The present invention relates to a humidifier (10) for a system for providing a flow of breathable gas to an airway of a patient, wherein the humidifier (10) comprises: a casing (12) configured to contain a liquid reservoir (20); an air inlet (14) which is arranged at the casing (12); an air outlet (16) which is arranged at the casing (12); and a flow passage (18) connecting the air inlet (14) with the air outlet (16), wherein the flow passage (18) is in fluidic communication with the liquid reservoir (20), and wherein the humidifier (10) comprises a heat pipe (24) having a hot end (26) and a cold end (28), wherein the hot end (26) of the heat pipe (24) is arranged outside the casing (12) and the cold end (28) of the heat pipe (24) is arranged in the liquid reservoir (20).

A user interface of a respiratory therapy system includes a strap assembly, a frame, a connector, and a sensor. The strap assembly is positioned about a head of a user when the user wears the user interface. The frame is physically and electrically connected to the strap assembly, and defines an aperture. The connector has a first end portion and second end portion. The first end portion of the connector can be positioned within the aperture of the frame such that the connector is physically and electrically connected to the frame. The sensor is coupled to the strap assembly or the frame such that the sensor abuts a target area of the user when the user wears the user interface.

A nebulizer device aerosolizes (or vaporizes) liquid drawn from a liquid reservoir via a fluid flow path into a nebulization chamber. An inlet port is coupled to an external air supply and leads through a check valve and Venturi nozzle (e.g. a duckbill valve) into the chamber to direct an air stream across an opening of the fluid flow path. A discharge port leads from the chamber to a user mask, mouthpiece or canula, where the aerosol or vapor mixture can be inhaled. A filtered outlet port isolates exhaled material from the external environment. Multiple discrete heating elements may be placed around the fluid flow path to preheat the liquid. If the liquid is sufficiently volatile, heating may vaporize the material which can condense back into an aerosol after mixing with the air stream. A set of check valves direct one-way fluid flow and prevent leakage or spillage of material from the device.

Apparatus and methods for delivering humidified breathing gas to a patient are provided. The apparatus includes a humidification system configured to deliver humidified breathing gas to a patient. The humidification system includes a vapor transfer unit and a base unit. The vapor transfer unit includes a liquid passage, a breathing gas passage, and a vapor transfer device positioned to transfer vapor to the breathing gas passage from the liquid passage. The base unit includes a base unit that releasably engages the vapor transfer unit to enable reuse of the base unit and selective disposal of the vapor transfer unit. The liquid passage is not coupled to the base unit for liquid flow therebetween when the vapor transfer unit is received by the base unit.

An apparatus for delivering a flow of gas has a housing, a cover, and a magnetic coupling system arranged to magnetically couple the cover—to the housing. Each of the housing and cover having complementary locating features, the locating features being adapted to locate and align the cover and the apparatus relative to each other to allow for the magnetic coupling. The apparatus also has a handle movably connected to the housing and is movable from a first position to a second position. The housing and the handle comprise complementary interlock features arranged to engage with each other when upward force is applied to the handle in the second position, and the interlock features are disengaged from each other when the handle is in the second position but upward force is not applied to the handle.

An apparatus or kit for a respiratory support system for delivering humidified gas to a user or patient. The apparatus comprising a humidifier chamber in pneumatic communication with a gases source, an inspiratory conduit in pneumatic communication with the humidifier chamber downstream of the humidifier chamber, a filter that is in pneumatic communication with the inspiratory conduit downstream of the inspiratory conduit, and a patient interface for delivering humidified gas to a user or patient, wherein the patient interface is in pneumatic communication with the filter downstream of the filter, or is configured to be placed in pneumatic communication with the filter downstream of the filter.

A heatable conduit for use in a respiratory apparatus for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a first segment comprising one or more heater wires and a second segment comprising one or more heater wires. Each of the first and second segments comprises a spirally wound elongate body. In addition, the one or more heater wires of the first and second segments are configured to be connected in use to at least one controller such that, in a first mode, power is provided to the one or more heater wires of the first segment and no power is provided to the one or more heater wires of the second segment.

A breathing assistance apparatus has a pressurised gases source featuring a lightweight impeller with a plastic shaft. The impeller is shroudless. The plastic shaft is supported within the stator by a bearing structure. A resilient motor mount couples the statos and the housing and provide compliance and/or damping for the motor.

Automation for a system and/or method detects and/or controls treatment of inspiratory flow limitation. The system may include a flow rate sensor configured to generate a signal representing a respiratory flow rate of a patient. It may include a recording device configured to record the generated respiratory flow rate signal during a diagnosis session. It may include a computing device (7040) configured to detect a degree of inspiratory flow limitation of the patient on the recorded respiratory flow rate signal. The method may include extracting an inspiratory portion of each breath during a detection and/or monitoring session from a respiratory flow rate signal of the patient, calculating a feature vector from each inspiratory flow portion, labelling each feature vector as flow limited or not flow limited, and/or computing a metric based on the labels, the metric indicating the degree of inspiratory flow limitation of the patient during the session.

Detection of unintentional air leaks in a user interface (e.g., mask) of a respiratory therapy system (e.g., a positive air pressure device) is disclosed. One or more sensors (e.g., within a computing device, such as a smartphone) can be moved around relative to the user interface to determine a location and/or intensity of an air leak. The computing device can provide feedback regarding the location and/or intensity of the air leak to facilitate the user locating the air leak, and thus correcting the air leak. In some cases, augmented reality annotations can be overlaid on an image (e.g., live image) of the user wearing the user interface to identify the location of the air leak. The system can automatically detect the type of user interface being used and can provide tailored guidance for reducing the air leaks.