Methods and devices in the field of treatment with medical gases

1. Humidifier for humidifying medical gases for use in therapy of a patient, comprising a humidification module including a control unit, wherein the humidification module is adapted for receiving a range of different kinds of humidification chambers, and wherein the humidification module is further adapted to sense and/or receive information upon connection of the humidification chamber.

2. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module is further adapted to sense and/or receive information upon connection of additional equipment including hoses and/or a power supply pack.

3. Humidifier according to claim 1 , further including one of the range of different kinds of humidification chambers coupled to the humidification module.

4. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the different kinds of humidification chambers differ by their humidification concept.

5. Humidifier according to claim 4 , wherein the humidification concepts include pass-over humidification, counter-flow humidification, humidification by fluid contact by means of membranes, flash evaporation, bubble humidification and/or wick evaporation, wherein these and/or additional concepts include concepts where liquid and/or gas is moved.

6. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module comprises an interface for mechanically and/or operationally coupling with different kinds of humidification chambers.

7. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module comprises a sensor to sense the kind of humidification chamber connected therewith.

8. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises different kinds of operating modes and/or operating algorithms, each operating mode being adapted to specifically operate a humidification chamber.

9. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein, the humidifier is adapted to operate in an operation mode and/or operating algorithm depending on the kind of and/or on a specific humidification chamber coupled to the humidifier module.

10. Humidifier according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to adapt and/or select an operating mode and/or control algorithm for humidification depending on the humidification chamber sensed by the humidification module.

11. Humidifier according to claim 6 , wherein the interface operates by means of mechanical, wired, and/or wireless transmission of information, such information preferably including identification information and/or operation information.

12. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module comprises interfaces for sensing or exchanging information with a connected humidification chamber, the interfaces including one or more of mechanical interface, wired interface including electrical interface, magnetic interface, and wireless interface including optical interface.

13. Humidifier according to claim 1 , further comprising a connection for an external power supply unit or an external battery.

14. Humidifier according to claim 1 , further adapted to operate additional equipment including one or more respiratory hoses and/or a heating sheath.

15. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification chamber comprises identification features allowing identification of the specific kind of humidification chamber and/or a specific humidification chamber by the humidifier.

16. Humidifier according to claim 15 , wherein the identification features are provided by one or more interfaces provided on the humidification module.

17. Humidifier according to claim 15 , wherein the identification features include demand- or power-associated identification features sensed via a power demand of the humidification chamber.

18. Humidifier according to claim 15 , wherein the humidifier is adapted to automatically recognize the humidification chamber connected based on the identification features being unique for each kind of humidification chamber and/or humidification concept; and/or input data;

and to select and/or adapt an operation mode and/or an operation algorithm accordingly.

19. Humidifier according to claim 18 , wherein an operating mode and/or control algorithm for humidification includes parameters being dependent on the kind of and/or individual humidification chamber and/or on an individual application, which can be adjusted, the parameters including a maximum lifetime of an individual humidification chamber, a maximum temperature of the heating plate and/or an allocation of priorities.

20. Humidifier according to claim 9 , wherein an operating mode and/or control algorithm for humidification includes an allocation of priorities, including prioritizing heating of an inspiration tube vis-à-vis heating of an expiration tube in case a power supply does not allow parallel heating of both the inspiration tube and the expiration tube to a desired extent.

21. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification chamber includes an amplitude- and/or frequency-modulated electromagnet for driving a fluid movement device, of different humidification chambers and/or of different humidification concepts.

22. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module comprises a water heater including a heating plate, an induction heater and/or a radiation heater, and/or wherein the humidification module is adapted to connect to and control a heater arranged downstream of a gas flow and close to the patient.

23. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module comprises connections for connecting to sensors provided in and/or on the humidification chamber, and/or wherein the humidification module comprises sensors adapted to be connected to the humidification chamber comprising respective connections.

24. Humidifier according to claim 1 , comprising a power supply unit being separate and external from the humidification module.

25. Humidifier according to claim 24 , wherein the humidifier is adapted to sense a power supply unit or a battery by means of wired or wireless communication of identification characteristics.

26. Humidifier according to claim 10 , wherein the operating mode and/or control algorithm for humidification includes alarm and/or failure prevention functions, depending on an individual humidification chamber connected to the humidification module, including overload and/or excess heating prevention by means of power output adjustment, limitation and/or prioritization.

27. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidification module comprises a plurality of interfaces for feeding and/or controlling external components, including heated tubes, heated collars and/or sheaths.

28. Humidifier according to claim 25 , wherein the humidifier is adapted to individually measure the power consumption or output power for each of a plurality of interfaces, to allow an adapted power output and/or overloading of the power supply or control module.

29. Humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the humidifier comprises interfaces for communication with other medical devices wherein the humidifier is adapted to control and operate the other medical devices, including monitoring systems and/or blowers.

30. Humidification chamber including information on an individual kind of humidification system applied and being adapted to allow humidifier according to claim 1 to sense or receive said information.

31. Humidifier set comprising a humidifier according to claim 1 , as well as at least two humidification chambers being of different kinds and/or humidification concepts.

32. Humidifier according to claim 1 , further comprising an optical interface for sensing and/or conveying optical information, the optical interface being arranged to be directed to the humidification chamber such that the humidification chamber is illuminated.

33. Humidifier according to claim 32 , wherein the optical interface provides optical information on operating parameters, operating conditions, and/or alarms.

34. Humidifier according to claim 32 , wherein the optical information is associated with colors, intensity, and/or light or illumination patterns.

35. Humidifier according to claim 34 , wherein a first color is used to indicate an error and a second color is used to indicate correct functioning.

36. Humidifier according to claim 35 , wherein the first color is red and/or the second color is green.

37. Humidifier according to claim 34 , wherein the humidifier is adapted to allow the patient to set the color, intensity and/or illumination pattern for the optical information.

38. Humidifier according to claim 34 , wherein the illumination patterns and/or the intensity is preset in the control unit.

39. Method for adapting operation of a humidifier, including sensing of identification features of a humidification chamber by a humidifier comprising a humidification module and a humidification control unit, and choosing and/or adapting, automatically, an operating mode and/or control algorithm for humidification depending on the identification features sensed by the humidifier.