Condensation reduction and management systems in a gas flow delivery system

Abstract

Condensation management techniques for a gas flow delivery system. The techniques include providing a radiant barrier associated with patient circuit and/or a patient interface, providing a water trap and/or an absorbent insert in the patient interface device, or a combination of these techniques. The radiant barrier prevents condensation from forming in the patient circuit and/or the patient interface. The water trap and absorbent insert in the patient interface control condensation that reaches or forms in the interior of the patient interface to prevent it from interfering the user of the gas delivery system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for delivering a breathing gas to a user comprising:
 a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;   a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;   a patient interface coupled to the second end portion of the conduit; and   an absorbent material disclosed in the patient interface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material is removably attachable to an inner surface of the patient interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) an outer absorbent cover surrounding the inner absorbent material.   b) a radiant barrier operatively coupled to the patient interface; or   c) a combination of a) and b)   
     
     
         4 . A system for delivering a breathing gas to a user comprising:
 (a) a gas flow generating device that produces a flow of gas;   (b) a conduit having a first end portion operatively coupled to the gas flow generating device and a second end portion, wherein the conduit carries the flow of gas from the gas flow generating device during operation of the system;   (c) a patient interface coupled to the second end portion of the conduit, wherein the patient interface comprises:
 (1) a shell having a first shell surface, a second shell surface opposite the first shell surface, a first shell opening, and a second shell opening; and 
 (2) an insert member having a first insert surface facing the first shell surface and a second insert surface adapted to face a user responsive to the patient interface being worn by such a user, wherein that a gap is defined between the first insert surface and first shell surface. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the insert member includes a first insert opening defined therein, and wherein the first insert opening and the first shell opening are substantially aligned. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a port defined in the shell communicating the gap with an area external to the shell. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising an absorbent material disposed in the gap. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the insert is removably attached to the shell. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a radiant barrier associated with the conduit such that the radiant barrier is disposed between an ambient environment and a lumen defined in the conduit, and wherein the radiant barrier is a low emissivity material. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a thermal insulation layer disposed between the radiant barrier and the external surface of the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the conduit is a flexible tube and the radiant barriers form a flexible sheath adapted to be disposed over the flexible tube. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a) an absorbent material disclosed in the patient interface;   b) a radiant barrier operatively coupled to the patient interface; or   c) a combination of a) and b).