An improved system and method of monitoring the operation of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system. A controllable load can be connected across output terminals to a tube heating element to test the operation of a tube heating element supply circuit. A range of tests may be performed by controlling the state of one or more components and monitoring one or more sensors. Tests may be performed either during or not during therapy and either with a gas supply tube connected or not. Transient currents may also be detected and the power supply to a tube heating element can be stopped where transient currents outside a permitted range are detected.

An improved system and method of controlling the operation of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system that can provide humidified gases of substantially constant humidity in dependence upon only one monitored variable, being signals received from a temperature sensor. A power controller can be configured to control a level of power supplied to a heater plate in dependence upon heater plate temperature and a humidity profile so as to drive an operating point of the humidifier towards the humidity profile. The rate of change of a heater plate temperature setpoint can be variably controlled in dependence upon a heater plate temperature setpoint and heater plate temperature.

An apparatus and method for providing heat exchange in the lungs of the mammal during partial liquid ventilation are provided. The apparatus and method can control delivery and removal of partial liquid ventilation to the lungs of a mammal by responding to pressure change in the lungs to minimize danger of causing barotrauma to the patient.

A steam room for sanitizing people's external body parts and clothes, but also their breathing airways and respiratory tract, to reduce viral load and thereby mitigate the likelihood of spreading or contracting Viral contamination. Steam room has precise temperature and relative humidity control of a heater and mist generator, in which the mist water molecules contain an accurate concentration of a Chlorine or Ethanol based disinfectant, so that the water vapor or combined air/water mixture in the room that comes in contact with the sanitized person reaches but does not surpass the globally permitted concentration of free Chlorine for swimming pools, dressing rooms and spas. The room has thermally isolated quick doors allowing rapid entry and exit, and the signaling to guide the person when to enter, stay and breath, and exit, in the most suitable timing profile for the application.

A respiratory humidification device includes: a casing; a separator wall to divide an interior space into filling and humidification chambers, wherein a bottom edge of the separator wall leaves a space between it and the casing bottom to define a passage allowing water to flow atop the casing bottom between the chambers, and enabling the water level to rise enough to block the passage to prevent respiratory gas from passing therethrough; a valve and float within the filling chamber to control water flow into the filling chamber to prevent the water level from rising higher than a threshold; and wherein an outer wall of the casing and the separator wall cooperate with the water surface within the humidification chamber to define an elongate tube-like pathway through which respiratory gas proceeds along a path extending generally parallel to the water surface within the humidification chamber to be humidified.

New medical circuit components and methods for forming such components are disclosed. These components include microstructures for humidification and/or condensate management. The disclosed microstructures can be incorporated into a variety of components, including tubes (e.g., inspiratory breathing tubes and expiratory breathing tubes and other tubing between various elements of a breathing circuit, such as ventilators, humidifiers, filters, water traps, sample lines, connectors, gas analyzers, and the like), Y-connectors, catheter mounts, humidifiers, and patient interfaces (e.g., masks for covering the nose and face, nasal masks, cannulas, nasal pillows, etc.), floats, probes, and sensors in a variety of medical circuits.

The present invention discloses a novel Automatic CPAP humidifier water chamber refilling and sanitizing system wherein contrary to the traditional approach of standard water chambers, which dry out and run out of water relatively quickly, the claimed assembly provides a constant and on-demand supply of fresh, clean and sanitized water to the CPAP water chamber; and keeps the CPAP water chamber constantly full and prevents the user from feeling discomfort associated with a dry water chamber. The proposed assembly can hold around 3 Liters of water and can supply the CPAP water chamber for many days depending on the CPAP user humidifier settings, for an estimated 7 to 10 days.

A respiratory humidification device includes: a casing; a separator wall to divide an interior space into filling and humidification chambers, wherein a bottom edge of the separator wall leaves a space between it and the casing bottom to define a passage allowing water to flow atop the casing bottom between the chambers, and enabling the water level to rise enough to block the passage to prevent respiratory gas from passing therethrough; a valve and float within the filling chamber to control water flow into the filling chamber to prevent the water level from rising higher than a threshold; and wherein an outer wall of the casing and the separator wall cooperate with the water surface within the humidification chamber to define an elongate tube-like pathway through which respiratory gas proceeds along a path extending generally parallel to the water surface within the humidification chamber to be humidified.

An apparatus and method for providing heat exchange in the lungs of the mammal during partial liquid ventilation are provided. The apparatus and method can control delivery and removal of partial liquid ventilation to the lungs of a mammal by responding to pressure change in the lungs to minimize danger of causing barotrauma to the patient.

A humidifier is configured to humidify a flow of pressurized respiratory gas. The humidifier includes a tub base configured to retain a body of water and a tub lid configured to cover the tub base. The humidifier also includes an inlet passage configured to receive the flow of pressurized respiratory gas and deliver the pressurized respiratory gas to an interior of the humidifier. At least a portion of the inlet passage is configured to float on the body of water retained in the tub base.