Humidifier for a respiratory therapy device

Abstract

An apparatus for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a reservoir, and a humidifier chamber. The humidifier chamber may include a humidifier wick and a heating element for heating the humidifier chamber. The humidifier wick may comprise a fibrous sheet material. The humidifier chamber and wick may be vertically oriented in use such that a first end of the wick is above the second end of the wick. A deioniser may be provided to deionise the liquid prior to the humidifier wick. The apparatus may pasteurise liquid to be delivered to the humidification wick.

1 . An apparatus to change the absolute humidity of a flow of air to be delivered to an entrance of the airways of a patient, said change being compared to the absolute humidity of ambient air, said apparatus comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold a first volume of liquid; and   a humidifier chamber comprising:
 an air inlet for receiving the flow of air; 
 a humidifier wick configured to retain a second volume of liquid from the reservoir; and 
 a heating element configured to heat the humidifier wick to vapourise the second volume of liquid to add absolute humidity to the flow of air, 
 wherein the humidifier wick comprises a fibrous sheet material, the fibrous sheet material comprising a fabric woven of fibres, and 
   wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a first plurality of fibres and a second plurality of fibres, the first plurality of fibres being different from the second plurality of fibres in at least one aspect.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous sheet material is configured to provide a capillary action to distribute water through the wick and retain it therein. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises the first plurality of fibres and the second plurality of fibres, wherein the first plurality of fibres are each greater in thickness than each of the second plurality of fibres. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the fibrous sheet material is configured such that the relatively thicker fibres are provided closer to a heating element of the apparatus, and the thinner fibres provided closer to the flow of air. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a first layer comprising the relatively thicker fibres, and a second layer comprising the thinner fibres. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a mono-multi woven fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a mono-mono woven fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wick is tubular in shape. 
     
     
         9 . A device for treating a respiratory disorder comprising:
 a Positive Airway Pressure generator; and   the apparatus of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . A wick for positioning within a humidifier chamber of an apparatus to change the absolute humidity of a flow of air for delivery to an entrance of the airways of a patient, said change being compared to the absolute humidity of ambient air, configured to retain a volume of water,
 wherein the humidifier wick comprises a fibrous sheet material, wherein the fibrous sheet material further comprises a fabric woven of fibres,   wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a first plurality of fibres and a second plurality of fibres,   wherein the first plurality of fibres are each greater in thickness than each of the second plurality of fibres, and   wherein the fibrous sheet material is configured such that the relatively thicker fibres are provided closer to a heating element of the apparatus, and the thinner fibres provided closer to the flow of air.   
     
     
         11 . The wick of  claim 10 , wherein the fibrous sheet material is configured to provide a capillary action to distribute water through the wick and retain it therein. 
     
     
         12 . The wick of  claim 10 , comprising a first layer comprising the relatively thicker fibres, and a second layer comprising the thinner fibres. 
     
     
         13 . The wick of  claim 10 , wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a mono-multi woven fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The wick of  claim 10 , wherein the fibrous sheet material comprises a mono-mono woven fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The wick of  claim 11 , wherein the wick is tubular in shape.