Humidifier for respiratory apparatus

Abstract

A flexible tape heater (110) in a patient conduit (112) may be used to heat the flow of gas in the patient conduit (112) that is delivered to the patient mask (116). The thin, flat and extended nature of the flexible tape heater (110) may enhance heat transfer with the gas flow whilst also providing low impedance to the gas flow. Heating of the gas may facilitate the desired temperature and humidity to be reached for the gas delivered to the patient by the respiratory apparatus. The flexible tape heater (110) may be placed in the patient conduit (112) such that the flexible tape heater (110) is twisted or bent about one or more of the flexible tape heater's (110) three axes. Additionally these configurations may be used to enhance the turbulent mixing of the water vapour produced in the humidification chamber (114) with the gas flow.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to humidification and heater arrangements used to control the humidity of breathable gases used in all forms of respiratory apparatus ventilation systems including invasive and non-invasive ventilation, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Bi-level therapy and treatment for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), and for various other respiratory disorders and diseases.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Respiratory apparatus commonly have devices to alter the humidity of the breathable gas in order to reduce drying of the patient's airway and consequent patient discomfort and associated complications. The use of a humidifier placed between the positive airway pressure (PAP) device (or flow generator) and the patient mask, produces humidified gas that minimizes drying of the nasal mucosa and increases patient airway comfort. In addition...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention aims to provide an alternative humidifier arrangement which overcomes or ameliorates the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provides a useful choice.

Problems solved by technology

Such a heating method for the patient conduit may only provide poor heat transfer due to the wire locating itself along the conduit wall rather than in the main gas stream.

A wire will also only give poor turbulent mixing due to its low profile.

As a result heat transfer may be poor and the mixing of water vapour and gas may also be poor.

None of these prior art devices provides an entirely satisfactory solution to the provision of comfortable humidified gas to the patient, nor to the ease of construction, the hygiene requirements and to the energy and patient comfort requirements at startup.

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