Breathing assistance apparatus

摘要

The present invention provides a breathing assistance apparatus that has a convenient and effective method of cleaning internal conduits inside the apparatus. The breathing assistance apparatus is preferably a gases supply and humidification device. The cleaning method is a method of disinfection that is automated so minimal training is required to disinfect in particular an internal elbow conduit within the device. It is therefore not necessary to dismantle the gases supply and humidification device, therefore, inadvertent damage to the internal parts of the device is avoided. The present invention also provides a method of disinfecting a heated breathing conduit and a patient interface.

主权项

1. A breathing assistance apparatus adapted to deliver humidified gases to a patient, the breathing assistance apparatus comprising a cleaning mode that is configured to heat a flow of gases through a disinfection conduit having a heating element, the breathing assistance apparatus comprising:
a breathing assistance apparatus housing comprising an atmospheric inlet, a pressurized gases supply within said breathing assistance apparatus housing and in fluid communication with said atmospheric inlet, a gases supply outlet port in said breathing assistance apparatus housing, said gases supply outlet port in fluid connection with said pressurized gases supply, said gases supply outlet port sized and configured to make removable fluid connection with an inlet of a humidification chamber and a disinfection conduit when not making removable fluid connection with said inlet of said humidification chamber, a patient return in said breathing assistance apparatus housing, said patient return sized and configured to make removable fluid connection with a humidification chamber outlet, a patient outlet on said breathing assistance apparatus housing, said patient outlet in fluid connection with said patient return, said patient outlet sized and configured to make removable fluid connection with a breathing conduit and said disinfection conduit, and a controller housed within said breathing assistance housing, said controller controlling said pressurized gas supply and controlling power to a heating element of said disinfection conduit, said controller having a cleaning mode operating when said disinfection conduit is in fluid communication with said gases supply outlet port and said patient outlet, when said controller is in said cleaning mode, said controller controlling said pressurized gas supply and controlling power to said heating element of said disinfection conduit to provide a reverse flow of heated non-humidified gases through said patient return.