Systems, methods, and devices for humidifying a breathing gas using a vapor transfer unit are presented. The method includes providing a first vapor transfer unit having a gas passage and a liquid passage, delivering a liquid to the liquid passage, delivering a gas to the gas passage, humidifying the gas by delivering vapor from the liquid in the liquid passage to the gas in the gas passage, exiting the humidified gas outside the vapor transfer unit at first relative humidity and at a high gas flow rate, and reducing the gas flow rate through the first vapor transfer unit to less than a low gas flow rate, while preventing the relative humidity from exceeding the first relative humidity by more than an acceptable margin.

An exchanger conduit permits temperature and/or humidity conditioning of a gas for a patient respiratory interface. In an example embodiment, a conduit has a first channel and a second channel where the first channel is configured to conduct an inspiratory gas and the second channel configured to conduct an expiratory gas. An exchanger is positioned along the first channel and the second channel to separate the first channel and the second channel. The exchanger is configured to transfer a component (e.g., temperature or humidity) of the gas of the second channel to the gas of the first channel. In some embodiments, an optional flow resistor may be implemented to permit venting at pressures above atmospheric pressure so as to allow pressure stenting of a patient respiratory system without a substantial direct flow from a flow generator of respiratory treatment apparatus to the patient during patient expiration.

A respiratory assistance device including a respiratory interface device configured to be worn by a user and deliver a gas, a gas temperature measurement unit configured to measure a gas temperature that is a temperature of the gas, a warming unit configured to warm the gas, and a temperature change unit configured to change the gas temperature by controlling the warming unit. The respiratory assistance device can administer comfortable respiratory assistance even during sleep.

An exchanger conduit permits temperature and/or humidity conditioning of a gas for a patient respiratory interface. In an example embodiment, a conduit has a first channel and a second channel where the first channel is configured to conduct an inspiratory gas and the second channel configured to conduct an expiratory gas. An exchanger is positioned along the first channel and the second channel to separate the first channel and the second channel. The exchanger is configured to transfer a component (e.g., temperature or humidity) of the gas of the second channel to the gas of the first channel. In some embodiments, an optional flow resistor may be implemented to permit venting at pressures above atmospheric pressure so as to allow pressure stenting of a patient respiratory system without a substantial direct flow from a flow generator of respiratory treatment apparatus to the patient during patient expiration.

A dispensing device for dispensing anesthetic in a breathing gas stream includes a flow duct (42) for an anesthetic-containing breathing gas stream, a control unit (5) and a first temperature sensor (54). An anesthetic feed device (45) has an evaporation surface (46) arranged in the flow duct (42). The first temperature sensor (54) detects the temperature of the evaporation surface (46) and sends a first temperature signal (T1) to the control unit (5). A second temperature sensor (53) detects the temperature of the breathing gas stream in the flow duct (42) and sends a second temperature signal (T2) to the control unit (5). The control unit (5) is configured to determine an anesthetic concentration based on the first and second temperature signals (T1, T2).

Systems, methods, and devices for humidifying a breathing gas are presented. The system includes a source of pressurized breathing gas, a vapor transfer unit external to the source of pressurized breathing gas, a first gas tube connecting the source of pressurized breathing gas to the gas inlet of the vapor transfer unit and having a first length, a liquid supply having a heater that heats liquid, a first liquid tube coupling the liquid supply to the liquid inlet of the vapor transfer unit, and a second gas tube having a second length and connecting the gas outlet to a patient interface. The first length is greater than the second length. The vapor transfer unit includes a gas passage, a liquid passage, and a membrane separating the gas passage and the liquid passage. The membrane is positioned to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage.

Apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient, the apparatus comprising: a respiratory pressure therapy device configured to generate a flow of air for treating the respiratory disorder, said flow of air being at a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure; an air circuit adapted to transport said flow of air generated by said respiratory pressure therapy device to a patient interface, said air circuit having a proximal end connectable to said respiratory pressure therapy device and a distal end connectable to said patient interface; a nebuliser module located at or adjacent to said proximal end of said air circuit, said nebuliser module adapted to nebulise a liquid to form a nebula of said liquid, and to admit said nebula into said flow of air generated by said respiratory pressure therapy device; and a vaporiser located at said distal end of said air circuit, said vaporiser adapted to receive said nebula and further adapted to vaporise said nebula to form a humidified flow of air. Also, a method for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient, the method comprising the steps of: generating a flow of air for treating the respiratory disorder in a respiratory pressure therapy device, said flow of air being at a positive pressure with respect to ambient pressure; nebulising a liquid retained in a water reservoir to form a nebula of said liquid, and admitting said nebula to said flow of air; transporting said flow of air and said nebula over an air circuit; receiving said flow of air and said nebula in a vaporiser module; vaporising said nebula to form a vapour of said liquid; mixing said air flow with said vapour in said vaporiser module to form a humidified flow of air; receiving said humidified flow of air in a patient interface; and delivering said humidified flow of air to said patient for treatment of said respiratory disorder.

A humidifier is combined with a continuous positive airway pressure device. The continuous positive airway pressure is surrounded by a housing; the humidifier comprises a chamber defined by the continuous positive airway pressure device housing and a wall between the chamber and the continuous positive airway pressure device. The chamber includes a removable air-tight lid, wherein the chamber is filled with a mass transfer medium capable of reversibly absorbing water and wherein air can pass through the mass transfer medium and water is dissolved into the passing air. The chamber can be integrally connected within the continuous positive airway pressure device housing further including a first hose adapter to connect the chamber to an air outlet of a continuous positive airway pressure device whereby air passes from the continuous positive airway pressure device through the chamber and mass transfer medium, thereby humidifying the air, and wherein the humidified air passes through the second hose adapter towards a patient.

The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to providing breathing gas at a high velocity to a patient using a base unit and an auxiliary unit configured to be removably disposed on or at least partially in the base unit. The base unit has several couplings for improved control and sensing of the auxiliary unit and its components, wherein the couplings are configured to be non-contact with the corresponding components of the auxiliary unit and/or otherwise configured to minimize operational defects or improve efficiency. Non-contact couplings include induction heating, capacitive level sensing, a magnetically coupled rotor pump. RFID tag and reader, and Hall effect sensing. The breathing gas can be provided at high velocities by setting breathing gas flowrates based on dimensions of a nasal cannula used to direct the breathing gas into a patient's nares.

A vaporizer and vaporizer cartridge for inhaling vapors from vaporized oil. The vaporizer has a mouthpiece for use by a user to inhale the vapors. The mouthpiece is connected to a cartridge which contains the oil to be vaporized and the apparatus for vaporizing the oil. The vaporizer cartridge contains a reservoir of the oil which flows down to a wick, which is heated by a heating coil to a temperature necessary to vaporize the oil. Under the wick is a residue basin which collects any oil which fails to vaporize. The residue basin is placed at an optimal distance from the wick such that when the next user initiates another draw on the vaporizer, the un-vaporized oil in the residue basin is vaporized. Below the cartridge is a battery component that provides power to a heating coil which heats the wick to vaporize the oil. Air flows up from below the cartridge on one side, then cross-flows across the wick and residue basin, and up the other side of the cartridge to the mouthpiece.