Breathing assistance apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a flow of gas has a housing and a humidifier. The housing has a recess for a motor and/or sensor module, an outlet port for a flow of gas, and a removable elbow for a flow of gas. The humidifier has a heater, a chamber bay for receipt of a liquid chamber, and a lever and/or detent(s) for assisting with insertion and/or retention and/or removal of the liquid chamber in and/or from the chamber bay.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . An apparatus for delivering a flow of gas comprising:
 a housing;   and a removable gasflow tube that defines a gasflow passage for a flow of gas, wherein the removable gasflow tube comprises a PCB electrical connector for coupling to a complementary connector when the gasflow tube is connected to the housing.   
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein a first end of the removable gasflow tube comprises a gas port for coupling with an outlet gas port on a liquid chamber. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 56 , wherein a second end of the removable gasflow tube is configured for connection to a patient breathing conduit. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the PCB electrical connector comprises a plurality of connector portions at one end for engagement with complementary conductors in the complementary connector, wherein the complementary connector is a female connector. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the removable gasflow tube comprises a female connector for receipt of a complementary male connector. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the removable gasflow tube comprises one or more electrical connectors for coupling to and powering a heater wire in a patient breathing conduit. 
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more electrical connectors are in electrical communication with connector portions of the PCB electrical connector. 
     
     
         62 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the PCB electrical connector comprises one or more surface mounted temperature sensors. 
     
     
         63 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are in electrical communication with connector portions of the PCB electrical connector. 
     
     
         64 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are embedded in a body of the gasflow tube. 
     
     
         65 . The apparatus of  claim 62 , wherein the removable gasflow tube comprises a removable elbow. 
     
     
         66 . The apparatus of  claim 65 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are positioned adjacent an interface of a port of the removable elbow. 
     
     
         67 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein a port of the removable gasflow tube comprises a T-seal or L-seal, 
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein a port of the removable gasflow tube comprises an O-ring. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein electronics of the removable gasflow tube are sealed from liquid and/or gas ingress.