US 12,268,818 B2
Integrated humidifier chamber and lid
Venkata Subbarao Potharaju, Auckland (NZ); Christie Jayne Stanton, Auckland (NZ); Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon, Auckland (NZ); Yi-Cheng Sun, Auckland (NZ); Hayden Briscoe, Auckland (NZ); Samuel Frew, Auckland (NZ); Steven John Worthington, Auckland (NZ); Philip John Dickinson, Auckland (NZ); and Cameron Jon Haxton, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/438,307.
Application 18/438,307 is a continuation of application No. 17/813,185, filed on Jul. 18, 2022, granted, now 12,168,099.
Application 17/813,185 is a continuation of application No. 17/505,498, filed on Oct. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,426,554, issued on Aug. 30, 2022.
Application 17/505,498 is a continuation of application No. 16/185,538, filed on Nov. 9, 2018, granted, now 11,497,877, issued on Nov. 15, 2022.
Application 16/185,538 is a continuation of application No. 14/053,352, filed on Oct. 14, 2013, granted, now 10,155,097, issued on Dec. 18, 2018.
Application 14/053,352 is a continuation of application No. 12/513,752, granted, now 8,555,879, issued on Oct. 15, 2013, previously published as PCT/NZ2007/000328, filed on Oct. 31, 2007.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/864,501, filed on Nov. 6, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2024/0181200 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. A61M 16/16 (2006.01); A61M 16/08 (2006.01); A61M 16/10 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/16 (2013.01) [A61M 16/0816 (2013.01); A61M 16/10 (2013.01); A61M 16/1075 (2013.01); A61M 16/109 (2014.02); A61M 39/1055 (2013.01); A61M 16/0066 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1022 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1033 (2013.01); A61M 2205/36 (2013.01); A61M 2205/362 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3653 (2013.01); A61M 2205/502 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated blower and humidification system for providing heated humidified gases to a user, the system comprising:
a blower unit; and
a humidification chamber;
the blower unit comprising:
a single unitary outer casing which encloses and forms the blower unit, the outer casing including a front face that is angled rearwards, the front face comprising user inputs;
an air inlet on a wall of the outer casing, through which air from atmosphere can enter the outer casing when in use;
a humidifier compartment defined at least in part by a cavity formed from a bottom wall and at least an upwardly extending wall, comprising a compartment port in the cavity on the upwardly extending wall through which a pressurized gases stream is provided by a fan unit, the humidifier compartment, in use, receives and holds the humidification chamber;
a gases path through the outer casing between the air inlet and the compartment port;
the fan unit contained within the outer casing in the gases path between the air inlet and the compartment port, the fan unit, which in use, draws air in through the air inlet and provides the pressurized gases stream to the compartment port;
a heater base on the bottom wall of the humidifier compartment; and
a power supply located within the outer casing and adapted to, in use, provide power to the blower unit;
wherein the blower unit, in use, receives the humidification chamber at least partially into the cavity of the humidifier compartment; and
the humidification chamber comprising:
dimensions which conform to the cavity such that the humidification chamber aligns with the cavity and the outer casing to form an integrated device, wherein the humidification chamber conforms to an internal shape and does not extend beyond external dimensions of the blower unit when the humidification chamber is received and held by the humidifier compartment;
a humidifier inlet port, which in use receives the pressurized gases stream from the compartment port;
a heat conducting surface, which in use heats a volume of water in conjunction with the heater base, the heat conducting surface being on a bottom side of the humidification chamber; and
an outlet connection, which in use connects directly to a conduit providing a fluid pathway between the humidification chamber and a patient interface, wherein, in use, the pressurized gases stream exits the compartment port of the blower unit and enters the humidification chamber where it is humidified and heated before passing out of the humidification chamber, through the outlet connection, and to the user via the conduit;
wherein the outlet connection is adapted to allow simultaneous combined pneumatic and electrical connection between the integrated blower and humidification system and the conduit;
wherein the fan unit is vertically offset from the heater base.
 
13. An integrated blower and humidification system which provides heated humidified gases to a user in operation, the system comprising:
a blower unit; and
a humidification chamber;
the blower unit comprising:
a single unitary outer casing which encloses and forms the blower unit, the outer casing including a front face that is angled rearwards, the front face comprising a user interface;
an air inlet on a wall of the outer casing, through which air from atmosphere can enter the outer casing when in use;
a humidifier compartment defined at least in part by a cavity formed from a bottom wall and at least an upwardly extending wall, and comprising a compartment port in the cavity on the upwardly extending wall;
a gases path through the outer casing between the air inlet and the compartment port;
a fan unit contained within the outer casing in the gases path between the air inlet and the compartment port, the fan unit, which in use, draws air in through the air inlet and provides a pressurized gases stream to the compartment port;
a heater base on the bottom wall of the humidifier compartment; and
a power supply located within the outer casing and adapted to, in use, provide power to the blower unit;
wherein the blower unit, in use, receives the humidification chamber at least partially into the cavity of the humidifier compartment, wherein the humidification chamber does not extend beyond external dimensions of the blower unit when the humidification chamber is received and held by the humidifier compartment; and
the humidification chamber comprising:
a humidifier inlet port, which in use, receives the pressurized gases stream from the compartment port;
a heat conducting surface, which in use heats a volume of water in conjunction with the heater base, the heat conducting surface being on a bottom side of the humidification chamber; and
an outlet connection, which in use connects directly to a conduit providing a fluid pathway between the humidification chamber and a patient interface, wherein, in use, the pressurized gases stream exits the compartment port of the blower unit and enters the humidification chamber, where it is humidified and heated, before passing out of the humidification chamber, through the outlet connection, and to the user via the conduit;
wherein the outlet connection is adapted to allow simultaneous combined pneumatic and electrical connection between the integrated blower and humidification system and the conduit;
wherein the fan unit is vertically offset from the heater base.
 
24. An integrated blower and humidification system which provides heated humidified gases to a user in operation, the system comprising:
a blower unit; and
a humidification chamber;
the blower unit comprising:
a single unitary outer casing which encloses and forms the blower unit wherein the outer casing and humidification chamber form a single integrated cuboidal shape;
an air inlet on a wall of the outer casing, through which air from atmosphere can enter the outer casing when in use;
a humidifier compartment defined at least in part by a hollow formed from a bottom wall and at least an upwardly extending wall, and comprising a compartment port in a cavity on the upwardly extending wall;
a gases path through the outer casing between the air inlet and the compartment port;
a fan unit contained within the outer casing in the gases path between the air inlet and the compartment port, the fan unit, which in use, draws air in through the air inlet and provides a pressurized gases stream to the compartment port;
a heater base on the bottom wall of the humidifier compartment; and
a power supply located within the outer casing and adapted to, in use, provide power to the blower unit;
wherein the blower unit, in use, receives the humidification chamber at least partially into the cavity of the humidifier compartment, wherein the humidification chamber does not extend beyond external dimensions of the blower unit when the humidification chamber is received and held and supported by the humidifier compartment; and
the humidification chamber comprising:
a humidifier inlet port, which in use, receives the pressurized gases stream from the compartment port;
a heat conducting surface, which in use heats a volume of water in conjunction with the heater base, the heat conducting surface being on a bottom side of the humidification chamber; and
an outlet connection, which in use connects directly to a conduit providing a fluid pathway between the humidification chamber and a patient interface, wherein, in use, the pressurized gases stream exits the compartment port of the blower unit and enters the humidification chamber, where it is humidified and heated, before passing out of the humidification chamber, through the outlet connection, and to the user via the conduit;
wherein the outlet connection is adapted to allow simultaneous combined pneumatic and electrical connection between the integrated blower and humidification system and the conduit;
wherein the fan unit is vertically offset from the heater base.