An in-line humidifier is disposed along the passageway of a breathing system. The humidifier includes a humidification chamber having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a reservoir. The humidifier includes a liquid trap which includes a chamber, a fluid inlet in communication with the liquid trap ch
An in-line humidifier is disposed along the passageway of a breathing system. The humidifier includes a humidification chamber having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a reservoir. The humidifier includes a liquid trap which includes a chamber, a fluid inlet in communication with the liquid trap chamber, and a fluid outlet in communication with the liquid trap chamber. The liquid trap is constructed and arranged to discourage liquid from back-flowing from the humidifier to a source of gas.
대표청구항▼
1. An in-line humidifier comprising: a humidification chamber having a fluid chamber inlet, a fluid chamber outlet, a chamber interior, a central chamber portion, and a reservoir configured to hold a liquid, and wherein the fluid chamber inlet projects inwardly into the humidification chamber toward
1. An in-line humidifier comprising: a humidification chamber having a fluid chamber inlet, a fluid chamber outlet, a chamber interior, a central chamber portion, and a reservoir configured to hold a liquid, and wherein the fluid chamber inlet projects inwardly into the humidification chamber toward the central chamber portion; anda liquid trap comprising a trap chamber, a fluid trap inlet in fluid communication with the trap chamber and a source of gas, and a fluid trap outlet in fluid communication with the trap chamber, and a central trap portion, wherein the fluid trap outlet is constructed and arranged to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber inlet such that liquid back-flowing from the reservoir of the humidification chamber through the fluid chamber inlet is trapped in the liquid trap,wherein the fluid trap inlet projects inwardly into the trap chamber toward the central trap portion,wherein the fluid trap inlet maintains a non-zero trap spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the trap chamber holds some liquid no matter how the liquid trap is oriented,wherein the fluid trap inlet is constructed and arranged to be in fluid communication with the source of gas such that liquid up to the non-zero trap spill liquid level in the trap chamber of the liquid trap is prevented from back-flowing through the fluid trap inlet,wherein the fluid chamber inlet has a non-zero chamber spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the fluid chamber holds some liquid no matter how the humidification chamber is oriented, andwherein the fluid chamber inlet is constructed and arranged such that liquid up to the non-zero chamber spill liquid level in the humidification chamber is prevented from back-flowing through the fluid chamber inlet no matter how the humidification chamber is oriented, andthe humidification chamber and liquid trap are constructed and arranged to be releasably connected to each other for disconnection from each other while keeping the humidification chamber intact and while keeping the liquid trap intact. 2. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the fluid trap outlet of the liquid trap is connected to and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber inlet of the humidification chamber. 3. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the in-line humidifier has multiple sides, wherein the non-zero trap spill liquid level of the liquid trap is a non-zero spill liquid level when the in-line humidifier is oriented upright, upside-down, or on either one of the multiple sides of the in-line humidifier, and wherein the non-zero chamber spill liquid level of the humidification chamber is a non-zero spill liquid level when the in-line humidifier is oriented upright, upside-down, or on either one of the multiple sides of the in-line humidifier. 4. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein: when the humidification chamber and liquid trap are connected to each other, the fluid trap outlet of the liquid trap engages and is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber inlet of the humidification chamber. 5. The humidifier of claim 4, wherein the humidification chamber has a minimum liquid capacity defined by a volume within the humidification chamber disposed below the non-zero chamber spill liquid level of the humidification chamber no matter how the humidification chamber is oriented. 6. The humidifier of claim 5, wherein the liquid trap has a non-zero minimum trap capacity defined by a volume within the trap chamber of the liquid trap disposed below the non-zero trap spill liquid level when the liquid trap is in an orientation that minimizes said volume, wherein the non-zero minimum trap capacity is at least 1/20 of the minimum liquid capacity of the humidification chamber. 7. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein, responsive to the liquid trap being upside-down: (a) the fluid trap inlet of the liquid trap has a non-zero upside-down spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the trap chamber holds some liquid no matter how the liquid trap is oriented, and(b) liquid in the trap chamber tends not to spill out of the liquid trap through the fluid trap inlet unless a liquid level within the trap chamber of the liquid trap rises above the non-zero upside-down spill liquid level. 8. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a heater positioned relative to the reservoir to heat liquid disposed in the reservoir. 9. The humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a patient interface in fluid communication with the fluid chamber outlet of the humidification chamber. 10. The in-line humidifier of claim 1, further comprising the source of gas, wherein the source of gas is arranged to be in fluid communication with the fluid trap inlet of the liquid trap. 11. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the fluid trap inlet and the fluid trap outlet face different directions. 12. The humidifier of claim 1, wherein the fluid trap inlet forms an elbow-shaped flow path such that the portion of fluid trap inlet projecting inwardly towards the central portion of the fluid trap chamber is perpendicular to the portion of fluid trap inlet in communication with the gas source. 13. An in-line humidifier having multiple sides, the in-line humidifier comprising: a humidification chamber having a fluid chamber inlet, a fluid chamber outlet, a chamber interior, a central chamber portion, and a reservoir configured to hold a liquid, and wherein the fluid chamber inlet projects inwardly into the humidification chamber toward the central chamber portion; anda liquid trap comprising a trap chamber, a fluid trap inlet in fluid communication with the trap chamber and a source of gas, and a fluid trap outlet in fluid communication with the trap chamber, and a central trap portion, wherein the fluid trap outlet is constructed and arranged to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber inlet such that liquid back-flowing from the reservoir of the humidification chamber through the fluid chamber inlet is trapped in the liquid trap,wherein the fluid trap inlet projects inwardly into the trap chamber toward the central trap portion,wherein the fluid trap inlet has a non-zero trap spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the trap chamber holds some liquid no matter how the in-line humidifier is balanced on any of the sides of the in-line humidifier,wherein the fluid chamber inlet has a non-zero chamber spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the fluid chamber holds some liquid no matter how the in-line humidifier is balanced on any of the sides of the in-line humidifier,wherein the fluid chamber inlet is constructed and arranged such that liquid up to the non-zero chamber spill liquid level in the humidification chamber is prevented from back-flowing through the fluid chamber inlet no matter how the in-line humidifier is balanced on any of the sides of the in-line humidifier, andwherein the humidification chamber and liquid trap are constructed and arranged to be releasably connected to each other for disconnection from each other while keeping the humidification chamber intact and while keeping the liquid trap intact.
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