Flow mixers for respiratory therapy systems

Abstract

A flow of gases in a respiratory therapy system can be conditioned to achieve more consistent output from sensors configured to sense a characteristic of the flow. The flow can be mixed by imparting a tangential, rotary, helical, or swirling motion to the flow of gases. The mixing can occur upstream of the sensors. The flow can be segregated into smaller compartments to reduce turbulence in a region of the sensors.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A humidification chamber for a respiratory therapy apparatus, the humidification chamber comprising:
 a body defining a liquid reservoir;   an inlet port extending from the body and defining a gases inlet into the body, the inlet port configured to interface with a conduit, the inlet port further configured to receive one or more sensors, the one or more sensors extending into a gases flow path;   an outlet port extending from the body and defining a gases outlet out of the body; and   a flow conditioner positioned within the inlet port, the flow conditioner comprising at least one internal wall.   
     
     
         3 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the inlet port comprises at least two apertures to receive the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         4 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the flow conditioner comprises one or more vanes. 
     
     
         5 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more vanes are configured to impart a tangential motion to gases flowing along the one or more vanes. 
     
     
         6 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends inwardly or each vane of the one or more vanes converges upon an internal center of the inlet port. 
     
     
         7 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the inlet port comprises a first section and second section, wherein the second section is opposite the first section, wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends inwardly from the first section of to a position at or near a central location equidistant from the first section and the second section. 
     
     
         8 . The humidification chamber of  claim 7 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes is configured to support an internal conduit located at or near the central location. 
     
     
         9 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends inwardly from an inner surface of the inlet port from positions equidistant with respect to an inner surface of the inlet port. 
     
     
         10 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends axially along a length of the inlet port. 
     
     
         11 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends spirally along a length of the inlet port. 
     
     
         12 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends axially and spirally along a length of the inlet port. 
     
     
         13 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends along a length of the inlet port at a constant pitch. 
     
     
         14 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein each vane of the one or more vanes extends along a length of the inlet port at a variable pitch. 
     
     
         15 . The humidification chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more vanes comprises at least two vanes. 
     
     
         16 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the outlet port comprises at least one internal wall defining a bent flow path through the outlet port. 
     
     
         17 . The humidification chamber of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one internal wall is configured to divide the gases flow path into a first gases flow path and a second gases flow path, such that a plurality of compartments are defined within the gases flow path. 
     
     
         18 . The humidification chamber of  claim 16 , wherein the outlet port is elbow shaped, wherein the at least one internal wall comprises a curve portion adapted to mitigate resistance to a flow of gases passing through the outlet port. 
     
     
         19 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the gases outlet defines an arcuate gases flow path from the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of a wall defining the gases outlet is angled, wherein the wall extends from the humidification chamber to the gases outlet and the wall is tapered inwardly toward the gases outlet such that the gases outlet is widest adjacent the humidification chamber. 
     
     
         21 . The humidification chamber of  claim 20 , wherein the gases outlet comprises at least one aperture configured to receive at least one sensor of the one or more sensors, the at least one aperture positioned in the angled portion of the wall defining the gases outlet. 
     
     
         22 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein a sensor of the one or more sensors comprises a thermistor configured to measure flow rate and temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The humidification chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the outlet port comprises a sensor port configured to receive a sensor.