The present invention relates to a humidifier for humidifying medical gases, comprising a humidification module including a control unit, wherein the humidification module is adapted for receiving a humidification chamber. Furthermore, the humidification module is further adapted to sense and/or rec
The present invention relates to a humidifier for humidifying medical gases, comprising a humidification module including a control unit, wherein the humidification module is adapted for receiving a humidification chamber. Furthermore, the humidification module is further adapted to sense and/or receive information upon connection of the humidification chamber and/or additional equipment such as hoses, power supply pack.
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1. A method for monitoring gas flow to safeguard against overheating of a heatable tube in a humidifier system, the heatable tube comprising a heating element in a first portion of the heatable tube and a temperature sensor in a second portion of the heatable tube, the second portion being downstrea
1. A method for monitoring gas flow to safeguard against overheating of a heatable tube in a humidifier system, the heatable tube comprising a heating element in a first portion of the heatable tube and a temperature sensor in a second portion of the heatable tube, the second portion being downstream of the first portion and arranged to receive gas flow from the first portion, and the humidifier system comprising a control unit, the method comprising: increasing or decreasing heating power of the heating element with the control unit to induce a temperature change of gas in the first portion of the heatable tube;measuring a temperature of gas in the second portion of the heatable tube with the temperature sensor;comparing the temperature of gas measured in the second portion of the heatable tube to an expected temperature with the control unit to determine whether the temperature of gas in the second portion of the heatable tube was changed by the temperature change of gas induced by the heating element in the first portion of the heatable tube, the expected temperature being based on the temperature change of gas induced by the heating element in the first portion of the heatable tube;if the temperature comparison is below a predetermined threshold, determining with the control unit that gas is not flowing sufficiently from the first portion of the heatable tube to the second portion of the heatable tube; andif the control unit determines that gas is not flowing sufficiently from the first portion of the heatable tube to the second portion of the heatable tube, reducing the heating power supplied to the heatable tube by the heating element to safeguard against overheating of the heatable tube. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature change is induced by cyclically varying an amount of power supplied to the heating element to heat the heatable tube. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature change includes a rise and/or a fall in temperature. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising assigning a state to a current flow of gas depending on the temperature comparison, the state being sufficient gas flow, insufficient gas flow, or unknown gas flow. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein when a state of sufficient gas flow or a state of unknown gas flow is detected controlling the heating power of the heating element to intermittently lower a power output for a short time and evaluating a temperature response due to the intermittently lowered power output of the heating element with the control unit. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one characteristic of the temperature change is adjusted and/or the temperature response is evaluated in accordance with an ambient temperature, the at least one characteristic including at least an interval, a time, and/or a deflection. 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of escalating steps is carried out one after another until a sufficient gas flow can be clearly detected or excluded on a basis of the evaluation of respective temperature responses. 8. The method according to claim 4, wherein, when a state of insufficient gas flow is detected, the heating element is switched off or the heating power of the heating element is reduced to a minimum value until a gas flow can again be detected. 9. The method according to claim 4, wherein when a state of insufficient gas flow is detected, controlling the heating power of the heating element to intermittently raise a heating power of the heating element for a short time and evaluating a temperature response due to the intermittently raised power output of the heating element with the control unit. 10. The method according claim 9, wherein at least one characteristic of the temperature change is adjusted and/or the temperature response is evaluated in accordance with an ambient temperature, the at least one characteristic including at least an interval, a time, and/or a deflection. 11. The method according to claim 4, wherein if a sufficient gas flow is detected after an insufficient gas flow and/or an unknown gas flow is detected, the heating element is activated. 12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the amount of power supplied to heat gas in the heatable tube by the heating element to induce the temperature change is, when averaged over a predetermined time period, sufficiently small to be excluded from detection. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the heating power provided to heat gas in the heatable tube for providing a breathable gas to a patient. 14. The method according to claim further comprising initiating a predefined operation dependent on the determined level of gas flow in the heatable tube, the predefined operation being an at least one of initiate an alarm or after a predefined time repetition of the method. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the temperature change is temporarily interrupted during measuring the temperature of the gas by the temperature sensor. 16. A humidifier system for supplying a breathable gas to a patient, the humidifier system comprising: a heatable tube having a heating element in a first portion of the heatable tube and a temperature sensor in a second portion of the heatable tube, the second portion being downstream of the first portion and arranged to receive gas flow from the first portion; anda control unit configured to: increase or decrease heating power of the heating element to induce a temperature change in gas in the first portion of the heatable tube;measure a temperature of gas in the second portion of the heatable tube with the temperature sensor; andcompare the temperature of gas measured in the second portion of the heatable tube to an expected temperature to determine whether the temperature of gas in the second portion of the heatable tube was changed by the temperature change of gas induced by the heating element in the first portion of the heatable tube, the expected temperature being based on the temperature change of gas induced by the heating element in the first portion of the heatable tube;if the temperature comparison is below a predetermined threshold, determine that gas is not flowing sufficiently from the first portion of the heatable tube to the second portion of the heatable tube; andif gas is determined not to be flowing sufficiently from the first portion of the heatable tube to the second portion of the heatable tube, reduce the heating power supplied to the heatable tube by the heating element to safeguard against overheating of the heatable tube. 17. The humidifier system of claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to apply the temperature change by cyclic variation of a heating power supplied to the heatable tube. 18. The humidifier system of claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to apply the temperature change including a rise and/or a fall of temperature. 19. The humidifier system of claim 16, wherein the determined level of gas flow in the heatable tube includes assigning a state to the monitored flow of gas, the state being sufficient gas flow, insufficient gas flow, or unknown gas flow. 20. The humidifier system of claim 19, wherein when a state of sufficient gas flow or a state of unknown gas flow is determined the control unit is configured to intermittently lower the heating power for a short time and evaluate a temperature response due to the intermittently lowered heating power of the heating element with the control unit. 21. The humidifier system of claim 20, wherein at least one characteristic of the temperature change is adjusted and/or the temperature response is evaluated in accordance with an ambient temperature, the at least one characteristic including at least an interval, a time, and/or a deflection. 22. The humidifier system of claim 19, wherein a plurality of escalating steps is carried out one after another until a sufficient gas flow can be clearly detected or excluded on a basis of the interpretation of the sum of the respective temperature responses. 23. The humidifier system of claim 19, wherein, when a state of insufficient gas flow is detected, the control unit is configured to switch off the heating element or reduce the heating power of the heating element to a minimum value until a gas flow can again be detected. 24. The humidifier system of claim 19, wherein when a state of insufficient gas flow is detected, the control unit is configured to intermittently raise the heating power for a short time and evaluate a temperature response due to the intermittently raised power output of the heating element. 25. The humidifier system of claim 24, wherein the control unit is configure to adjust at least one characteristic of the temperature change and/or evaluate the temperature response in accordance with an ambient temperature, the at least one characteristic including at least an interval, a time, and/or a deflection. 26. The humidifier system of claim 19, wherein if a sufficient gas flow is detected after an insufficient gas flow and/or an unknown gas flow, the heating element is activated. 27. The humidifier system of claim 17, wherein the heating power supplied to heat the heatable tube to induce the temperature change is, when averaged over a predetermined time period, sufficiently small to be excluded from detection. 28. The humidifier system of claim 16, wherein the control unit is further configured to initiate a predefined operation on the basis of the determined level of gas flow, the operation being at least initiation of an alarm or after a predefined time reevaluate the level of gas flow and control the heating power of the heating element based on the reevaluated level of gas flow. 29. The humidifier system of claim 21, wherein the control unit is configured to temporarily interrupt the inducement of the temperature change when the at least one characteristic is measured.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Cortez, Jr., Felino V.; Niland, William F.; Buyer, Carl; Boyd, Peter, Base unit for breathing gas heating and humidification system.
Clawson Burrell E. (2425 Sunset Dr. Riverside CA 92506) Weigl James (18815 Hermosa St. Riverside CA 92506), Tubing circuit systems for humidified respiratory gas.
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