humidifier

Abstract

A humidification chamber for a respiratory humidification system, comprising a humidification section having an inlet and an outlet, and a humidification element within the humidification section configured to humidify a flow of gas passing through a channel, wherein the gas flow is located near the humidification element.

Claims

1. A humidifying chamber for a respiratory humidification system, wherein the humidifying chamber is A humidification section having an inlet and an outlet, The humidifying element in the humidifying section, A flow path for directing gas from the inlet to the outlet near the humidifying element, wherein the humidifying element is configured to humidify the flow of gas passing through the flow path, A humidifying chamber in which the cross-sectional dimension of the flow path is determined by a target humidity to be achieved at least a portion of the gas at the outlet, and the cross-sectional dimension is a function of at least one of the length of the flow path, the flow rate of the gas, the temperature of the humidifying element, and the relative gas concentration.

2. A humidifying chamber for a respiratory humidification system, wherein the humidifying chamber is A humidification section having an inlet and an outlet, The humidifying element in the humidifying section, A flow path for directing gas from the inlet to the outlet near the humidifying element, wherein the humidifying element is configured to humidify the flow of gas passing through the flow path, A humidifying chamber in which the transverse dimensions of the flow path, which are perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, are such that the gas has a relative humidity of at least about 80% when it reaches the outlet.

3. A humidifying chamber for a respiratory humidification system, wherein the humidifying chamber is A humidification section having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the humidification section defines a path for the flow of gas between the inlet and the outlet, and the humidification section comprises an elongated humidification section, The flow path has a maximum transverse dimension of approximately 10 mm, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow. A humidifying chamber in which the cross-sectional dimensions are selected such that the gas passing through the at least one flow path achieves a relative humidity of at least 80% when it reaches the outlet.

4. The humidifying chamber according to claim 3, wherein the humidifying chamber comprises a humidifying element within the humidifying section.

5. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transverse dimension is at most about 10% of the length of the humidifying section determined between the inlet and the outlet.

6. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transverse dimension is a minimum of approximately 0 mm to a maximum of approximately 22 mm, and optionally, the transverse dimension is approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.

7. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a high-humidity boundary layer is formed within the humidifying section for humidifying the gas flow.

8. The humidification chamber according to claim 7, wherein the high-humidity boundary layer is formed near the humidification element.

9. The humidifying chamber according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the high-humidity boundary layer is sufficiently developed from the humidifying element to a certain dimension.

10. The humidifying chamber according to claim 9, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path is less than or equal to the dimension of the well-developed high-humidity boundary layer, such that at least a portion of the flow path is filled with the high-humidity boundary layer.

11. The humidifying chamber according to claim 9, wherein the dimensions of the well-developed high-humidity boundary layer are less than the transverse dimension of the flow path.

12. The cross-sectional dimension of the flow path perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow is at least a function of the flow rate of the gas flow through the humidification section, the average volumetric flow rate through the humidification section is about 0.5 L / min to about 200 L / min, optionally the average volumetric flow rate through the humidification section is about 10 L / min to about 100 L / min, optionally the average volumetric flow rate through the humidification section is a maximum of about 70 L / min, the humidification chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the temperature of the humidifying element, the average temperature of the humidifying element is about 0°C to 100°C, optionally, the average temperature of the humidifying element is about 30°C to about 80°C, and optionally, the average temperature of the humidifying element is about 60°C to about 80°C.

14. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the flow rate of the gas flow through the humidifying section, and the mass flow rate of the gas is less than about 300 g / min.

15. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the volumetric flow rate of the fluid supplied to the humidifying element is at least about 10 μL / min.

16. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the oxygen fraction of the gas passing through the flow path, the oxygen fraction of the gas being about 21% to about 100%, and optionally, the oxygen fraction of the gas being about 30% to about 50%.

17. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the length of the flow path is approximately 5 mm to approximately 300 mm, optionally, the length of the flow path is approximately 50 mm to approximately 200 mm, optionally, the length of the flow path is approximately 90 mm to approximately 200 mm.

18. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the width of the flow path is approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 500 mm, and optionally, the width of the flow path is approximately 5 mm to approximately 20 mm.

19. The surface area of ​​the humidifying element is approximately 10 mm². 2 ~approximately 10,000 mm 2 And optionally, the surface area of ​​the humidifying element is approximately 40 mm². 2 ~approximately 3,000 mm 2 A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the liquid flow rate to the humidifying element is approximately 0.1 mL / min to approximately 50 mL / min, and optionally, the liquid flow rate is approximately 1 mL / min to approximately 5 mL / min.

21. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the inlet gas temperature to the humidifying section is approximately 0°C to approximately 50°C, and optionally, the inlet gas temperature is approximately 15°C to approximately 35°C.

22. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the outlet gas temperature from the humidifying section is approximately 18°C ​​to approximately 70°C, and optionally, the outlet gas temperature is approximately 30°C to approximately 40°C.

23. The cross-sectional dimensions of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, are determined by at least the humidity of the outlet gas from the humidification section, wherein the humidity of the outlet gas is about 12 mg / L to about 62 mg / L, and optionally, the humidity of the outlet gas is about 40 mg / L to about 50 mg / L, according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the humidity of the inlet gas to the humidifying section, the humidity of the inlet gas being about 0 mg / L to about 50 mg / L, and optionally, the humidity of the inlet gas being about 0.1 mg / L to about 5 mg / L.

25. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the velocity of the gas flowing through the flow path, the velocity of the gas being about 0.003 m / s to about 330 m / s, and optionally, the velocity of the gas being about 0.1 m / s to about 30 m / s.

26. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the humidifying section inlet to the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is about 1:10 to about 12:

1.

27. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is determined by a function that includes the length of the flow path, the flow rate of the gas, the temperature of the humidifying element, and the relative gas concentration.

28. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the transverse dimensions of the flow path are such that at least about 80% of the gas flow humidified in the flow path passes near the humidifying element.

29. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the humidifying chamber comprises an inlet sub-chamber upstream of the inlet of the humidifying section, the inlet sub-chamber being for delivering the gas flow to the humidifying section.

30. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the humidifying chamber comprises an outlet sub-chamber downstream of the outlet of the humidifying section, the outlet sub-chamber being for delivering the gas flow from the humidifying section.

31. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the humidifying section comprises at least one wall or wall portion extending between the inlet and the outlet, and the flow path is defined as a gas flow region between the humidifying element and the at least one wall or wall portion.

32. The humidifying chamber according to claim 31, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path is limited by the distance of the flow path between the humidifying element and the at least one wall or wall portion.

33. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 32, as dependent on claims 1 to 30, wherein the gas flow cross-sectional area at any position within the humidifying section is smaller than the gas flow cross-sectional area at any position within the outlet sub-chamber.

34. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 33 as a dependency of claims 1 to 29, wherein the inlet sub-chamber is shaped such that the gas flow is directed substantially parallel to the humidifying element.

35. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 5 to 1, wherein the part of the gas is substantially all of the gas in the flow path.

36. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein the humidifying element is located in the center of the humidifying section.

37. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein the flow path is a plurality of flow paths.

38. The humidifying chamber according to claim 37, wherein the humidifying element divides the at least one flow path into the plurality of flow paths.

39. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 30, claim 38, wherein the outlet sub-chamber has a tapered configuration, and the gas flow region of the flow path increases from the portion of the outlet sub-chamber adjacent to the humidifying section toward the downstream portion of the outlet sub-chamber.

40. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 30 or 31, claim 39, wherein, when viewed from the side, the distance between the upper wall or upper wall portion of the humidifying section and the lower wall or lower wall portion of the outlet sub-chamber is smaller than the distance between the upper wall or upper wall portion of the outlet sub-chamber and the lower wall or lower wall portion of the outlet sub-chamber, and the flow region of the gas flow path increases from the humidifying section to the outlet sub-chamber.

41. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 29, 30, or 40 as dependent on claim 31, wherein the inlet sub-chamber has at least one inclined surface extending from and adjacent to one of the at least one wall or wall portion of the humidifying section for directing the gas flow through the humidifying section.

42. The humidifying chamber according to claim 41, wherein the at least one inclined surface directs the gas flow to at least one surface of the humidifying element.

43. The humidifying chamber according to claim 41 or 42, wherein the internal angle within the humidifying chamber between the inclined surface and the adjacent wall or wall portion is a favorable angle.

44. The humidifying chamber according to claim 43, wherein the internal angle between the inclined surface and the adjacent wall or wall portion of the humidifying section is approximately 200° to 260°.

45. The humidifying chamber according to claim 43, wherein the internal angle between the inclined surface and the adjacent wall or wall portion of the humidifying section is approximately 220° to 240°.

46. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 41 to 45, wherein the inlet sub-chamber comprises two symmetrical, opposing inclined surfaces.

47. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 46, wherein the humidifying element has a substantially circular or tapered tip at or adjacent to the inlet.

48. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 47, wherein the thickness of the humidifying element increases when viewed from the side, from the inlet through a portion of the humidifying section, and reduces the cross-sectional dimension of the flow path or at least one of the flow paths.

49. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 48, as dependent on at least claim 29, wherein the flow region of the gas flow path decreases from the inlet sub-chamber to the humidifying section.

50. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 29 or 31, claim 49, wherein the distance between the upper wall or upper wall portion of the inlet sub-chamber and the lower wall or lower wall portion is greater than the distance between the upper wall or upper wall portion of the humidifying section and the lower wall or lower wall portion.

51. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 29 or 30, claim 50, wherein the inlet sub-chamber is a mirror image of the outlet sub-chamber.

52. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 30 or 31, claim 51, wherein the outlet sub-chamber has at least one inclined surface extending from and adjacent to one of the at least one wall or wall portion of the humidifying section at the downstream outlet.

53. A humidifying chamber according to claim 52, as dependent on claim 41, wherein the interior angle of the inclined surface of the outlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion is smaller than the interior angle of the inclined surface of the inlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion.

54. The humidifying chamber according to claim 52, as dependent on claim 36, wherein the slope from the horizontal plane of the inclined surface of the outlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion is smaller than the slope from the horizontal plane of the inclined surface of the inlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion.

55. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 54, wherein at least one of the humidifying section and / or the humidifying element has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

56. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 54, wherein at least one of the humidifying section and / or the humidifying element has a substantially circular cross-section.

57. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 56, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path is larger at the inlet end of the humidifying section compared to the outlet end of the humidifying section.

58. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 57, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path is minimized at a position along the humidifying element between the inlet and the outlet.

59. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 58, as dependent on claims 1 to at least 31, wherein the inner surface of at least one wall or wall portion of the humidifying section facing the humidifying element has ridges or bumps.

60. The humidifying chamber according to claim 59, wherein the ridge or bump is arranged along the substantial length of the humidifying section.

61. The humidifying chamber according to claim 58 or 59, wherein the ridge or bump extends substantially perpendicular to the length of the humidifying section.

62. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 61 as dependent on claims 1 to at least 31, wherein the humidifying element comprises at least one first humidifying plate connected to one of the walls or wall portions of the humidifying section and extending therefrom toward the opposing wall or wall portion, and the at least one first humidifying plate is provided with a gap between it and the opposing wall or wall portion.

63. The humidifying chamber according to claim 62, wherein the humidifying element comprises at least one second humidifying plate positioned next to the at least one first humidifying plate, the at least one second humidifying plate being separated from the first humidifying plate, extending from and connected to the opposing wall or wall portion of the humidifying section, and a gap being provided between the at least one second humidifying plate and the wall or wall portion to which the first humidifying plate is connected.

64. The humidifying chamber according to claim 63, wherein the at least one first humidifying plate and the at least one second humidifying plate are angled when viewed from the side.

65. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 64 as dependent on claims 1 to at least 31, comprising at least one first baffle, the at least one first baffle being connected to one of the wall or wall portions and extending therefrom toward the humidifying element, and a gap being provided between the at least one first baffle and the humidifying element.

66. A humidifying chamber according to claim 65, comprising at least one second baffle, the at least one second baffle being connected to and extending from a wall or wall portion opposite to the at least one first baffle, the at least one second baffle extending toward the humidifying element, and a gap being provided between the at least one second baffle and the humidifying element.

67. The humidifying chamber according to claim 66, wherein the at least one first baffle and / or the at least one second baffle is angled when viewed from the side.

68. The humidifying chamber according to claim 67, wherein the at least one first baffle and / or the at least one second baffle are angled downstream such that, when viewed from the side, the connecting end is closer to the upstream end than the baffle or the opposite end of each baffle.

69. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 65 to 67, comprising a plurality of the first baffles and / or the second baffles, wherein the baffles are substantially equally spaced from the longitudinal direction when viewed from the side.

70. The humidifying element is provided on the inner surface of the humidifying section, as described in any one of claims 1 to 69, for the humidifying chamber.

71. The humidifying element comprises a liquid reservoir, as described in any one of claims 1 to 70.

72. A humidifying chamber according to claim 71, further comprising a heating plate for heating the liquid in the liquid reservoir, either inside or below the liquid reservoir.

73. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 72, comprising: a gas inlet which is in fluid communication with the inlet of the humidifying section, the gas inlet being for supplying the gas for humidification; and a gas outlet which is in fluid communication with the outlet of the humidifying section, the gas outlet being for delivering the humidified gas to a patient interface.

74. The humidifying chamber according to claim 73, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the gas flow path in the flow channel perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow is at most about 25% of the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the gas flow path perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow at the gas inlet.

75. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to at least 29 and 30, claim 74, wherein the inlet sub-chamber and the outlet sub-chamber are substantially coaxially aligned along an axis extending between the inlet and outlet of the humidifying section.

76. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 76, comprising a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being configured to deliver liquid to the humidifying element.

77. A respiratory humidification system for humidifying gas before supplying it to a patient's airway, wherein the respiratory humidification system is A respiratory humidification system comprising a humidification chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 77.

78. The respiratory humidification system further comprises a flow generator for delivering gas to the humidification chamber, according to claim 77.

79. The respiratory humidification system further comprises a patient interface for delivering humidified gas from the humidification chamber to a patient, according to claim 76 or 77.

80. A humidifying chamber for a respiratory humidification system, wherein the humidifying chamber defines a gas flow path, and the humidifying chamber is An elongated humidification section having an upstream end and a downstream end, The inlet sub-chamber at the upstream end of the humidification section, The humidification section comprises an outlet sub-chamber at the downstream end, A humidification chamber in which the flow region of the gas flow path decreases from the inlet sub-chamber to the humidification section.

81. The humidifying chamber according to claim 80, wherein the inlet sub-chamber and outlet sub-chamber are substantially coaxially aligned along the axis.

82. The humidifying chamber according to claim 81, wherein the shaft substantially extends in the direction between the upstream end and the downstream end of the humidifying section.

83. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 82, wherein the resulting gas flow through the inlet sub-chamber is substantially in the same flow direction as the resulting gas flow through the outlet sub-chamber.

84. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 83, wherein the resulting gas flow through the humidifying section is in substantially the same direction as the gas flow through the inlet sub-chamber and the outlet sub-chamber.

85. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 84, comprising: a gas inlet which is in fluid communication with the inlet sub-chamber, the gas inlet which supplies the gas for humidification; and a gas outlet which is in fluid communication with the outlet sub-chamber, the gas outlet which supplies the humidified gas to the patient interface.

86. The humidifying chamber according to claim 85, wherein the gas inlet and gas outlet are substantially coaxially aligned along the axis.

87. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 86, wherein the gas flow between the inlet sub-chamber and the humidifying section is substantially laminar.

88. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 87, wherein the gas flow between the inlet sub-chamber and the outlet sub-chamber is substantially laminar.

89. The humidification chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 88, wherein the humidification section comprises a humidification element configured to humidify the gas in the gas flow path passing through the humidification section.

90. The humidifying chamber according to claim 89, wherein the gas flow is located near the humidifying element passing through the humidifying section.

91. The humidifying chamber according to claim 89 or 90, wherein the humidifying section comprises at least one wall or wall portion extending between the upstream end and the downstream end, the humidifying element and at least one wall or wall portion define a flow path for the gas flow path from the upstream end to the downstream end.

92. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 91, wherein the flow path has a transverse dimension perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow through the flow path.

93. The humidifying chamber according to claim 93, wherein the maximum transverse dimension of the flow path is configured such that the target fraction of the gas can reach a target humidity in the outlet sub-chamber.

94. The humidifying chamber according to claim 93, wherein a high-humidity boundary layer is formed within the humidifying section for humidifying the gas flow.

95. The humidification chamber according to claim 94, wherein the high-humidity boundary layer is formed near the humidification element.

96. The high-humidity boundary layer extends sufficiently from the humidifying element to a certain dimension, as described in the humidifying chamber according to claim 94 or 95, at least as dependent on claim 89.

97. The humidifying chamber according to claim 96, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path is less than or equal to the dimension of the well-developed high humidity boundary layer, such that at least a portion of the flow path is filled with the high humidity boundary layer.

98. The humidifying chamber according to claim 96, wherein the dimensions of the well-developed high-humidity boundary layer are less than the transverse dimension of the flow path.

99. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 93 to 98, wherein the direction of the gas flow through the channel is the flow obtained at a given location in the channel.

100. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 93 to 99, wherein the target fraction of the gas is substantially all of the gas in the gas flow path.

101. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 93 to 99, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path is a function of at least one of the gas flow velocity, the temperature of the humidifying element, the length of the passage between the upstream end and the downstream end, and the relative gas concentration.

102. The humidifying chamber according to claim 99, wherein the transverse dimension is at most about 10% of the length of the humidifying section determined between the upstream end and the downstream end.

103. The humidifying chamber according to claim 101 or 102, wherein the transverse dimension is approximately 0 mm to approximately 22 mm, and optionally, the transverse dimension is approximately 1 mm to approximately 5 mm.

104. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 103, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow is at least a function of the flow rate of the gas flow through the humidifying section, the average volumetric flow rate through the humidifying section is about 0.5 L / min to about 200 L / min, optionally the average volumetric flow rate through the humidifying section is about 10 L / min to about 100 L / min, and optionally the average volumetric flow rate through the humidifying section is a maximum of about 70 L / min.

105. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 104, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow is at least a function of the temperature of the humidifying element, the average temperature of the humidifying element is about 0°C to 100°C, optionally, the average temperature of the humidifying element is about 30°C to about 80°C, and optionally, the average temperature of the humidifying element is about 60°C to about 80°C.

106. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 105, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the flow rate of the gas flow through the humidifying section, and the mass flow rate of the gas is less than about 300 g / min.

107. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 106, wherein the volumetric flow rate of the fluid supplied to the humidifying element is at least about 10 μL / min.

108. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 107, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the oxygen fraction of the gas passing through the flow path, the gas contains oxygen, the oxygen fraction of the gas is about 21% to about 100%, and optionally, the oxygen fraction of the gas is about 30% to about 50%.

109. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 108, wherein the length of the flow path is approximately 5 mm to approximately 300 mm, optionally, the length of the flow path is approximately 50 mm to approximately 200 mm, optionally, the length of the flow path is approximately 90 mm to approximately 200 mm.

110. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 109, wherein the width of the flow path is approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 500 mm, and optionally, the width of the flow path is approximately 5 mm to approximately 20 mm.

111. The surface area of ​​the humidifying element is approximately 10 mm². 2 ~approximately 10,000 mm 2 And optionally, the surface area of ​​the humidifying element is approximately 40 mm². 2 ~approximately 3,000 mm 2 A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 110.

112. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 111, wherein the liquid flow rate to the humidifying element is approximately 0.1 mL / min to approximately 50 mL / min, and optionally, the liquid flow rate is approximately 1 mL / min to approximately 5 mL / min.

113. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 112, wherein the inlet gas temperature to the humidifying section is approximately 0°C to approximately 50°C, and optionally, the inlet gas temperature is approximately 15°C to approximately 35°C.

114. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 113, wherein the outlet gas temperature from the humidifying section is approximately 18°C ​​to approximately 70°C, and optionally, the outlet gas temperature is approximately 30°C to approximately 40°C.

115. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 114, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the humidity of the outlet gas from the humidifying section, the humidity of the outlet gas being about 12 mg / L to about 62 mg / L, and optionally, the humidity of the outlet gas being about 40 mg / L to about 50 mg / L.

116. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 115, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the humidity of the inlet gas to the humidifying section, the humidity of the inlet gas being about 0 mg / L to about 50 mg / L, and optionally, the humidity of the inlet gas being about 0.1 mg / L to about 5 mg / L.

117. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 117, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at least a function of the velocity of the gas flowing through the flow path, the velocity of the gas being about 0.003 m / s to about 330 m / s, and optionally, the velocity of the gas being about 0.1 m / s to about 30 m / s.

118. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 117, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the humidifying section inlet to the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path is about 1:10 to about 12:

1.

119. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 101 to 118, wherein the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is determined by a function including the length of the flow path, the flow rate of the gas, the temperature of the humidifying element, and the relative gas concentration.

120. The humidifying element extends in the direction between the upstream end and the downstream end, the humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to at least 89, or claim 119.

121. The humidifying element is located in the center of the humidifying section, as described in any one of claims 80 to at least 89, of claim 120.

122. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 121, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein the gas flow path is a plurality of flow paths.

123. The humidifying element divides the gas flow path into a plurality of flow paths, as described in claim 112.

124. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 123, wherein the inlet sub-chamber is shaped to direct the gas through the humidifying section.

125. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 124 as dependent on claims 80 to at least 91, wherein the inlet sub-chamber has at least one inclined surface extending from and adjacent to one of the at least one wall or wall portion of the humidifying section for directing the gas flow through the humidifying section.

126. The humidifying chamber according to claim 125, wherein the at least one inclined surface directs the gas flow to at least one surface of the humidifying element.

127. The humidifying chamber according to claim 125 or 126, wherein the internal angle within the humidifying chamber between the inclined surface and the adjacent wall or wall portion is a superior angle.

128. The humidifying chamber according to claim 126, wherein the internal angle between the inclined surface and the adjacent wall or wall portion of the humidifying section is approximately 200° to 260°.

129. The humidifying chamber according to claim 126, wherein the internal angle between the inclined surface and the adjacent wall or wall portion of the humidifying section is approximately 220° to 240°.

130. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 125 to 129, wherein the inlet sub-chamber comprises two symmetrical, opposing inclined surfaces.

131. The humidifying element has a substantially circular or tapered tip at or adjacent to the upstream end, as described in any one of claims 80 to 130, as at least dependent on claim 89.

132. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 131, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein the thickness of the humidifying element increases when viewed from the side, from the upstream end through a portion of the humidifying section, and reduces the cross-sectional dimension of the flow path or each of at least one of the flow paths.

133. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 132, wherein the flow region of the gas flow path decreases from the inlet sub-chamber to the humidifying section.

134. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 133, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 91, wherein the distance between the upper wall or upper wall portion of the inlet sub-chamber and the lower wall or lower wall portion is greater than the distance between the upper wall or upper wall portion of the humidifying section and the lower wall or lower wall portion.

135. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 134, wherein the inlet sub-chamber is a mirror image of the outlet sub-chamber.

136. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 135 as dependent on claims 80 to at least 91, wherein the outlet sub-chamber has at least one inclined surface extending from and adjacent to one of the at least one wall or wall portion of the humidifying section at the downstream end.

137. A humidifying chamber according to claim 136, as dependent on claim 125, wherein the interior angle of the inclined surface of the outlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion is smaller than the interior angle of the inclined surface of the inlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion.

138. The humidifying chamber according to claim 136, as dependent on claim 125, wherein the slope from the horizontal plane of the inclined surface of the outlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion is smaller than the slope from the horizontal plane of the inclined surface of the inlet sub-chamber adjacent to the wall or wall portion.

139. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 138, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein at least one of the humidifying sections and / or humidifying elements has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

140. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 138, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein at least one of the humidifying sections and / or humidifying elements has a substantially circular cross-section.

141. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 140, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the flow path, or at least one of the flow paths, are larger at the upstream inlet end of the humidifying element compared to the downstream end of the humidifying element.

142. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 140, as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the flow path, or at least one of the flow paths, are larger at the upstream inlet end of the humidifying element compared to the downstream end of the humidifying element.

143. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 142 as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, wherein the inner surface of the at least one wall or wall portion of the humidifying section facing the humidifying element has ridges or bumps.

144. The humidifying chamber according to claim 143, wherein the ridge or bump is arranged along the substantial length of the humidifying section.

145. The humidifying chamber according to claim 143 or 144, wherein the ridge or bump extends substantially perpendicular to the length of the humidifying section.

146. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 145 as dependent on claims 80 to at least 91, wherein the humidifying element comprises at least one first humidifying plate connected to one of the walls or wall portions of the humidifying section and extending therefrom toward the opposing wall or wall portion, the at least one first humidifying plate having a gap between it and the opposing wall or wall portion.

147. The humidifying chamber according to claim 146, wherein the humidifying element comprises at least one second humidifying plate positioned next to the at least one first humidifying plate, the at least one second humidifying plate being separated from the first humidifying plate, extending from and connected to the opposing wall or wall portion of the humidifying section, and a gap being provided between the at least one second humidifying plate and the wall or wall portion to which the first humidifying plate is connected.

148. The humidifying chamber according to claim 147, wherein the at least one first humidifying plate and the at least one second humidifying plate are angled when viewed from the side.

149. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 148 as dependent on claims 80 to at least 91, comprising at least one first baffle, the at least one first baffle being connected to one of the wall or wall portions and extending therefrom toward the humidifying element, and a gap being provided between the at least one first baffle and the humidifying element.

150. A humidifying chamber according to claim 149, comprising at least one second baffle, the at least one second baffle being connected to and extending from a wall or wall portion opposite to the at least one first baffle, the at least one second baffle extending toward the humidifying element, and a gap being provided between the at least one second baffle and the humidifying element.

151. The humidifying chamber according to claim 150, wherein the at least one first baffle and / or the at least one second baffle is angled when viewed from the side.

152. The humidifying chamber according to claim 151, wherein the at least one first baffle and / or the at least one second baffle are angled downstream such that, when viewed from the side, the connecting end is closer to the upstream end than the baffle or the opposite end of each baffle.

153. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 150 to 152, comprising a plurality of the first baffles and / or the second baffles, wherein the baffles are substantially equally spaced from the longitudinal direction when viewed from the side.

154. The humidifying element is provided on the inner surface of the humidifying section, the humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to at least 89 of claim 153.

155. The humidifying element comprises a liquid reservoir, as described in any one of claims 80 to at least 89 of claim 154.

156. A humidifying chamber according to claim 155, further comprising a heating plate for heating the liquid in the liquid reservoir, located inside or below the liquid reservoir.

157. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 156, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path, or the gas flow path of at least one flow path, perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, is at most about 25% of the flow cross-sectional area of ​​the gas flow path perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow at the gas inlet end of the inlet sub-chamber.

158. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 157, wherein the inlet sub-chamber and the outlet sub-chamber are substantially coaxially aligned along an axis extending between the upstream end and the downstream end of the humidifying section.

159. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 158 as dependent on claims 80 to at least 89, comprising a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet being configured to deliver a liquid to the humidifying element.

160. A respiratory humidification system for humidifying a gas before supplying it to a patient's airway, wherein the respiratory humidification system comprises a humidification chamber according to any one of claims 80 to 159.

161. The respiratory humidification system further comprises a flow generator for delivering gas to the humidification chamber, according to claim 160.

162. The respiratory humidification system further comprises a patient interface for delivering humidified gas from the humidification chamber to the patient, according to claim 160 or 161.

163. A humidifying chamber for a respiratory humidification system, wherein the humidifying chamber is A gas inlet and a gas outlet, wherein a gas inlet and a gas outlet define a flow path for gas flow between the gas inlet and the gas outlet gas, A humidification section having an upstream end and a downstream end, and having a flow path for the gas, Displaced between the gas inlet and the upstream end of the humidification section, and comprising a wall or wall portion extending between the gas inlet and the upstream end, and having a flow path for the gas between the gas inlet and the upstream end, an inlet sub-chamber, The humidification section comprises a humidification element, wherein the flow of gas spanning at least one face or surface portion of the humidification element is configured to humidify the flow of gas in the flow path, A humidifying chamber in which the flow path through the humidifying section is smaller in size than the flow path through the inlet sub-chamber, the size of the flow path in the humidifying section is determined as the transverse dimension of the flow path extending from at least one face or surface portion of the humidifying element to the opposite face or portion of the surface portion, and the size of the flow path in the inlet sub-chamber is determined as the transverse dimension of the flow path extending from at least one wall or wall portion of the inlet sub-chamber to at least one opposing wall or portion of the wall portion.

164. The humidifying chamber according to claim 163, wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the gas flow through the channel of the humidifying section is obtained.

165. The humidifying chamber according to claim 163 or 164, wherein the transverse direction of the flow path through the inlet sub-chamber is determined perpendicular to at least one wall or portion of the wall portion.

166. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 165, wherein the transverse direction of the flow path through the humidifying section is determined perpendicular to the surface or surface portion.

167. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 166, wherein the gas inlet and the gas outlet are substantially coaxially aligned along the axis.

168. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 167, wherein the resulting gas flow through the gas inlet is substantially in the same flow direction as the resulting gas flow through the gas outlet.

169. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 168, wherein the resulting gas flow through the humidifying section is substantially in the same flow direction as the flow through the gas inlet and the gas outlet.

170. The humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 169, wherein the gas flow between the inlet sub-chamber and the humidifying section is substantially laminar.

171. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 170, wherein the gas flow between the gas inlet and the gas outlet is substantially laminar.

172. A humidifying chamber according to any one of claims 163 to 171, further comprising an outlet sub-chamber located between the gas outlet and the downstream end of the humidifying section, and comprising a wall or wall portion extending between the downstream end and the gas outlet, and having a flow path for the gas flow between the downstream end and the gas outlet.

173. A humidifying chamber for a respiratory humidification system, wherein the humidifying chamber is A humidification section having an inlet and an outlet, The humidifying element in the humidifying section, A flow path for directing gas from the inlet to the outlet near the humidifying element, wherein the humidifying element is configured to humidify the flow of gas passing through the flow path, A humidifying chamber in which the target humidity to be achieved at the outlet by a portion of the gas is determined by the transverse dimension of the flow path, which is perpendicular to the direction of the gas flow, and the transverse dimension is a function of at least one of the length of the flow path, the flow rate of the gas, the temperature of the humidifying element, and the relative gas concentration.

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