HUMIDIFICATION INTERFACE ARRANGEMENTS
An apparatus for generating and providing a pressurized breathable gas to a patient's airways includes a respiratory pressure therapy (RPT) device having an engagement port pneumatically and electrically coupled to the RPT device, and an air delivery tube configured to engage the engagement port so as to pass a flow of breathable gas to a patient interface. The air delivery tube includes electric contacts associated with a heating and/or a sensing arrangement. The air delivery tube includes a locking collar rotatably movable between (1) an unlocked position to allow connection/disconnection of the air delivery tube to/from the engagement port, and (2) a locked position to releasably lock the air delivery tube to the engagement port. The air delivery tube is structured and arranged to, when the locking collar is rotated into the locked position, pneumatically connect to the engagement port and define an operational configuration of the apparatus.
1 - 8 . (canceled)
9 . An apparatus for humidifying a flow of breathable gas, comprising:
a water reservoir including a cavity configured to hold a volume of water;
a water reservoir dock configured to receive the water reservoir in an operative position; and
an air delivery tube configured to pass the flow of breathable gas that has been humidified in the water reservoir to a patient interface,
wherein, upon insertion into the water reservoir dock in an operative position, the air delivery tube is configured to form a direct pneumatic connection with the water reservoir when the water reservoir is in the operative position, and
wherein the air delivery tube is configured to interface with the water reservoir to releasably lock the air delivery tube to the water reservoir dock in the operative position.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the air delivery tube includes a recess configured to receive a locking protrusion protruding from the water reservoir to releasably lock the air delivery tube to the water reservoir dock in the operative position.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the water reservoir must first be removed from the water reservoir dock in order to release the locking protrusion from the recess thereby allowing the air delivery tube to be removed from the water reservoir dock.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the direct pneumatic connection is dependent on the air delivery tube being connected to the water reservoir dock before connection of the water reservoir to the water reservoir dock.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the air delivery tube includes one or more contacts configured to engage with contacts provided to the water reservoir dock to provide an electrical connection.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the air delivery tube is configured to form the electrical and pneumatic connections in series.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the air delivery tube includes a dock connector including a cuff body, and the one or more contacts are provided to a superior side of the cuff body.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the dock connector includes a pair of resilient, pinch arms configured to form a snap-fit connection with the water reservoir dock.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the dock connector includes an inlet portion configured to interface with the water reservoir, the inlet portion including an inlet tube and a flange arranged at a free end of the inlet tube.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the inlet portion is curved along its length such that an inlet opening of the inlet portion forms an axis that is angled with respect to an insertion axis along which the dock connector is moved to engage with the water reservoir.