US 12,472,326 B2
Water out alarm
Dean Antony Barker, Auckland (NZ); Jack Che-Wei Hsu, Auckland (NZ); and Jae Chul Han, Auckland (NZ)
Assigned to Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed on Mar. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/610,174.
Application 16/704,360 is a division of application No. 15/174,485, filed on Jun. 6, 2016, granted, now 10,532,178, issued on Jan. 14, 2020.
Application 18/610,174 is a continuation of application No. 18/308,565, filed on Apr. 27, 2023, granted, now 11,957,844.
Application 18/308,565 is a continuation of application No. 16/704,360, filed on Dec. 5, 2019, granted, now 11,679,227, issued on Jun. 20, 2023.
Application 15/174,485 is a continuation of application No. 13/643,901, granted, now 9,393,379, issued on Jul. 19, 2016, previously published as PCT/NZ2011/000058, filed on Apr. 26, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/328,548, filed on Apr. 27, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2024/0307649 A1, Sep. 19, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 16/16 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01); A61M 16/06 (2006.01); A61M 16/08 (2006.01); A61M 16/10 (2006.01); A61M 16/12 (2006.01); A61M 16/20 (2006.01); H05B 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 16/16 (2013.01) [A61M 16/0051 (2013.01); A61M 16/0057 (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 16/1075 (2013.01); A61M 16/109 (2014.02); A61M 16/1095 (2014.02); A61M 16/127 (2014.02); A61M 16/161 (2014.02); A61M 16/20 (2013.01); H05B 1/025 (2013.01); A61M 2016/0021 (2013.01); A61M 2016/0027 (2013.01); A61M 2016/003 (2013.01); A61M 2016/0039 (2013.01); A61M 16/0841 (2014.02); A61M 16/162 (2013.01); A61M 2202/0208 (2013.01); A61M 2205/18 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3379 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus which provides respiratory support, the apparatus comprising:
a heater which in operation heats a reservoir,
a temperature sensor in thermal communication with the heater, the temperature sensor providing an indication of a temperature of the heater,
a controller which in operation directs power to be applied to the heater from a power supply, the controller operative to:
monitor system conditions during use of the apparatus,
determine a possible water out condition in the reservoir from the monitored system conditions,
following a determination of the possible water out condition, apply power from the power supply to the heater, the amount of power being:
an increase in the supplied power,
a maximum power from the power supply to the heater,
a predetermined amount of power from the power supply to the heater; or
an amount of power to the heater that would elevate the heater temperature,
monitor an output of the temperature sensor,
reduce the power supplied from the power supply to the heater if the monitored temperature sensor output indicates a possible water out condition in the reservoir, and
activating a user alert based on the determination of the possible water out condition.