Humidifier for respiratory apparatus

1 . A heatable conduit for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the heatable conduit comprising:

a first segment comprising a first gas flow path and one or more heater wires;

a second segment comprising a second gas flow path and one or more heater wires; and

an intermediate section configured to secure the first segment and the second segment so that when the first and second segments are secured together by the intermediate section, the first and second gas flow paths form a combined airflow path that passes through the intermediate section, the intermediate section being further configured to electrically couple the first and second segments so that electrical power to and sensing signals from the second segment are conveyed through the intermediate section in use when the first and second segments are coupled together by the intermediate section,

wherein each of the first and second segments comprises a spirally wound elongate body,

wherein the one or more heater wires of the first and second segments are configured to be connected in use to at least one controller such that, in a first mode, power is provided to the first segment and no power is provided through the intermediate section to the second segment, and

wherein the heatable conduit is configured so that a heat output of the one or more heater wires of the first segment is independently controllable relative to a heat output of the one or more heater wires of the second segment.

2 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein the spirally wound elongate body is hollow.

3 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heater wires of the first segment and the one or more heater wires of the second segment are embedded or encapsulated within the spirally wound elongate bodies of the first and second segments.

4 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein each of the spirally wound elongate bodies forms at least in part an elongate tube having a longitudinal axis, a lumen extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to convey gases.

5 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein one or more sensor wires are embedded within the spirally wound elongate body of the first segment and/or spirally wound elongate body of the second segment, wherein the one or more sensor wires are configured to be connected to one of a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, an oxygen concentration sensor, or a humidity sensor.

6 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first segment and a length of the second segment are different.

7 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein the spirally wound elongate bodies are configured to be filled with gas.

8 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein the first and second segments are flexible and are configured to deliver inspiratory gases to a patient in use.

9 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heater wires of the first and second segments are configured to be connected in use to the at least one controller such that, in a second mode, power is provided to the one or more heater wires of the first segment and to the one or more heater wires of the second segment.

10 . The heatable conduit of claim 1 ,

wherein the spirally wound elongate body is hollow,

wherein the one or more heater wires of the first segment and the one or more heater wires of the second segment are embedded or encapsulated within the spirally wound elongate bodies of the first and second segments,

wherein each of the spirally wound elongate bodies forms at least in part an elongate tube having a longitudinal axis, a lumen extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to convey gases,

wherein one or more sensor wires are embedded within the spirally wound elongate body of the first segment and/or spirally wound elongate body of the second segment, wherein the one or more sensor wires are configured to be connected to one of a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, an oxygen concentration sensor, or a humidity sensor,

wherein a length of the first segment and a length of the second segment are different,

wherein the spirally wound elongate bodies are configured to be filled with gas,

wherein the first and second segments are flexible and are configured to deliver inspiratory gases to a patient in use, and

wherein the one or more heater wires of the first and second segments are configured to be connected in use to the at least one controller such that, in a second mode, power is provided to the one or more heater wires of the first segment and to the one or more heater wires of the second segment.

11 . A respiratory apparatus configured to deliver breathable gas to a patient's airways, the respiratory apparatus comprising:

a flow generator configured to pressurise the breathable gas;

a humidifier configured to humidify the breathable gas by vaporizing water;

the heatable conduit of claim 1 ; and

a controller configured to control the first and second segments according to different temperature profiles.

12 . The respiratory apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a patient interface connected to the heated conduit and configured to sealingly engage the patient's face.

13 . The respiratory apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heatable conduit is configured so that operating in the first mode allows for a combined heat output of the first and second segments that is less than a combined heat output of the first and second segments when power is provided to both the first and second segments.

14 . The respiratory apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first segment and second segment are separable from each other.

15 . A heatable conduit for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering breathable gas to a patient, the heatable conduit comprising:

a tube with a gas flow path configured to convey the breathable gas; and

a flexible heater supported on the tube and configured to heat the breathable gas flowing through the heatable conduit,

wherein the flexible heater comprises multiple segments connected to each other by way of one or more connectors configured to electrically couple the segments to each other so that electrical power and sensing signals are conveyed through the connectors,

wherein each of the one or more connectors is configured so that the breathable gas flowing through the gas flow path of the tube also flows through the connector,

wherein each segment forms a heating zone to provide different temperature zones along the length of the tube, and

wherein each heating zone is independently controllable.

16 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , further comprising a helical rib on the outer surface of the tube, wherein the flexible heater is supported by the helical rib.

17 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a respective heating circuit, and wherein the heating circuits are connected to each other in series.

18 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , wherein each segment of the flexible heater is configured to communicate identification information that identifies the segment.

19 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , wherein each segment of the flexible heater is configured to detect and report information regarding other segments of the flexible heater.

20 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a sensor configured to sense a condition of the segment.

21 . The heatable conduit of claim 20 , wherein the condition is at least one of temperature of the breathable gas, pressure of the breathable gas, and humidity of the breathable gas.

22 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a transistor configured to regulate a current applied to the segment of the flexible heater.

23 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a heating wire.

24 . The heatable conduit of claim 15 , further comprising a helical rib on the outer surface of the tube, wherein the flexible heater is supported by the helical rib,

wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a respective heating circuit, and wherein the heating circuits are connected to each other in series,

wherein each segment of the flexible heater is configured to communicate identification information that identifies the segment,

wherein each segment of the flexible heater is configured to detect and report information regarding other segments of the flexible heater,

wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a sensor configured to sense a condition of the segment,

wherein the condition is at least one of temperature of the breathable gas, pressure of the breathable gas, and humidity of the breathable gas,

wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a transistor configured to regulate a current applied to the segment of the flexible heater, and

wherein each segment of the flexible heater comprises a heating wire.

25 . A respiratory apparatus configured to deliver breathable gas to a patient's airways, the respiratory apparatus comprising:

a flow generator configured to pressurise the breathable gas;

a humidifier configured to humidify the breathable gas by vaporizing water;

the heatable conduit of claim 15 ; and

a controller configured to control the different segments of the flexible heater according to different temperature profiles.

26 . The respiratory apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured to operate only one segment of the flexible heater at a time when the controller is operating in a first mode.

27 . The respiratory apparatus of claim 25 , further comprising:

a patient interface connected to the heated conduit and configured to sealingly engage the patient's face.

28 . The respiratory apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the heatable conduit is configured so that when being operated in a first mode, power is provided to only one segment of the flexible heater.