Humidification of respiratory gases

Abstract

A system for humidifying respiratory gases has a humidification apparatus, a humidification chamber, a heating apparatus and a sensor. The sensor is configured to determine a characteristic of the gases flow and communicate this to a controller which controls the power supplied to the heating apparatus with respect to information regarding the characteristic of the gases flow. A structure partially encloses the humidification chamber and allows energy loss through a wall of the humidification chamber. The humidification chamber may have features to promote heat loss through the wall of the chamber.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A chamber configured for use within a humidification system, comprising:
 a wall;   an inlet; and   an outlet;   wherein the chamber is configured to hold a volume of liquid, and the chamber is configured to allow gases to pass over the volume of liquid from the inlet of the chamber to the outlet of the chamber, and the wall of the chamber is configured to facilitate heat loss from the chamber.   
     
     
         3 . The chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the outlet is configured to receive a sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The chamber of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a temperature of a gases flow. 
     
     
         5 . The chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber comprises a substantially large surface area to facilitate energy loss from the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The chamber of  claim 5 , wherein the chamber comprises a passive cooling mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The chamber of  claim 6 , wherein the passive cooling mechanism comprises a fin. 
     
     
         8 . The chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the wall of the chamber bulges between a base and an upper surface of the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the wall of the chamber is shaped to increase surface area between a gases flow and the volume of liquid in the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the wall of the chamber comprises a region of thermally conductive material. 
     
     
         11 . A system for humidifying respiratory gases comprising:
 a humidification apparatus comprising a heating apparatus and a controller; and   the chamber of  claim 2 , wherein chamber is configured to be coupled with the humidification apparatus,   wherein the controller is configured to determine an amount of power to be provided to the heating apparatus to alter a gases flow such that a characteristic of the gases flow approaches a predetermined value at the outlet of the chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber is configured to be received within a recess of the humidification apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber is configured to be at least partially enclosed by a structure that is permanently coupled with the humidification apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber is configured to be at least partially enclosed by a structure that is integral with the humidification apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the chamber is configured to be at least partially enclosed by a structure that is removably coupled with the humidification apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the heating apparatus directly heats the volume of liquid, and indirectly heats a gases flow as the gases flow passes over the volume of liquid. 
     
     
         17 . A chamber configured for use within a humidification system, comprising:
 an inlet configured to receive respiratory gases from a ventilator;   a wall;   an outlet configured to output the respiratory gases to a patient interface;   a base connected to the wall; and   a cooling structure coupled to the wall or the base, configured to reduce temperature of the respiratory gases.   
     
     
         18 . The chamber of  claim 17 , wherein the outlet is configured to receive a sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The chamber of  claim 18 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the respiratory gases. 
     
     
         20 . The chamber of  claim 17 , wherein the wall of the chamber bulges between the base and an upper surface of the chamber.