WETTABLE DEVICES OPERATIONAL WITH AQUEOUS LIQUIDS

摘要

WETTABLE DEVICES OPERATIONAL WITH AQUEOUS LIQUIDS A humidifier (10) used in respiratory therapy is disclosed where the surface tension of a light probe (32) used therewith is maintained greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid used in the humidifier (10). Maintaining the surface tension of the light probe (32) greater than the surface tension of the aqueous liquid generally avoids erroneous indication of aqueous liquid level in the humidifier (10), Erroneous indications of liquid level can be caused by gas bubbles adhering to submerged portions of the light probe (32) or liquid droplets adhering to unsubmerged portions of the light probe (32). Surface tension of the light probe (32) can be maintained greater than surface tension of the aqueous liquid by coating the light probe (32) with a surface active agent, by subjecting the light probe (32) to corona discharge or plasma treatment, by coating the interior surface of the humidifier cannister (14) with an amount of surface active agent, by adding an amount of surface active agent to the aqueous liquid in the humidifier (10) or by any combination.