Humidifier with a water tub within a pressurized chamber
A tub is configured to contain a supply of water and is configured to be inserted into a chamber of a humidifier. The tub includes a tub base configured to contain the supply of water. The tub also includes a tub lid and a flow plate provided between the tub base and the tub lid. The flow plate includes a water level indicator configured to indicate a level of the supply of water in the tub base. In addition, the water level indicator includes a generally rectangular portion and a generally triangular portion.
1. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the respiratory apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas, the flow generator comprising a plurality of catches and an electrical connector on a side wall; and
a humidifier comprising:
a humidifier chamber removably connected to the flow generator, the humidifier chamber comprising:
a bottom surface with a heating plate;
a back wall;
a front wall opposite the back wall;
a first lateral side wall adjacent the flow generator and a second lateral side wall opposite the first lateral side wall, the first lateral side wall comprising a plurality of latches and an electrical connector; and
an inlet configured to receive the flow of breathable gas generated by the flow generator when the plurality of latches on the first lateral side wall of the humidifier chamber engage the plurality of catches on the side wall of the flow generator, said inlet being provided on the first lateral side wall;
a tub configured to contain a supply of water and being removably insertable into the humidifier chamber, the tub comprising a tub base and a tub lid; and
a humidifier lid pivotably connected to the humidifier chamber and pivotable between an open position in which the tub is insertable into the humidifier chamber from above and a closed position in which the humidifier lid covers the inserted tub, the humidifier lid comprising at least one catch configured to be engaged to at least one latch on the front wall of the humidifier chamber to maintain the humidifier lid in the closed position;
an opening member provided for releasing the humidifier lid to allow the humidifier lid to be pivoted to the open position; and
a lid closure member comprising the at least one latch on the humidifier chamber,
the lid closure member being biased to a closed position,
wherein moving the opening member moves the lid closure member to an open position in which the at least one latch is moved to allow the at least one catch of the humidifier lid to be released from the at least one latch,
wherein the heating plate is configured to heat the supply of water contained in the tub, and
wherein when the humidifier chamber is connected to the flow generator, the electrical connector on the first lateral side wall of the humidifier chamber connects with the electrical connector on the side wall of the flow generator.
2. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier lid and the humidifier chamber are configured so that when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, the interior of the humidifier chamber is sealed off from atmosphere.
3. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier chamber insulates the tub to reduce heat loss to the surrounding.
4. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of latches on the first lateral side wall of the humidifier chamber are biased into engagement with the plurality of catches on the side wall of the flow generator when the humidifier and the flow generator are detachably connected.
5. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an aperture is provided in a wall of the humidifier chamber so that the water level in the tub can be seen.
6. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tub base and the tub lid are detachable.
7. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier lid comprises a seal configured to engage the tub when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, and wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.
8. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tub base is configured to be pressed against the heating plate when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.
9. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a flow plate between the tub base and the tub lid.
10. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the flow plate comprises a frame seal that is configured to seal a perimeter of the tub base when the tub lid is connected to the tub base.
11. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the tub lid is configured to engage the frame seal around the entire perimeter of the tub base when the tub lid is connected to the tub base.
12. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tub lid comprises at least one tub lid latch configured to engage a rim on the tub base to connect the tub lid and the tub base.
13. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier lid comprises a seal configured to engage the tub when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.
14. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the tub is formed of a plastic material, a metal or a combination thereof.
15. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet of the humidifier comprises a tube connector that is connectable to an air delivery tube.
16. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient, the respiratory apparatus comprising:
a flow generator configured to generate a flow of breathable gas, the flow generator comprising a plurality of catches and an electrical connector on a side wall; and
a humidifier comprising:
a humidifier chamber removably connected to the flow generator, the humidifier chamber comprising:
a heating plate;
at least one side wall comprising a plurality of latches and an electrical connector; and
an inlet configured to receive the flow of breathable gas generated by the flow generator when the plurality of latches on the at least one side wall of the humidifier chamber engage the plurality of catches on the side wall of the flow generator, said inlet being provided on the at least one side wall;
a tub configured to contain a supply of water and being removably insertable into the humidifier chamber, the tub comprising a tub base and a tub lid; and
a humidifier lid movably connected to the humidifier chamber and movable between an open position in which the tub is insertable into the humidifier chamber from above and a closed position in which the humidifier lid covers the inserted tub, the humidifier lid comprising at least one catch configured to be engaged to at least one latch on the humidifier chamber to maintain the humidifier lid in the closed position, and the humidifier lid comprises a seal configured to engage the tub when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, and wherein the tub lid is configured to be contacted by the seal when the humidifier lid is in the closed position;
an opening member provided for releasing the humidifier lid to allow the humidifier lid to be moved to the open position; and
a lid closure member comprising the at least one latch on the humidifier chamber,
the lid closure member being biased to a closed position,
wherein moving the opening member moves the lid closure member to an open position in which the at least one latch is moved to allow the at least one catch of the humidifier lid to be released from the at least one latch, the opening member moving along a first axis configured to be generally perpendicular to the sidewall of the flow generator when connected to the humidifier chamber,
wherein the heating plate is configured to heat the supply of water contained in the tub, and
wherein when the humidifier chamber is connected to the flow generator, the electrical connector on the at least one side wall of the humidifier chamber connects with the electrical connector on the side wall of the flow generator.
17. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the humidifier lid and the humidifier chamber are configured so that when the humidifier lid is in the closed position, the interior of the humidifier chamber is sealed off from atmosphere.
18. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the humidifier chamber insulates the tub to reduce heat loss to the surrounding.
19. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of latches on the at least one side wall of the humidifier chamber are biased into engagement with the plurality of catches on the side wall of the flow generator when the humidifier and the flow generator are detachably connected.
20. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein an aperture is provided in a wall of the humidifier chamber so that the water level in the tub can be seen.
21. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the tub base and the tub lid are detachable.
22. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the tub base is configured to be pressed against the heating plate when the humidifier lid is in the closed position.
23. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the tub comprises a flow plate between the tub base and the tub lid.
24. The respiratory apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the seal comprises:
an outer sealing rim configured to pressurize a volume of the tub base with the flow of the breathable gas, wherein the outer sealing rim includes an outer perimeter; and
an inner sealing rim disposed entirely within the outer perimeter of the outer sealing rim, the inner sealing rim including a substantially curvilinear perimeter.
25. The respiratory apparatus of claim 16 , wherein in the closed position, the flow of pressurized breathable gas is configured to enter the humidifier chamber along a second axis, and wherein the second axis is substantially parallel to the first axis.
26. The respiratory apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the tub base includes a cavity configured to contain the supply of water, the cavity being at least partially exposed in the open position, and being configured to receive additional water while the tub is positioned within the chamber base.
27. The respiratory apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one side wall of the humidifier chamber includes:
a bottom surface with the heating plate;
a back wall;
a front wall opposite the back wall; and
a first lateral side wall adjacent the flow generator and a second lateral side wall opposite the first lateral side wall, the first lateral side wall comprising the plurality of latches and the electrical connector of the humidifier.
28. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the tub lid comprises at least one tub lid latch configured to engage a rim on the tub base to connect the tub lid and the tub base.
29. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the tub is formed of a plastic material, a metal or a combination thereof.
30. The respiratory apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein an outlet of the humidifier comprises a tube connector that is connectable to an air delivery tube.