Humidifier system for artificial respiration

摘要

A humidifier system (10) for heating and humidifying respiratory gases has a housing (16) with an inner chamber (22), a first port (18) at the first end for connection to a ventilator breathing circuit and a second port (20) at the second end for connection to a patient to supply respiratory gases to the patient and to receive exhaled gases from the patient. A body of heat moisture exchange (HME) material (24) is located within the chamber, and a water permeable device (25) is also located within the chamber. The housing has a water refill inlet (26) communicating with the water permeable device. A water supply (14) outside the housing is connected to the water refill inlet to supply water to the water permeable device. A heater (32) mounted outside the housing supplies heat to the housing and maintains the housing at a selected temperature.