The invention relates to an inhaler component for forming a vapor-air mixture and/or condensation aerosol by vaporizing a liquid material and optionally condensing the vapor formed, including: a heating element for vaporizing a portion of the liquid material; a wick for automatically supplying the liquid material to the heating element, wherein the wick includes at least two end sections arranged apart from each other; a first capillary gap for automatically supplying the liquid material to the wick, wherein a first end section of the wick projects into the first capillary gap. In order that the heating element can be supplied more quickly and more reliably with the liquid material, a second capillary gap is provided, which receives therein the second end section of the wick.

A medical humidifier for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a humidification chamber, a reservoir and a water delivery mechanism. The humidification chamber may include a water retention feature such as a wick, a heating element for heating the humidification chamber, and an air flow baffle configured to promote humidification. The humidifier may be further configured to execute one or more algorithms, for example to determine a condition of the humidifier and/or to mitigate any detected faults. In some forms, the humidifier may also comprise algorithms for controlling one or more components of the humidifier.

A medical humidifier for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a humidification chamber, a reservoir and a water delivery mechanism. The humidification chamber may include a water retention feature such as a wick, a heating element for heating the humidification chamber, and an air flow baffle configured to promote humidification. The humidifier may be further configured to execute one or more algorithms, for example to determine a condition of the humidifier and/or to mitigate any detected faults. In some forms, the humidifier may also comprise algorithms for controlling one or more components of the humidifier.

A humidification system has a tube configured to transport gases. The tube is configured to be soaked prior to use and has a bead to hold liquid. Heat applied to the bead causes the liquid to be released as vapour. Gases flowing through the tube are heated and humidified by the vapour.

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.

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.

A humidification system has a tube configured to transport gases. The tube is configured to be soaked prior to use and has a bead to hold liquid. Heat applied to the bead causes the liquid to be released as vapour. Gases flowing through the tube are heated and humidified by the vapour.

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.

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.

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.