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EP-4017566-B1 - LIQUID CHAMBER FOR A BREATHING ASSISTANCE APPARATUS

EP4017566B1EP 4017566 B1EP4017566 B1EP 4017566B1EP-4017566-B1

Inventors

  • KRAMER, MARTIN PAUL FRIEDRICH
  • GARCIA, ENRICO ALVAREZ

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20200821

Claims (15)

  1. A humidifier liquid chamber (151) having a generally circular peripheral shape or a humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) comprising: first and second base unit connection ports (157, 159) for connecting to a breathing assistance apparatus base unit, the base unit connection ports defining respective axes (A1, A2); wherein the base unit connection ports (157, 159, 1157, 1159) are substantially parallel to each other and are separated by a port separation distance (PSD) between the axes (A1, A2), and the axes (A1, A2) of the first and second base unit connection ports (157, 159, 1157, 1159) are configured to be in a substantially horizontal orientation when the humidifier liquid chamber (151) or humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) is in use; wherein at least one of the base unit connection ports (157, 159, 1157, 1159) has a sealing depth (SD) defined by a portion of the port that is configured to overlap with a complementary chamber connection port of the base unit, wherein a ratio of the sealing depth (SD) to port separation distance (PSD) is more than about 0.25 and up to about 0.7.
  2. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) or humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the sealing depth (SD) to port separation distance (PSD) is between about 0.3 and about 0.7.
  3. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) or humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing depth (SD) is more than about 12 mm and up to about 16 mm.
  4. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) or humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said at least one of the base unit connection ports (157, 159, 1157, 1159) is configured to seal with at least two seals on the complementary chamber connection port.
  5. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) or humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base unit connection ports (157, 159, 1157, 1159) each have an exterior face (158, 160, 1158, 1160), and wherein the exterior faces (158, 160, 1158, 1160) are substantially planar and are substantially perpendicular to the axes (A1, A2).
  6. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) or humidifier liquid chamber manifold (1701) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the port separation distance (PSD) is about 40 mm +/- 0.6mm.
  7. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising flow tubes (301) extending into the humidifier liquid chamber (151) from the first and second base unit connection ports (158, 160).
  8. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to claim 7, wherein each flow tube (301) comprises an opening (309) at or adjacent an end of the flow tube (301) that is distal from the respective base unit connection port (158, 160), wherein the opening (309) is configured to direct flow and is spaced from a wall of the humidifier liquid chamber (151); optionally wherein the opening (309) in each flow tube (301) faces a roof (156) of the humidifier liquid chamber (151).
  9. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to claim 8, comprising a baffle (401) in the interior of the humidifier liquid chamber (151) and between the openings (309) of the flow tubes (301), and wherein the baffle (401) extends downward from a roof (156) of the humidifier liquid chamber (151) and terminates above a maximum liquid fill level (MFL) of the humidifier liquid chamber (151).
  10. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to claim 9, wherein a distance (D1) between a bottom edge (403) of the baffle (401) and the maximum liquid fill level (MFL) is between about 5 mm and about 15 mm.
  11. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising a step (501) in the humidifier liquid chamber (151).
  12. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to claim 11, wherein a base (503) of the step (501) is located at least partly below the first and second base unit connection ports (158, 160).
  13. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to claim 11 or 12 when dependent on claim 9 or 10, wherein the baffle (401) extends from a rear of the humidifier liquid chamber (151) towards a substantially vertical face (505) of the step (501), and terminates proximal to a central axis (CA) of the humidifier liquid chamber (151).
  14. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the humidifier liquid chamber (151) has a substantially cylindrical shape; and optionally wherein the humidifier liquid chamber (151) tapers towards a centre (C) of the humidifier liquid chamber (151) from a base (154) of the humidifier liquid chamber to a top of the humidifier liquid chamber.
  15. The humidifier liquid chamber (151) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a heat conductive base (154).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a liquid chamber for a breathing assistance apparatus. BACKGROUND ART Breathing assistance apparatuses are used in various environments such as hospital, medical facility, residential care, or home environments to deliver a flow of gas to users or patients. The breathing assistance apparatuses come in various forms, such as a standalone humidifier apparatus, a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus, or a high flow apparatus. A standalone humidifier apparatus can deliver heated and humidified gases for various medical procedures, including respiratory therapy, laparoscopy, and the like. These apparatuses can be configured to control temperature and/or humidity. The apparatuses can also include medical circuits comprising various components that can be used to transport heated and/or humidified gases to and from patients. For example, in some breathing circuits, gases inhaled by a patient are delivered from a heater-humidifier through an inspiratory tube or conduit. As another example, tubes can deliver humidified gas (commonly CO2) into the abdominal cavity in insufflation circuits. This can help prevent desiccation or 'drying out' of the patient's internal organs, and can decrease the amount of time needed for recovery from surgery. Heater wires may extend inside of at least a portion of the tubing forming the circuit to prevent or at least reduce the likelihood of the formation of significant condensation. A standalone humidifier apparatus would typically include a heater base and a humidifier liquid chamber. The heater base can comprise a heater plate. The liquid chamber can be configured to hold a volume of a liquid, such as water. The heater plate can be configured to heat the volume of liquid held within the liquid chamber to produce vapour. The liquid chamber is removable from the heater base to allow the liquid chamber to be more readily sterilized or disposed, or to re-fill the chamber with liquid. The body of the liquid chamber can be formed from a non-conductive glass or plastics material but the liquid chamber can also include conductive components. For instance, the liquid chamber can include a highly heat-conductive base (for example, an aluminum base) contacting or associated with the heater plate on the heater base. The heater base can also include electronic controls such as a master controller. In response to user-set humidity or temperature values input via a user interface and other inputs, the master controller determines when (or to what level) to energize the heater plate to heat the liquid within the liquid chamber. The standalone humidifier apparatus can include a gases supply to deliver gases to the liquid chamber. In some configurations, the gases supply can comprise a ventilator, blower, or any other suitable source of pressurized gases suitable for breathing or use in medical procedures. A standalone humidifier apparatus can be used with breathing therapies, positive pressure apparatus, noninvasive ventilation, surgical procedures including but not limited to laparoscopy, and the like. Desirably, the humidifier apparatus can be adapted to supply humidity or vapour to a supply of gases. The humidifier apparatus can be used with continuous, variable, or bi-level PAP systems or other form of respiratory therapy. In some configurations, the humidifier apparatus can be integrated into a system that delivers any such types of therapy. An exemplary standalone humidifier apparatus is described in WO 2015/038013. A CPAP apparatus is a gases supply and optionally gases humidification apparatus. The apparatus is operable to provide respiratory assistance to patients or users who require a supply of gas (humidified or otherwise) at positive pressure for the treatment of diseases such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), snoring, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the like. A CPAP apparatus would typically include a humidifier liquid chamber, so as to form a combined assisted breathing unit and humidifier. CPAP apparatuses, when used with a humidifier, typically have a structure where gases at a required pressure are delivered from an assisted breathing unit or blower unit to a liquid chamber downstream from the blower. As the gases pass through the liquid chamber, they become saturated with liquid vapour (e.g. water vapour). A flexible tubular gases conduit delivers the gases to a user or patient downstream from the humidifier chamber. An exemplary CPAP apparatus is described in WO 2011/056080. US5943473A discloses a heated cartridge humidifier for delivering humidified respiratory gases to patients. A humidifier housing includes a gas and water supply and a gas outlet. A humidifier base plate engages a heating element. The base plate includes a central heat conductive portion retained in an outer insulating portion which prevents the lateral dissipation of heat received from the heating element. The baseplate enhan