Device for controlling water level

Abstract

A device for maintaining a water level in a respiratory humidification system, said device comprising: at least one sensor positioned external to a humidification component, the at least one sensor configured for sensing water related information in the humidification component and providing the water related information to a water control module, the water related information comprising data configured for being used to control an operation of the water control module.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A device for maintaining a water level in a respiratory humidification system comprising:
 a humidification component for holding water with an unobstructed water surface;   a base unit configured to support the humidification component;   a control module;   a water level control element coupled to the control module; and   at least one sensor coupled to the control module and positioned external to the humidification component, the at least one sensor configured to sense water related information within the humidification component,   wherein the control module is configured to control the water level control element based at least on the water related information from the at least one sensor, and   wherein the humidification component is independent from the base unit such that the humidification component is placeable onto and removable from the base unit without attachments.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged to follow a curvature of the humidification component. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a vertically stacked manner on the base unit. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in arrays such that a slant of the humidification component is determined when determining the water related information within the slanted humidification component. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one sensor is positioned above the humidification component. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one sensor is positioned below the humidification component. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising a flow probe, wherein the humidification component further comprises a fluid outlet and the flow probe is configured to measure an amount of humidified gases flowing out of the humidification component. 
     
     
         30 . A device for maintaining a water level in a respiratory humidification system comprising:
 a humidification component for holding water with an unobstructed water surface;   a base unit configured to support the humidification component;   a control module;   a water level control element coupled to the control module; and   a plurality of sensors coupled to the base unit and positioned external to the humidification component such that the plurality of sensors are unattached to the humidification component, the plurality of sensors coupled to the control module, at least one of the plurality of sensors configured to sense water related information within the humidification component, the plurality of sensors configured to determine a slant of the humidification component,   wherein the control module is configured to control the water level control element based at least on the water related information from the at least one of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged to follow a curvature of the humidification component. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged in a vertically stacked manner on the base unit. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged in arrays such that the slant of the humidification component is determined when determining the water related information within the slanted humidification component. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 30 , further comprising a flow probe, wherein the humidification component further comprises a fluid outlet and the flow probe is configured to measure an amount of humidified gases flowing out of the humidification component. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the base unit is configured to support a base of the humidification component. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a primary sensor and a redundant sensor. 
     
     
         37 . A device for maintaining a water level in a respiratory humidification system comprising:
 a humidification component for holding water with an unobstructed water surface, the humidification component connected to a water filling line;   a base unit configured to support the humidification component;   a control module;   a water level control element coupled to the control module and configured to control the water filling line; and   at least one primary sensor coupled to the control module and positioned external to the humidification component, the at least one primary sensor configured to sense water related information from within the humidification component; and   at least one redundant sensor coupled to the control module and positioned external to the humidification component, the at least one redundant sensor corresponding to the at least one primary sensor,   wherein the control module is configured to control the water level control element based at least on the water related information from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one primary sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged to follow a curvature of the humidification component. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one primary sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in a vertically stacked manner on the base unit. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one primary sensor comprises a plurality of sensors arranged in arrays such that a slant of the humidification component is determined when determining the water related information within the slanted humidification component. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 37 , further comprising a flow probe, wherein the humidification component further comprises a fluid outlet and the flow probe is configured to measure a fluid flowing out of the humidification component. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 37 , wherein the at least one primary sensor comprises at least one of an optical sensor, a transmissive sensor, and a capacitive sensor.