US 12,390,615 B2
Systems and methods for controlling humidity output in a humidifier
Po-Yen Liu, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Appl. No. 17/437,376
Filed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
PCT Filed Mar. 11, 2020, PCT No. PCT/NZ2020/050024
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 8, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/185100, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/816,623, filed on Mar. 11, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0296846 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 16/16 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01); A61M 16/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/162 (2013.01) [A61M 16/024 (2017.08); A61M 16/109 (2014.02); A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3653 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A humidification apparatus for humidifying a gases flow provided to a user, the humidification apparatus comprising:
a base unit comprising a heater plate;
a humidification chamber configured to retain a humidification fluid, the humidification chamber comprising:
a conductive base,
one or more wall portions configured to couple to the base unit,
an inlet, and
an outlet;
at least one inlet temperature sensor located within or adjacent the inlet of the humidification chamber;
at least one outlet temperature sensor located within or adjacent the outlet of the humidification chamber; and
a controller configured to:
output a heater plate control signal to control an amount of power provided to the heater plate based at least partly on a function of an outlet temperature measured from signals received from the at least one outlet temperature sensor;
determine an inlet temperature of gases being received into the humidification chamber based on signals received from the at least one inlet temperature sensor;
determine if the inlet temperature exceeds a threshold temperature; and
reduce, in response to the inlet temperature exceeding the threshold temperature, a maximum target humidity, added by the humidification apparatus, of gases leaving the outlet of the humidification chamber, wherein the threshold temperature varies according to an outlet temperature set point.