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Publication Number
US-12214138-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
A respiratory humidification device includes: a casing; a separator wall to divide an interior space into filling and humidification chambers, wherein a bottom edge of the separator wall leaves a space between it and the casing bottom to define a passage allowing water to flow atop the casing bottom between the chambers, and enabling the water level to rise enough to block the passage to prevent respiratory gas from passing therethrough; a valve and float within the filling chamber to control water flow into the filling chamber to prevent the water level from rising higher than a threshold; and wherein an outer wall of the casing and the separator wall cooperate with the water surface within the humidification chamber to define an elongate tube-like pathway through which respiratory gas proceeds along a path extending generally parallel to the water surface within the humidification chamber to be humidified.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a respiratory humidification device having a casing with a casing top and a casing bottom that cooperate to enclose an interior space. The casing bottom is formed from thermally conductive material to conduct heat into the interior space from a heating component positioned external to and underneath the casing, to heat water within the casing. A separator wall within the interior space extends downward from the casing top and toward the casing bottom to divide the interior space into a filling chamber and a humidification chamber.
A bottom edge of the separator wall leaves a space between the separator wall and the casing bottom that defines a main passage between the filling chamber and the humidification chamber. The main passage allows water to flow atop the casing bottom between the filling chamber and the humidification chamber, and enables a level of the water within at least one of the filling chamber or the humidification chamber to rise high enough to block the main passage to prevent respiratory gas from passing therethrough. The device includes a gas inlet through the casing top for entry of a main flow of respiratory gas into the humidification chamber from a medical device external to the casing, and a gas outlet through the casing top opposite the gas inlet for output of the main flow to a patient after humidification.
At least one of an outer wall of the casing top and the separator wall are configured to cooperate with a surface of the water within the humidification chamber to define at least one pathway through the humidification chamber in a direction from the gas inlet to the gas outlet. Water is supplied into the filling chamber from a water source external to the casing by a valve carried by the casing top, and water level control is provided by a valve guide and first and second floats. The valve guide extends downward to surround the valve, an open bottom of the valve guide is suspended above the casing bottom, and at least one tab guide opening allows access to at least one valve tab, where the first float interacts with the valve bottom and the second float interacts with the at least one valve tab such that either interaction independently stops water flow to prevent the water level from rising higher than a predetermined threshold level.
The invention further encompasses additional structures for respiratory gas flow control and humidification enhancement, including configuring inlet and outlet such that reversible operation is enabled while maintaining effective humidification. A secondary passage can be provided to equalize gas pressure and thereby equalize levels of the water when the main passage is blocked, with the secondary passage and secondary flow smaller than the main passage and main flow. Additionally, a horizontal vortex can be induced along the at least one pathway by cooperation among the outer wall and separator wall and the surface of the water within the humidification chamber to enhance humidification.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover a respiratory humidification device and a method of humidifying respiratory gas, including water heating, a separated filling chamber and humidification chamber with a main passage that can be blocked by rising water level, controlled water replenishment using a valve guide with first and second floats with independent stopping interactions, and routing respiratory gas through pathways defined by cooperation with the water surface. Dependent claim refinements further include pressure and water-level equalization via a smaller secondary passage, reversible gas flow via matched inlet and outlet geometries, and inducing a horizontal vortex to enhance humidification.
Thermally conductive casing bottom heating water for respiratory humidification
A casing comprising a casing top and a casing bottom that cooperate to enclose an interior space, wherein the casing bottom is formed from thermally conductive material to conduct heat into the interior space from a heating component positioned external to and underneath the casing to heat water within the casing.
Separator wall dividing filling and humidification chambers with a blockable main passage
A separator wall within the interior space that extends downward from the casing top and toward the casing bottom to divide the interior space into a filling chamber and a humidification chamber, wherein a bottom edge of the separator wall leaves a space between the separator wall and the casing bottom that defines a main passage between the filling chamber and the humidification chamber that allows water to flow atop the casing bottom and enables a level of the water to rise high enough to block the main passage to prevent respiratory gas from passing therethrough.
Pathways defined by cooperation of inlet/outlet walls with a water surface in the humidification chamber
A gas inlet through the casing top for entry of a main flow of respiratory gas into the humidification chamber from a medical device external to the casing; a gas outlet through the casing top opposite the gas inlet for output of the main flow to a patient after humidification; and at least one of an outer wall of the casing top and the separator wall configured to cooperate with a surface of the water within the humidification chamber to define at least one pathway through the humidification chamber from the gas inlet to the gas outlet.
Valve-and-float water replenishment with independent stopping interactions and predetermined threshold level
A valve carried by the casing top to control water flow into the filling chamber from a water source external to the casing, a valve guide extending downward to surround the valve with an open bottom suspended above the casing bottom and a tab guide opening for access to at least one valve tab, a first float interacting with the valve bottom, and a second float interacting with the at least one valve tab, wherein either interaction independently stops water flow to prevent the water level from rising higher than a predetermined threshold level.
Secondary pressure equalization passage enabling equalization when the main passage is blocked
A smaller secondary passage near at least one of the gas inlet or the gas outlet that allows a secondary flow of respiratory gas to equalize gas pressure and thereby equalize water levels when the main passage is blocked, wherein the secondary passage and secondary flow are smaller than the main passage and main flow.
Reversible operation via identical inlet and outlet geometries while maintaining effective humidification
The gas inlet and the gas outlet have identical shape and size so that a medical device can be connected to reverse the main flow direction through the humidification chamber while maintaining effective humidification when flow is reversed.
Enhancing humidification by inducing a horizontal vortex along the pathway
The outer wall and separator wall cooperate with the surface of the water within the humidification chamber to induce a horizontal vortex in the respiratory gas along the at least one pathway to enhance humidification.
Humidifying method using separated filling and humidification chambers with a blockable main passage
A method of humidifying a main flow of respiratory gas supplied by a medical device to a patient by conveying the main flow to a gas inlet of a humidification chamber, conveying the main flow from a gas outlet to the patient after humidification, providing a flow of water from a water source external to the casing to a water inlet of a filling chamber, heating a casing bottom to heat the water, using a separator wall and a main passage defined by a bottom edge space that allows water to flow atop the casing bottom and enables the water level to rise high enough to block the main passage to prevent respiratory gas from passing therethrough, and configuring at least one of an outer wall of the casing top and the separator wall to cooperate with a surface of the water to define at least one pathway.
Method water control with valve guide and first and second floats having independent stopping interactions
Controlling the flow of water into the filling chamber with a valve carried by the casing top, a first float and a second float to prevent the level of the water from rising higher than a predetermined threshold level, including a valve guide with an open bottom suspended above the casing bottom and a tab guide opening for valve tab access, where the first float interacts with the valve bottom and the second float interacts with the valve tab, and either interaction stops the flow of water.
Across the provided independent claims, the core coverage centers on a respiratory humidification device and method that combine a thermally conductive casing bottom heating water, separated filling and humidification chambers with a main passage that can be blocked by rising water level, respiratory gas routing through pathways defined by the water surface, and water replenishment controlled by a valve guide with first and second floats having independent stopping interactions relative to a predetermined threshold level. Provided dependent refinements further add secondary pressure equalization when the main passage is blocked, reversible operation via matching inlet and outlet geometries, and humidification enhancement by inducing a horizontal vortex.
Stated Advantages
Prevents the level of the water within at least the filling chamber from rising higher than a predetermined threshold level by independently stopping water flow via first-float and second-float interactions.
Documented Applications
Humidifying a main flow of respiratory gas supplied by a medical device to a patient.
Use with a ventilator/CPAP device and inspiratory and expiratory hose assemblies is described.
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