A micro-humidifier for operably-connecting to a breathing circuit contains a liquid feed, a liquid chamber operably-connected to the liquid feed, and a vapour generator operably-connected to the liquid chamber. The liquid chamber has a volume of from about 0.01 mL to about 30 mL. The micro-humidifier is operably-connected to and/or is designed to be operably-connected to a breathing circuit upstream of the patient. When the micro-humidifier is operably-connected to a breathing circuit, the vapour from the vapour generator enters into the breathing circuit. A respiratory humidification system contains the a breathing circuit and the micro-humidifier as described herein. The micro-humidifier is operably-connected to the breathing circuit upstream of the patient, and the vapour from the vapour generator enters into the breathing circuit.

A heater wire for removing condensation from a respiratory gas conduit is provided. The heater wire includes at least one groove disposed thereon. The heater wire is positioned in a respiratory gas conduit. The groove may wick up water from a condensation region within the respiratory gas conduit and transport the wicked up water from the condensation region to a re-evaporation region. The wicked up water may be evaporated by a hot surface of the wire.

Devices disclosed herein relate to humidification systems for making humidified ventilator air. The humidification system provides an elongated air path that increases both the surface area and time for air-water interaction, and thus increases efficiency of humidification. The humidification system also enables even distribution of heat and inhibition of bacterial growth within the system, thus improves comfort and safety for patients receiving respiratory therapy. Device disclosed herein also relates to tubing for delivering humidified ventilator air. The tubing includes an air passage and a heat blanket that envelops and warms up the air passage. The tubing thus prevents or decreases water condensation and loss of humidity of humidified air.

There is provided a respiratory support device for providing air to a subject via a patient interface. The respiratory support device comprises a conduit system, a humidifier, a blower, and a water collection unit. The conduit system has a first outlet configured to be coupled to the patient interface. The humidifier is adapted to humidify a first flow of air. The blower is arranged to generate a second flow of air. The water collection unit is adapted to collect water from the second flow of air. The conduit system is adapted to convey the first flow of air via the humidifier to the first outlet. The conduit system is adapted to convey the second flow of air via the water collection unit. Further, there is provided a method for using a respiratory support device.

A device and a process for the heating and humidification of gas, especially respiratory gas. Fluid from a fluid reservoir is supplied to a sprinkling type chamber where, for the purpose of humidification, it is moved through the gas. The point is that the fluid is heated by a temperature controlled heater to a preset temperature. In addition to the description of the device, a description of the process underlying the operation of the device is described.

Devices disclosed herein relate to humidification systems for making humidified ventilator air. The humidification system provides an elongated air path that increases both the surface area and time for air-water interaction, and thus increases efficiency of humidification. The humidification system also enables even distribution of heat and inhibition of bacterial growth within the system, thus improves comfort and safety for patients receiving respiratory therapy. Device disclosed herein also relates to tubing for delivering humidified ventilator air. The tubing includes an air passage and a heat blanket that envelops and warms up the air passage. The tubing thus prevents or decreases water condensation and loss of humidity of humidified air.

A pressure support device includes a humidification system (10) to control the humidity of a pressurized flow of breathable gas generated by the pressure support device. The humidification system includes a liquid storage chamber (32) and a humidification chamber (34). When in an operational orientation, liquid travels from the liquid storage chamber to the humidification chamber through a serpentine feed path (38) due to gravity. The serpentine shape of feed path halts the flow of liquid responsive to the device being tilted out of an operational orientation.

A humidifier comprises a water reservoir and a reservoir dock configured to receive the water reservoir in an operative position. The water reservoir is configured to hold a volume of liquid. The water reservoir includes a chamber and a single conduit providing an inner opening arranged within the chamber. The reservoir dock includes a dock inlet conduit arranged to receive the flow of air from the RPT device. The dock inlet conduit is structured and arranged to extend within the single conduit of the water reservoir when the water reservoir reaches the operative position such that the dock inlet conduit and the single conduit at least partially overlap one another. The dock inlet conduit includes an inner opening arranged adjacent the inner opening of the single conduit when the water reservoir reaches the operative position, the inner openings of the dock inlet conduit and the single conduit arranged to provide an inlet for the flow of air into the chamber and an outlet for delivering a humidified flow of air from the chamber.

A humidifier comprises a water reservoir and a reservoir dock configured to receive the water reservoir in an operative position. The water reservoir is configured to hold a volume of liquid. The water reservoir includes a chamber and a single conduit providing an inner opening arranged within the chamber. The reservoir dock includes a dock inlet conduit arranged to receive the flow of air from the RPT device. The dock inlet conduit is structured and arranged to extend within the single conduit of the water reservoir when the water reservoir reaches the operative position such that the dock inlet conduit and the single conduit at least partially overlap one another. The dock inlet conduit includes an inner opening arranged adjacent the inner opening of the single conduit when the water reservoir reaches the operative position, the inner openings of the dock inlet conduit and the single conduit arranged to provide an inlet for the flow of air into the chamber and an outlet for delivering a humidified flow of air from the chamber.

The present invention includes devices that relate to, for example, humidification systems for making humidified ventilator air that include a transparent or semi-transparent polymer-based heating element sleeve or sheet for the insulation of a tube delivering heated and humidified gas to a subject, comprising: a self-regulated heater and self-limiting heater, wherein the tubing is enveloped by the transparent heating sleeve, wherein the heating sleeve maintains at least one of: rates of relative humidity, absolute humidity and gas temperature, and wherein the heating sleeve envelops the tubing of inspiratory or expiratory limbs or ports connected to a mechanical ventilator providing gas to a subject.