Apparatus for humidifying a respiratory gas

摘要

A humidifier assembly for a CPAP apparatus includes a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid. The liquid storage container includes a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the liquid storage container in which the liquid is evaporated into pressurized respiratory gas generated in the CPAP apparatus. The CPAP apparatus also includes a base unit configured to a) receive the liquid storage container and b) securely and releasably connect to a CPAP unit of the CPAP apparatus, the base unit having a bottom portion to support the liquid storage container thereon, the bottom portion including a heating element configured to contact the heat conducting material of the liquid storage container when the liquid storage container is supported on the base unit. When the liquid storage container is received by the base unit, the liquid storage container and the base unit together define an airflow path through the humidifier assembly, an inlet of the airflow path being upstream of the liquid storage container and an outlet of the airflow path being downstream of the liquid storage container.

主权项

1. A CPAP apparatus comprising:
a CPAP unit with a blower configured to pressurize respiratory gas, the CPAP unit comprising a first respiratory gas connecting member; a liquid storage container configured to hold a body of liquid, the liquid storage container comprising a humidifying region above a metallic heat conducting material, the humidifying region being a region inside the liquid storage container in which the liquid is evaporated into the pressurized respiratory gas generated by the blower; a humidifier base unit comprising a second respiratory gas connecting member that is at the same vertical heightwise level as the first respiratory gas connecting member when the CPAP unit and the humidifier base unit are on the same surface, the first respiratory gas connecting member and the second respiratory gas connecting member being configured to directly engage each other and pneumatically connect the humidifier base unit to the CPAP unit, the humidifier base unit being configured to receive the liquid storage container, the humidifier base unit having a bottom portion to support the liquid storage container thereon, the bottom portion including a heating element configured to contact the heat conducting material of the liquid storage container when the liquid storage container is supported on the humidifier base unit; and a securing device configured to rigidly secure the humidifier base unit to the CPAP unit when the first respiratory gas connecting member and the second respiratory gas connecting member are moved completely into a joined position, wherein when the liquid storage container is received by the humidifier base unit, the liquid storage container and the humidifier base unit together define an airflow path, an inlet of the airflow path being upstream of the liquid storage container and an outlet of the airflow path being downstream of the liquid storage container.