US 11,724,059 B2
Humidifier and/or flow generator for CPAP device
Ian Malcolm Smith, Sydney (AU); John Michael Snow, Sydney (AU); Perry David Lithgow, Sydney (AU); and Dan Kao, Sydney (AU)
Assigned to ResMed Pty Ltd, Bella Vista (AU)
Filed by ResMed Pty Ltd, Bella Vista (AU)
Filed on Aug. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/878,382.
Application 17/878,382 is a continuation of application No. 17/489,928, filed on Sep. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,420,006.
Application 17/489,928 is a continuation of application No. 16/156,049, filed on Oct. 10, 2018, granted, now 11,135,394, issued on Oct. 5, 2021.
Application 16/156,049 is a continuation of application No. 14/687,223, filed on Apr. 15, 2015, granted, now 10,124,143, issued on Nov. 13, 2018.
Application 14/687,223 is a continuation of application No. 11/988,870, granted, now 9,038,629, issued on May 26, 2015, previously published as PCT/AU2006/001170, filed on Aug. 15, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/707,948, filed on Aug. 15, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2022/0370754 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 16/16 (2006.01); A61M 16/10 (2006.01); A61M 16/08 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01); A61M 16/06 (2006.01); B01D 47/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/16 (2013.01) [A61M 16/0057 (2013.01); A61M 16/0066 (2013.01); A61M 16/0075 (2013.01); A61M 16/0616 (2014.02); A61M 16/0666 (2013.01); A61M 16/08 (2013.01); A61M 16/0816 (2013.01); A61M 16/0875 (2013.01); A61M 16/10 (2013.01); A61M 16/109 (2014.02); A61M 16/1075 (2013.01); A61M 2205/02 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3334 (2013.01); A61M 2205/42 (2013.01); A61M 2209/086 (2013.01); B01D 47/02 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A positive airway pressure device configured to deliver a pressurized flow of respiratory gas to a patient's airways, the positive airway pressure device comprising:
a flow generator comprising a blower configured to pressurize the flow of respiratory gas;
a tub configured to hold a body of water and humidify the pressurized flow of respiratory gas, the tub comprising:
a heat conducting base plate;
an internal air passage extending laterally from an aperture in a side wall of the tub; and
a pair of tub flanges extending laterally from respective side walls of the tub, each tub flange comprising a horizontal portion and a tapered portion, an upper surface of the tub flange being level at the horizontal portion and tapering downwardly in the tapered portion; and
a base that supports both the flow generator and the tub, the base comprising:
a floor with a heater plate;
a pair of side walls that oppose each other; and
a pair of base flanges, each base flange extending laterally inward from a respective one of the side walls;
a gas flow passage associated with the flow generator, the gas flow passage being configured to convey the pressurized flow of respiratory gas, the gas flow passage being in direct fluid communication with the internal air passage of the tub; and
a sealing assembly associated with the gas flow passage, the sealing assembly comprising a base portion and a flexible sealing portion that is more flexible than the base portion,
wherein the flexible sealing portion of the sealing assembly and the tub are configured so that no part of the tub enters the gas flow passage when the tub is fully received by the base,
wherein the tub is removable from the base by moving the tub in a first direction away from the blower and is receivable by the base by moving the tub in a second direction opposite the first direction,
wherein the tub is configured so that when the tub is received by the base, the tapered portion of each tub flange moves beneath a respective one of the base flanges before the horizontal portion of the tub flange moves beneath said respective one of the base flanges,
wherein the tub is further configured so that when the tub is removed from the base, the horizontal portion of the tub flange exits the base before the tapered portion of the tub flange, and
wherein the heater plate of the base is positioned to engage the heat conducting base plate of the tub when the tub is received by the base.