Humidifier for a breathing system

摘要

An in-line humidifier is disposed along the passageway of a breathing system. The humidifier includes a humidification chamber having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a reservoir. The humidifier includes a liquid trap which includes a chamber, a fluid inlet in communication with the liquid trap chamber, and a fluid outlet in communication with the liquid trap chamber. The liquid trap is constructed and arranged to discourage liquid from back-flowing from the humidifier to a source of gas.

主权项

1. An in-line humidifier comprising:
a humidification chamber having a fluid chamber inlet, a fluid chamber outlet, a chamber interior, a central chamber portion, and a reservoir configured to hold a liquid, and wherein the fluid chamber inlet projects inwardly into the humidification chamber toward the central chamber portion; and a liquid trap comprising a trap chamber, a fluid trap inlet in fluid communication with the trap chamber and a source of gas, and a fluid trap outlet in fluid communication with the trap chamber, and a central trap portion, wherein the fluid trap outlet is constructed and arranged to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber inlet such that liquid back-flowing from the reservoir of the humidification chamber through the fluid chamber inlet is trapped in the liquid trap, wherein the fluid trap inlet projects inwardly into the trap chamber toward the central trap portion, wherein the fluid trap inlet maintains a non-zero trap spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the trap chamber holds some liquid no matter how the liquid trap is oriented, wherein the fluid trap inlet is constructed and arranged to be in fluid communication with the source of gas such that liquid up to the non-zero trap spill liquid level in the trap chamber of the liquid trap is prevented from back-flowing through the fluid trap inlet, wherein the fluid chamber inlet has a non-zero chamber spill liquid level regardless of humidifier orientation such that the fluid chamber holds some liquid no matter how the humidification chamber is oriented, and wherein the fluid chamber inlet is constructed and arranged such that liquid up to the non-zero chamber spill liquid level in the humidification chamber is prevented from back-flowing through the fluid chamber inlet no matter how the humidification chamber is oriented, and the humidification chamber and liquid trap are constructed and arranged to be releasably connected to each other for disconnection from each other while keeping the humidification chamber intact and while keeping the liquid trap intact.