Nose Cannula Heated/Humidified Gas Delivery System

Abstract

A low flow heated/humidified respiratory gas delivery system, especially useful for low flow rates as preferred in the treatment of neonate and other such patients, wherein the respiratory gas is heated and humidified as desired for delivery to the patient and the temperature is monitored at the point of delivery to the patient.

1 . A method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user comprising the steps of:
 heating a respiratory gas by a heating element to a temperature sufficient to be delivered in a respiratory gas flow path to a user at a predetermined temperature level;   conveying said heated respiratory gas to said user at a predetermined flow rate;   administering said respiratory gas to said user at said predetermined flow rate and at said predetermined temperature level; and   monitoring the temperature of said respiratory gas at a point isolated from said respiratory gas flow path, while in thermal contact therewith at a point at which said respiratory gas is administered essentially directly to said user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 1  further including the step of humidifying said respiratory gas to a predetermined level prior to administering said respiratory gas to said user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 1  wherein said respiratory gas is administered to said user by means of a nose cannula. 
     
     
         4 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 3  wherein the temperature of said respiratory gas is monitored by a sensor carried by said nose cannula. 
     
     
         5 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 4  wherein said sensor is positioned in thermal contact with said respiratory gas but removed from said heating element and out of said respiratory gas flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 5  wherein said sensor is positioned in said nose cannula adjacent to said point at which said respiratory gas is administered directly to said user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 2  wherein said respiratory gas is administered to said user by means of a nose cannula. 
     
     
         8 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 7  wherein the temperature of said respiratory gas is monitored by a sensor carried by said nose cannula. 
     
     
         9 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 8  wherein said sensor is positioned in thermal contact with said respiratory gas but out of said respiratory gas flow path. 
     
     
         10 . The method of controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user as defined in  claim 9  wherein said sensor is positioned in said nose cannula adjacent to said point at which said respiratory gas is administered directly to said user. 
     
     
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