Humidifier with structure to prevent backflow of liquid through the humidifier inlet
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F23D-011/00
F23D-014/00
A61M-015/00
A61M-016/16
A61M-016/10
A61M-016/00
출원번호
US-0182919
(2016-06-15)
등록번호
US-RE46571
(2017-10-17)
우선권정보
AU-PR3117 (2001-02-16); AU-PR7288 (2001-08-27)
발명자
/ 주소
Virr, Alexander
Smith, Ian Malcolm
Lithgow, Perry David
Jones, Richard Llewelyn
Cheung, Andrew
출원인 / 주소
ResMed Limited
대리인 / 주소
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
142
초록▼
A humidifier includes a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, a top cover, and a seal disposed between the top cover and the base. At least a portion of the base is constructed of a heat conducting material. The top cover defines both an inlet and an outlet communicated with an interio
A humidifier includes a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, a top cover, and a seal disposed between the top cover and the base. At least a portion of the base is constructed of a heat conducting material. The top cover defines both an inlet and an outlet communicated with an interior of the base. The inlet is configured to receive pressurized breathable gas and the outlet is configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas with added humidity.
대표청구항▼
1. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprising a humidifier including a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, at least a portion of the base being constructed of a heat conducting material,a top cover, anda seal disposed between the top cover and the base; anda connecting st
1. A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus, comprising a humidifier including a base configured to retain a body of liquid therein, at least a portion of the base being constructed of a heat conducting material,a top cover, anda seal disposed between the top cover and the base; anda connecting structure configured to connect between the CPAP apparatus and humidifier and allow communication of an outlet of the CPAP apparatus with the inlet of the humidifier, the connecting structure including a housing providing a base portion to support the humidifier thereon, anda retaining mechanism configured to secure the connecting structure to the CPAP apparatus,wherein the base portion includes a heating element in contact with the heat conducting material of the base of the humidifier. 2. A humidifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the top cover defines both an inlet and an outlet communicated with an interior of the base, the inlet configured to receive pressurized breathable gas and the outlet configured to deliver the pressurized breathable gas with added humidity. 3. A humidifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting structure includes a control knob to control a heat setting of the heating element. 4. A humidifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting structure includes contact elements that communicate with a power supply within the CPAP apparatus. 5. A humidifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting structure is configured to allow removable attachment of the CPAP apparatus to the humidifier. 6. A humidifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting material is a metallic material. 7. A CPAP apparatus including a humidifier assembly according to claim 1. 8. A humidifier, comprising: a humidifier body configured to retain liquid, the humidifier body comprising: a rear portion having a humidifier body inlet adapted to receive a flow of pressurized breathable gas, the inlet configured to direct the flow of pressurized breathable gas into the humidifier body in a substantially horizontal direction when the humidifier is in an upright operating position;a top cover having a humidifier body outlet adapted to deliver the flow of pressurized breathable gas with added humidity;a base detachably fastened to the top cover with at least a first clip, the base having a heat conducting plate and forming a liquid receptacle for the liquid; anda vertically extending passage to direct gas from the inlet towards liquid in the liquid receptacle of the base, the vertically extending passage having at least a portion with closed shape as seen in cross-section,wherein if the humidifier body is rotated from the upright, operating position to each of a plurality of non-upright positions, the liquid in the humidifier body remains below the inlet. 9. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess positioned, configured and dimensioned to at least partly receive a horizontally extending retaining portion of a connecting structure. 10. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the humidifier body has a gas introduction chamber and a gas humidification chamber connected to the gas introduction chamber by the passage. 11. The humidifier of claim 10, wherein the top cover includes an internal divider wall, depending from a top inner surface of the top cover, to divide the gas introduction chamber from the humidification chamber. 12. The humidifier of claim 8, further comprising a second clip to detachably fasten the top cover and the base, wherein the top cover and the base are snap-fit together. 13. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the closed shape of the passage is substantially rectangular. 14. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the passage receives the entirety of the flow of pressurized breathable gas before the gas is directed to the liquid receptacle. 15. The humidifier of claim 8, further comprising a seal between the heat conducting plate and the base. 16. The humidifier of claim 15, wherein the humidifier body further comprises a seal between the base and the top cover. 17. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the heat conducting plate comprises metal. 18. The humidifier of claim 17, wherein the heat conducting plate is circular. 19. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the top cover is formed of a transparent material. 20. The humidifier of claim 18, wherein the base is formed of a transparent material. 21. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein the top cover and the base are snap-fit together. 22. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein: the rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess positioned, configured and dimensioned to at least partly receive a horizontally extending retaining portion of a connecting structure,the humidifier body has a gas introduction chamber and a gas humidifier chamber connected to the gas introduction chamber by the passage,the top cover includes an internal divider wall, depending from a top inner surface of the top cover, to divide the gas introduction chamber and the gas humidification chamber,the passage receives the entirety of the gas before the gas is directed to the liquid receptacle,the humidifier further comprises a first seal between the heat conducting plate and the base, and further comprises a second seal between the base and the top cover,the heat conducting plate is formed of metal,the top cover and base comprise transparent material, anda shape of the heat conducting plate is different than a shape of the base of the humidifier body, and the heat conducting plate covers only a portion of the base. 23. The humidifier of claim 8, wherein: the humidifier body has a pair of resiliently biased lugs adapted to be disposed within corresponding recesses to secure the humidifier in place relative to a CPAP apparatus,the humidifier body has a gas introduction chamber and a gas humidifier chamber connected to the gas introduction chamber by the passage,the passage receives all of the gas before the gas is directed from the gas introduction chamber to the gas humidifier chamber and the liquid receptacle, andthe humidifier further comprises a seal between the base and the top cover. 24. The humidifier of claim 23, wherein the base and the top cover are snap fit to one another. 25. A CPAP system including a blower to generate the flow of pressurized breathable gas and the humidifier of claim 8. 26. A humidifier assembly, comprising: the humidifier of claim 8; anda connecting structure configured to connect between the humidifier and a CPAP apparatus without the need for an external tube or conduit extending between the CPAP apparatus and the connecting structure, the connecting structure comprising a housing defining a humidifier receptacle configured to horizontally receive the humidifier. 27. The humidifier assembly of claim 26, wherein the rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess positioned, configured and dimensioned to at least partly receive a horizontally extending retaining portion of the connecting structure when the humidifier is fully inserted relative to the humidifier receptacle. 28. The humidifier assembly of claim 27, further comprising ribs between the recess and the horizontally extending retaining portion. 29. The humidifier assembly of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises a base portion configured to support the humidifier, and the humidifier assembly further comprises a securing mechanism that secures the humidifier in the housing with at least part of the humidifier being exposed. 30. The humidifier assembly of claim 29, wherein the base portion comprises a heating element configured to engage the heat conducting plate of the humidifier when the humidifier is retained in the housing. 31. The humidifier assembly of claim 30, wherein the heating element is resiliently biased into engagement with the heat conducting plate. 32. The humidifier assembly of claim 31, wherein the heating element is a flat plate-like resistance heater. 33. The humidifier assembly of claim 26, wherein the housing comprises contact elements configured to receive power from the CPAP apparatus. 34. The humidifier assembly of claim 33, wherein the housing comprises resiliently biased locking members on a side thereof that are configured to engage the CPAP apparatus to secure the connecting structure to the CPAP apparatus. 35. The humidifier assembly of claim 34, further comprising a release member configured to release the connecting structure from the CPAP apparatus. 36. The humidifier assembly of claim 35, wherein the release member is a button structure positioned on a lower portion of the housing. 37. The humidifier assembly of claim 36, wherein, when the humidifier body and the connecting structure as a unit are rotated from the upright, operating position, the liquid will drain through the humidifier body outlet before draining through the humidifier body inlet. 38. The humidifier assembly of claim 37, wherein the connecting structure includes an upstanding wall portion that extends in a vertical orientation, the humidifier having a rear wall that abuts or is proximate the upstanding wall portion when the humidifier is fully horizontally inserted relative to the connecting structure, wherein an opening of the connecting structure aligns with the inlet of the humidifier when the humidifier is fully inserted relative to the connecting structure, the opening being configured to allow communication of the flow of pressurized breathable gas from an outlet of the CPAP apparatus to the inlet of the humidifier. 39. The humidifier assembly of claim 36, wherein the connecting structure includes a movable button structure configured to allow manual release of the connecting structure from the CPAP apparatus. 40. A CPAP system including a blower to generate the flow of pressurized breathable gas and the humidifier assembly of claim 26. 41. The CPAP system of claim 40, wherein the CPAP apparatus includes a controller to control a heating element of the connecting structure, as well as at least one electrical connecting member to allow power supply from the CPAP apparatus to the connecting structure. 42. A humidifier, comprising: a humidifier body configured to retain liquid, the humidifier body comprising: a humidifier body inlet configured to receive a flow of pressurized breathable gas the humidifier body inlet being positioned on a rear side wall of the humidifier body;a humidifier body outlet adapted to deliver the flow of pressurized breathable gas with added humidity;a gas introduction chamber having a gas introduction chamber inlet and a gas introduction chamber outlet, the gas introduction chamber inlet being adapted to receive the flow of pressurized breathable gas from the humidifier body inlet;a humidification chamber in communication with the gas introduction chamber and the humidifier body outlet, the humidification chamber having a bottom surface comprising heat conductive metallic material, anda cover including the humidifier body outlet,wherein:the gas introduction chamber outlet serves as a humidification chamber inlet,the gas introduction chamber and the humidification chamber are connected by a substantially vertically oriented transitional passage having a closed cross sectional shape configured to receive all of the flow of pressurized breathable gas before the gas is directed to the humidification chamber,the gas introduction chamber inlet faces a substantially horizontal direction when the humidifier is in an upright, operating position,the gas introduction chamber outlet is positioned above the liquid when the humidifier body retains the liquid and is in the upright, operating position, andthe gas introduction chamber and the humidification chamber are configured so that when the humidifier body is rotated around a horizontal axis parallel to the bottom surface of the humidifier chamber, in each of clockwise and counterclockwise directions, from the upright, operating position to a plurality of non-upright positions, liquid is prevented or discouraged from flowing from the humidification chamber and out through the humidifier body inlet. 43. The humidifier of claim 42, wherein a volume of the gas introduction chamber is smaller than a volume of the humidification chamber. 44. The humidifier of claim 43, wherein the non-upright positions include positions where the humidifier is inadvertently rotated about multiple horizontal axes. 45. The humidifier of claim 44, wherein the non-upright positions are those which occur when the humidifier is inadvertently rotated in both clockwise and counterclockwise orientations relative to the horizontal axes. 46. The humidifier of claim 44, wherein the horizontal axes include a first axis that runs from a front to a back of the humidifier body, and a second axis that runs from lateral side to lateral side of the humidifier body. 47. The humidifier of claim 42, wherein the humidifier body includes a top cover and a base that are snap-fit together. 48. The humidifier of claim 47, wherein the humidifier body further comprises a seal between the base and the top cover. 49. The humidifier of claim 48, further comprising a seal between the heat conducting plate and the base. 50. The humidifier of claim 48, wherein the top cover and base are formed of a transparent material. 51. The humidifier of claim 42, wherein the humidifier body includes a top cover, a base, and a pair of clips to detachably fasten the top cover and the base. 52. The humidifier of claim 42, further comprising a pair of resiliently biased lugs to secure the humidifier relative to a blower of a CPAP apparatus. 53. A humidifier assembly, comprising: the humidifier of claim 42; anda connecting structure configured to connect between the humidifier and a CPAP apparatus without the need for an external tube or conduit extending between the CPAP apparatus and the connecting structure, the connecting structure comprising a housing defining a receptacle configured to horizontally receive the humidifier. 54. The humidifier assembly of claim 53, wherein a rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess positioned, configured and dimensioned to at least partly receive a horizontally extending retaining portion of the connecting structure. 55. The humidifier assembly of claim 54, further comprising ribs positioned adjacent the horizontally extending retaining portion. 56. The humidifier assembly of claim 53, wherein the housing comprises a base portion configured to support the humidifier, and the humidifier assembly further comprises a securing mechanism that secures the humidifier in the housing with at least part of the humidifier being exposed. 57. The humidifier assembly of claim 56, wherein the securing mechanism includes a resiliently biased member having a pair of locking lugs provided on the humidifier body, and the base portion includes lug receiving recesses in which the lugs may be releasably disposed. 58. The humidifier assembly of claim 56, wherein the base portion comprises a heating element configured to engage the heat conductive metallic material of the humidifier when the humidifier is retained in the housing. 59. The humidifier assembly of claim 58, wherein the heating element is resiliently biased into engagement with the heat conducting plate. 60. The humidifier assembly of claim 58, wherein the heating element is a flat plate-like resistance heater. 61. The humidifier assembly of claim 53, wherein the housing comprises contact elements configured to receive power from the CPAP apparatus. 62. The humidifier assembly of claim 61, wherein the housing comprises resiliently biased locking members on a side thereof that are configured to engage the CPAP apparatus to secure the connecting structure to the CPAP apparatus. 63. The humidifier assembly of claim 62, further comprising a release member configured to release the connecting structure from the CPAP apparatus. 64. The humidifier assembly of claim 63, wherein the release member is a button structure provided to a lower portion of the housing. 65. A CPAP system including a blower to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas and the humidifier assembly of claim 53. 66. A CPAP system including a blower to generate a flow of pressurized breathable gas and the humidifier of claim 42. 67. A humidifier, comprising: a humidifier body having a base and a top cover snap-fitted to the base, the base defining a liquid receptacle adapted to contain liquid, the base having a heat conducting plate;an inlet adapted to receive a flow of pressurized breathable gas;an outlet, downstream of the liquid receptacle, adapted to deliver the flow of pressurized breathable gas with added humidity; andat least a first resiliently biased lug movable relative to the base, the first lug being biased in an extended position and manually movable against the resilient bias from the extended position to a retracted position,wherein if the humidifier body is rotated from an upright, operating position to each of a plurality of non-upright positions, liquid in the humidifier body remains below the inlet. 68. The humidifier of claim 67, wherein a rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess. 69. The humidifier of claim 67, wherein the humidifier body has a gas introduction chamber and a gas humidifier chamber connected to the gas introduction chamber by a vertically extending passage having at least a portion with closed shape as seen in cross-section. 70. The humidifier of claim 69, wherein the passage receives the entirety of the flow of pressurized breathable gas before the gas is directed to the liquid receptacle. 71. The humidifier of claim 67, wherein the humidifier body further comprises a seal between the base and the top cover. 72. The humidifier of claim 71, wherein the top cover and base comprise transparent material. 73. The humidifier of claim 67, wherein: a rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess,the humidifier body has a gas introduction chamber and a gas humidifier chamber connected to the gas introduction chamber by a vertically extending passage having at least a portion with closed shape as seen in cross-section,the passage receives all of the gas before the gas is directed to the liquid receptacle,the heat conducting plate is formed of metal, andthe top cover and base comprise transparent material. 74. The humidifier of claim 73, further comprising a second lug, laterally spaced from the first lug and movable in unison with the first lug, wherein the first and second lugs are positioned to extend outwardly relative to the humidifier body. 75. A CPAP system including: a CPAP apparatus having a blower to generate the flow of pressurized breathable gas; anda humidifier receptacle to horizontally receive the humidifier of claim 67. 76. The CPAP system of claim 75, wherein a rear portion of the humidifier body includes an external retaining portion recess positioned, configured and dimensioned to at least partly receive a horizontally extending retaining portion associated with the humidifier receptacle when the humidifier is fully inserted relative to the humidifier receptacle, and wherein the CPAP system further comprises at least a first lug receiving recess in which the first lug is a releasably disposed when the humidifier is fully inserted relative to the humidifier receptacle and the lug resiliently moves to the extended position. 77. The CPAP system of claim 76, further comprising ribs adjacent the horizontally extending retaining portion. 78. The CPAP system of claim 75, further comprising a heating element configured to engage the heat conducting plate of the humidifier when the humidifier is retained in the humidifier receptacle. 79. A CPAP system of claim 78, wherein the heating element is resiliently biased into engagement with the heat conducting plate. 80. The CPAP system of claim 79, wherein the heating element is a flat plate-like resistance heater. 81. The CPAP system of claim 75, further comprising a connecting structure having resiliently biased locking members on a side thereof that are configured to engage the CPAP apparatus to secure the connecting structure to the CPAP apparatus without the need for an external flexible hose or conduit, wherein the connecting structure includes the humidifier receptacle. 82. The CPAP system of claim 81, wherein the connecting structure comprises contact elements configured to receive power from the CPAP apparatus. 83. The CPAP system of claim 81, further comprising a release member configured to release the connecting structure from the CPAP apparatus. 84. The CPAP system of claim 83, wherein the release member is a button structure. 85. The CPAP system of claim 81, wherein, when the humidifier body and the connecting structure as a unit are rotated from the upright, operating position, liquid will drain through the outlet before draining through the inlet.
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