Humidifier reservoir
A water reservoir for an apparatus for humidifying a flow of breathable gas includes a reservoir base including a cavity structured to hold a volume of liquid and a conductive portion provided to the base. The conductive portion is adapted to thermally engage with a heater plate to allow thermal transfer of heat from the heater plate to the volume of liquid. The conductive portion includes a thin film comprising a non-metallic material, and the thin film includes a wall thickness less than about 1 mm.
1. A water reservoir for an apparatus for generating and humidifying a flow of breathable gas, the water reservoir being configured for being removably received by a water reservoir dock of the apparatus, the water reservoir dock comprising a heater plate, the water reservoir comprising:
a reservoir base including a bottom wall and side walls forming a cavity structured to hold a volume of liquid; and
a thin film provided to the reservoir base, at least a portion of the thin film adapted to thermally engage with the heater plate when the water reservoir is removably received by the water reservoir dock to allow thermal transfer of heat from the heater plate to the volume of liquid in use,
wherein the thin film includes:
a/ a first side including at least a portion adapted to form a bottom interior surface of the water reservoir exposed to the volume of liquid, and
b/ a second side, opposite to the first side,
wherein the second side of the thin film includes at least a portion adapted to form a bottom, exposed exterior surface of the water reservoir exposable to the heater plate to allow thermal engagement with the heater plate when the water reservoir is removably received by the water reservoir dock,
wherein the thin film comprises a non-metallic material,
wherein the thin film includes a wall thickness less than 1 mm,
wherein at least a portion of the bottom wall extends transverse to the side walls and said portion of the bottom wall forms an interior surface of the water reservoir exposed to the volume of liquid, and
wherein said portion of the bottom wall of the reservoir base includes a hole, and the thin film is secured so that the thin film sealingly covers the hole and perimeter edges of the thin film extend beyond edges of the hole such that the thin film overlaps with at least a portion of the interior surface of the bottom wall.
2. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness is less than 0.5 mm.
3. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film comprises silicone, polycarbonate, or other thermoplastic or elastomeric materials.
4. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film is provided as a separate and distinct structure from the reservoir base.
5. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film comprises a pre-formed structure that is secured or otherwise provided to the reservoir base.
6. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film is generally planar.
7. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the second side of the thin film provides a contact surface structured and arranged to directly engage with the heater plate when the water reservoir is removably received by the water reservoir dock.
8. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of the thin film is less than a wall thickness of the bottom and side walls of the reservoir base.
9. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the side walls of the reservoir base forms an interior surface of the water reservoir exposed to the volume of liquid, and wherein the perimeter edges of the thin film extend to one or more of the side walls of the reservoir base such that the thin film overlaps with at least a portion of the interior surface of one or more of the side walls of the reservoir base.
10. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir lid movably connected to the reservoir base to allow the water reservoir to be convertible between an open configuration and a closed configuration.
11. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film includes one or more additives to promote thermal conductivity.
12. The water reservoir according to claim 11 , wherein the one or more additives comprises a ceramic powder additive and/or a metallic powder additive.
13. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film comprises multiple layers.
14. The water reservoir according to claim 13 , wherein the multiple layers comprises a metallic layer and at least one plastic layer.
15. The water reservoir according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one plastic layer comprises a plastic layer on both sides of the metallic layer.
16. The water reservoir according to claim 1 , wherein the thin film comprises a coating of a thermally conductive material applied to one side of the thin film.
17. An apparatus for humidifying a flow of breathable gas, comprising:
a water reservoir dock; and
the water reservoir according to claim 1 provided to the water reservoir dock.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the water reservoir dock forms a cavity to at least partially receive the water reservoir.
19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the water reservoir dock includes the heater plate adapted to thermally engage the thin film provided to the water reservoir.