Respiratory humidifier

Claim 2

A humidifier assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising: a heater housing; heater means mounted on said heater housing, said heater means having an exposed heated surface for contacting liquid water in a direct heat transfer relationship therewith; a hollow shell, means on said shell and on said heater housing for removably fastening said shell to said housing, said housing including an inlet for breathable gas and an outlet for humidified breathable gas; a partition wall means at least partially formed by a hydrophobic filter means, in the hollow shell and defining together with the shell a humidification chamber that communicates with said gas inlet and said gas outlet, said filter means being positioned for passing water vapor into the breathable gas, and the partition wall together with said hollow shell and said housing defining a water-tight but water-vapor permeable liquid water reservoir between said filter means and said heated surface; and liquid water supply means connected to said hollow shell and communicating directly with said water-tight reservoir; said liquid water supply means providing liquid water in the water-tight reservoir and partially filling said reservoir and covering said heated surface, said heated surface converting a portion of said liquid water to water vapor, and a part of said reservoir above said liquid water receiving said water vapor, and said water vapor passing from the water-tight reservoir through said filter means and into said humidification chamber.

Claim 3

The humidifier assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a water drain means on said shell and communicating with said water reservoir.

Claim 4

The humidifier assembly of claim 1, wherein the humidifier assembly is included in a humidification system, the humidifier assembly further comprising a second heater means disposed within the humidification chamber to modulate compliance of the humidification system.

Claim 5

A humidifer assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising (1) a housing wall forming an interior enclosure; (2) a partition wall extending across said interior enclosure and connected for support to said housing wall, said partition wall having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being connected to said housing wall and being impermeable to liquid and vapor, said second portion being connected to said first portion and being formed by a filter which is vapor permeable; (3) said partition wall separating said interior enclosure into a reservoir chamber and a humidification chamber; (4) a heater mounted in said reservoir chamber; (5) a gas inlet and a gas outlet formed in said housing wall and in communication with said humidification chamber; and (6) liquid supply means extending through said housing wall for conducting a liquid to said reservoir chamber and filling said reservoir chamber with liquid to a level which is above said heater.

Claim 6

A humidifer assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising (1) a housing wall forming an interior enclosure; (2) a partition wall extending across said interior enclosure and connected for support to said housing wall, said partition wall having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being connected to said housing wall and being impermeable to liquid and vapor, said second portion being connected to said first portion and being formed by a filter which is vapor permeable; (3) said partition wall separating said interior enclosure into a reservoir chamber and a humidification chamber; (4) a heater mounted in said reservoir chamber; (5) a gas inlet and a gas outlet formed in said housing wall and in communication with said humidification chamber; and (6) liquid supply means extending through said housing wall for conducting a liquid to said reservoir chamber and filling said reservoir chamber with liquid to a level which is above said heater.

Claim 7

An assembly according to claim 4, and further including a second heater mounted in said humidification chamber.

Claim 8

An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said partition wall is removably and replaceably mounted on said housing wall.

Claim 9

An assembly according to claim 4, wherein said housing wall is formed by a heater part and a shell part, said parts being detachably connected together, said heater being mounted on said heater part, and said partition wall being mounted on said shell part.

Claim 10

An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said partition wall is removably mounted on said shell part.

Claim 11

An assembly according to claim 7, wherein said liquid supply means extends through said shell part.

Claim 12

An assembly for use with a heater housing in a humidifier, comprising a shell wall, inlet and outlet passages formed in said shell wall for flow of a breathable gas to be humidified, said shell wall having an open side, a filter wall extending across said open side and attached to said shell wall, at least a portion of said filter wall being formed by a filter which is vapor permeable, said shell wall including a rim portion and connecting means on said rim portion for removably attaching said shell wall to a housing part that includes a heater, and liquid supply means extending through said shell wall between said filter wall and said rim portion, said assembly thereby being adapted to be removably attached to the housing part that includes a heater for direct heating of the liquid.

Claim 13

An assembly for use with a heater housing in a humidifier, comprising a shell wall, inlet and outlet passages formed in said shell wall for flow of a breathable gas to be humidified, said shell wall having an open side, a filter wall extending across said open side and attached to said shell wall, at least a portion of said filter wall being formed by a filter which is vapor permeable, said shell wall including a rim portion and connecting means on said rim portion for removably attaching said shell wall to a housing part that includes a heater, and liquid supply means extending through said shell wall between said filter wall and said rim portion, said assembly thereby being adapted to be removably attached to the housing part that includes a heater for direct heating of the liquid.

Claim 14

An assembly according to claim 10, wherein said filter wall is removably attached to said shell wall and to said liquid supply means.

Claim 15

An assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising: (1) a heater housing; (2) an electric heater mounted on one side of said housing, said heater having an exposed surface for contacting liquid water. (3) a cup-shaped shell having a bottom side, a gas inlet opening and a gas outlet opening formed in said bottom side, said shell further having an open interior space, an open side and a rim at said open side; (4) a partition wall mounted within said interior space of said shell adjacent said open side, said partition wall and said bottom side of said shell forming an enclosed humidification chamber, said partition wall including a first portion which is water vapor permeable and liquid water impermeable, and a second portion which is water vapor and liquid water impermeable; (5) fastening means on said heater housing and on said rim of said shell forming a sealed releasable connection between said shell and said heater housing; (6) said shell, said partition wall and said heater housing together forming a liquid water reservoir which encloses said heater; and (7) a liquid water supply inlet means connected to said shell for conducting liquid water directly into said water reservoir and partially filling said reservoir with liquid water to a level which is above said heater; (8) whereby in operation of the assembly the heater heats the water and forms heated water vapor in said reservoir and said heated water vapor flows through said water vapor permeable first portion of said partition wall and into said humidification chamber.

Claim 16

An assembly for humidifying a breathable gas, comprising: (1) a heater housing; (2) an electric heater mounted on one side of said housing, said heater having an exposed surface for contacting liquid water. (3) a cup-shaped shell having a bottom side, a gas inlet opening and a gas outlet opening formed in said bottom side, said shell further having an open interior space, an open side and a rim at said open side; (4) a partition wall mounted within said interior space of said shell adjacent said open side, said partition wall and said bottom side of said shell forming an enclosed humidification chamber, said partition wall including a first portion which is water vapor permeable and liquid water impermeable, and a second portion which is water vapor and liquid water impermeable; (5) fastening means on said heater housing and on said rim of said shell forming a sealed releasable connection between said shell and said heater housing; (6) said shell, said partition wall and said heater housing together forming a liquid water reservoir which encloses said heater; and (7) a liquid water supply inlet means connected to said shell for conducting liquid water directly into said water reservoir and partially filling said reservoir with liquid water to a level which is above said heater; (8) whereby in operation of the assembly the heater heats the water and forms heated water vapor in said reservoir and said heated water vapor flows through said water vapor permeable first portion of said partition wall and into said humidification chamber.

Claim 17

An assembly according to claim 12, wherein said water supply inlet means is connected to said shell between said partition wall and said rim.

Claim 18

An assembly according to claim 12, wherein said second portion of said partition wall extends to above the level of the liquid water in said water reservoir.

Claim 19

An assembly according to claim 12, and further including a second heater mounted in said humidification chamber.

Claim 20

An assembly according to claim 12, and further including means on said shell and on said partition wall for removably mounting said partition wall in said shell.