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 supply a heated flow through a first 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 humidifier, a patient return in said breathing assistance apparatus housing, said patient return sized and configured to make removable fluid connection with a humidifier 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, in a cleaning mode with a first end of the first disinfection conduit connected to the gases supply outlet port and a second end of the first disinfection conduit connected to said patient outlet such that flow through the first disinfection conduit has not passed through said humidifier prior to flowing through the first disinfection conduit, a controller in said breathing assistance housing adapted to supply power to the heating element of the first disinfection conduit so as to heat the flow of gases through the first disinfection conduit and said patient return to keep said flow of gases above a predetermined temperature over a set period of time, a temperature sensor located at or close to said patient return, said temperature sensor adapted to sense the temperature of gases flowing between said patient return and said patient outlet in use, wherein said controller is adapted to receive temperature data from said temperature sensor, said controller supplying power to said disinfection conduit so that temperatures between said patient return and said patient outlet reach a level of between 60° C. and 90° C. for a time period of approximately 20 minutes and wherein said controller provides a flow of gases through said disinfection conduit at a flow rate of approximately 10 liters per minute, a second disinfection conduit adapted for connection between said patient return and a point at or close to said atmospheric inlet, said controller supplying power to a heating element of said second disinfection conduit when said second disinfection conduit is connected between said patient return and said point at or close to said atmospheric inlet so as to heat the flow of gases through said second disinfection conduit to keep said flow of gases at a predetermined temperature over a set period of time, said controller simultaneously supplying power to said pressurized gases supply so as to provide a flow of gases through said second disinfection conduit, at least part of said supply of gases from said second disinfection conduit entering said atmospheric inlet.