US 11,679,228 B2
Breathing assistance apparatus
Matthew Jon Payton, Auckland (NZ); Kevin Peter O'Donnell, Auckland (NZ); Christopher Simon James Quill, Auckland (NZ); Ian Douglas Makinson, Auckland (NZ); Emily Joy Drake, Auckland (NZ); Craig Karl White, Auckland (NZ); and Virginia Louise Owen, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed on Jun. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/808,958.
Application 17/808,958 is a continuation of application No. 17/141,479, filed on Jan. 5, 2021.
Application 17/141,479 is a continuation of application No. 15/811,308, filed on Nov. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,918,821, issued on Feb. 16, 2021.
Application 15/811,308 is a continuation of application No. 14/919,459, filed on Oct. 21, 2015, granted, now 9,839,759, issued on Dec. 12, 2017.
Application 14/919,459 is a continuation of application No. 14/522,416, filed on Oct. 23, 2014, granted, now 9,168,350, issued on Oct. 27, 2015.
Application 14/522,416 is a continuation of application No. 11/913,812, granted, now 8,893,715, issued on Nov. 25, 2014, previously published as PCT/NZ2006/000132, filed on May 26, 2006.
Claims priority of application No. 540402 (NZ), filed on May 26, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2022/0339394 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 16/16 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01); A61M 16/10 (2006.01); A61M 16/06 (2006.01); A61M 16/08 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/161 (2014.02) [A61M 16/0003 (2014.02); A61M 16/0006 (2014.02); A61M 16/009 (2013.01); A61M 16/0066 (2013.01); A61M 16/0069 (2014.02); A61M 16/024 (2017.08); A61M 16/0666 (2013.01); A61M 16/0875 (2013.01); A61M 16/109 (2014.02); A61M 16/1075 (2013.01); A61M 16/1095 (2014.02); A61M 16/16 (2013.01); A61M 16/0683 (2013.01); A61M 2016/003 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3303 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/36 (2013.01); A61M 2205/50 (2013.01); A61M 2230/40 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
20. A breathing assistance apparatus for providing flow therapy, comprising:
a flow driver for providing a supply of gases at flows of 15 to 40 L/min during the flow therapy;
a humidification chamber and heater plate for humidifying the supply of gases supplied by the flow driver;
at least one of:
an inspiratory conduit connected at one end to the humidifier chamber, or
a nasal cannula for providing the humidified supply of gases to a patient, and
a controller configured to detect an end of a flow therapy session, and in response to said detection, automatically activate a drying mode for drying the inspiratory conduit or nasal cannula by activating a heater wire in the inspiratory conduit;
wherein the controller causes the drying mode to continue for a predetermined time,
wherein:
the controller is further configured to power down the heater plate during the drying mode to a predetermined level;
the humidification chamber is maintained on the heater plate and located between the flow driver and the inspiratory conduit and in fluid communication between the inspiratory conduit and the flow driver; and
during the drying mode, gases from the flow driver are delivered through the chamber and the inspiratory conduit.