HUMIDIFYING RESPIRATORY GASES

1 .- 23 . (canceled)

24 . A device for humidifying respiratory gases, the device comprising:

a base unit comprising a heating element configured for converting received electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation,

a humidification component comprising a base and a side wall forming a cavity for holding a water volume, a portion of the humidification component being transmissive to the electromagnetic radiation,

wherein the humidification component is removeably coupled with the base unit, and the electromagnetic radiation is transferred to the water volume through the portion of the humidification component that is transmissive to the electromagnetic radiation, thereby heating the water volume.

25 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the heating element is positioned within the base unit.

26 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the heating element does not engage against the humidification component.

27 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the humidification component is removeably coupled with a top portion of the base unit.

28 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the base of the humidification component engages against the base unit.

29 . The device of claim 24 , wherein said humidification component comprises any of a polyphenylene sulfide, a cross-linked polyethylene; a polysulfone; a polycarbonate, and a conductive polymer.

30 . The device of claim 24 , wherein said heating element comprises any of an infrared emitter and a microwave emitter.

31 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the heating element comprises an infrared emitter having a ceramic material.

32 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the portion of the humidification component comprises any of the base and the side wall of the humidification component.

33 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the portion of the humidification component comprises a ceiling of the humidification component.

34 . The device of claim 24 , wherein the humidification component comprise a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet.

35 . A method for humidifying respiratory gases, said method comprising:

coupling a first humidification component, comprising a base and a side wall forming a cavity for holding a water volume, with a base unit comprising a heating element configured for converting electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation;

directing electromagnetic radiation to the water volume through a portion of the humidification component that is transmissive to the electromagnetic radiation, thereby heating the water volume;

separating the first humidification component from the base unit; and

coupling a second humidification component with the base unit.

36 . The method of claim 35 , comprising converting, by the heating element, the electrical energy to electromagnetic radiation.

37 . The method of claim 35 , comprising heating the water volume to produce water vapor.

38 . The method of claim 37 , comprising moving respiratory gases across the heated water volume, wherein the water vapor humidifies said respiratory gases.

39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein respiratory gases enter the humidification component at a fluid inlet of the humidification component, and the respiratory gases exit the humidification component at a fluid outlet of the humidification component.

40 . The method of claim 35 , comprising filling the humidification component with the water volume.

41 . The method of claim 35 , comprising any of opening a water level control element and closing the water level control element coupled with the humidification component.

42 . The method of claim 41 , comprising directing, with a control module, the water level control element to maintained a desired water level.

43 . The method of claim 35 , comprising measuring, using a flow probe coupled to a fluid outlet of the humidification component, the amount of the humidified gases that flow out of the humidification component.