SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HUMIDITY CONTROL

摘要

Systems, methods, and devices for humidifying a breathing gas using a vapor transfer unit are presented. The method includes providing a first vapor transfer unit having a gas passage and a liquid passage, delivering a liquid to the liquid passage, delivering a gas to the gas passage, humidifying the gas by delivering vapor from the liquid in the liquid passage to the gas in the gas passage, exiting the humidified gas outside the vapor transfer unit at first relative humidity and at a high gas flow rate, and reducing the gas flow rate through the first vapor transfer unit to less than a low gas flow rate, while preventing the relative humidity from exceeding the first relative humidity by more than an acceptable margin.

主权项

1. A vapor transfer unit for humidifying breathing gas, the vapor transfer unit comprising:
a housing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a plurality of tubes disposed within the housing and each defining a passage for a flow of gas from an upstream end of the passage to a downstream end of the passage; a valve positionable between a first position and a second position; wherein the valve obstructs the flow of gas through a first subset of the plurality of tubes when in the first position; and wherein the valve obstructs the flow of gas through a second subset of the plurality of tubes, different from the first set, when in the second position.