any combination thereof. 17. The pressure support system of claim 12, further comprising a second valve positioned between an outlet of the pressure support device and the inlet of the humidifier, wherein the second valve is movable between an open position in which the inlet is substantially unblocked and a closed position in which the inlet is substantially blocked based on a second physical orientation of the pressure support system.