Respiratory gas hose system for supplying a respiratory gas

Abstract

A flexible respiratory gas tube arrangement for supplying a respiratory gas to a person includes a flexible tube, a heater to heat the gas as it is delivered through the tube, a first connector provided to one end of the tube and adapted to connect the tube with a breathing mask, and a second connector provided to the other end of the tube and adapted to connect the tube with a CPAP device. The second connector includes a first portion that provides a respiratory gas passage and a second portion that provides integrated contact elements by which power is supplied to the heater. The contact elements are adapted to be engaged with a power supply provided on the CPAP device for supplying power to said heater.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for treatment of sleep-related respiratory problems by application of positive pressure gas to the respiratory passages of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a CPAP device comprising:   a blower configured to deliver gas at a delivery pressure for CPAP therapy,   an electronic controller configured to adjust the delivery pressure of the gas,   a power supply socket provided on the CPAP device; and   a heatable respiratory gas tube arrangement, the tube arrangement comprising:   a heatable respiratory gas tube configured to deliver the positive pressure gas from the CPAP device to the patient,   a first connector at a first end of the tube and configured to connect to a breathing mask, and   a second connector at a second end of the tube and configured to connect to the CPAP device, wherein the second connector is configured to connect to the power supply socket provided on the CPAP device when the second connector is engaged into the power supply socket, and comprises a connector plug providing a respiratory gas passage cross-section and contact elements configured to supply the heatable respiratory gas tube with power.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first connector is an elastomer socket. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second connector is an elastomer socket. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the heatable respiratory gas tube arrangement further comprises a heat-insulating layer. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the heat-insulating layer comprises an air-cushion layer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the respiratory gas tube comprises a spirally reinforced plastic material configured to resist kinking. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the heat-insulating layer comprises a wall thickness in a range of 1-7 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the heat-insulating layer is glued to the heatable respiratory gas tube. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the heatable respiratory gas tube comprises an electrical resistance heater. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the contact elements extend parallel to and are radially outwards of the gas passage cross-section, and the contact elements are integrated with the second connector. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for treatment of sleep-related respiratory problems by application of positive pressure gas to the respiratory passages of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a CPAP device comprising:   a blower configured to deliver gas at a delivery pressure for CPAP therapy, and   an electronic controller configured to adjust the delivery pressure of the gas,   a humidifier device comprising:   an inlet in fluid communication with the CPAP device,   a humidification flow path configured to humidify the gas,   an outlet connector in fluid communication with the inlet by way of the humidification flow path, and   a power supply socket on the humidifier device; and   a heatable respiratory gas tube arrangement, the tube arrangement comprising:   a heatable respiratory gas tube configured to deliver the positive pressure gas from the humidifier device to the patient,   a first connector at a first end of the tube and configured to connect to a breathing mask, and   a second connector at a second end of the tube and configured to connect to the humidifier device, wherein the second connector is configured to connect to the power supply socket on the humidifier device when the second connector is engaged into the power supply socket, and comprises a connector plug providing a respiratory gas passage cross-section and contact elements configured to supply the heatable respiratory gas tube with power.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first connector is an elastomer socket. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second connector is an elastomer socket. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heatable respiratory gas tube arrangement further comprises a heat-insulating layer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the heat-insulating layer comprises an air-cushion layer. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the respiratory gas tube comprises a spirally reinforced plastic material configured to resist kinking. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the heat-insulating layer comprises a wall thickness in a range of 1-7 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the heat-insulating layer is glued to the heatable respiratory gas tube. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the heatable respiratory gas tube comprises an electrical resistance heater. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the contact elements extend parallel to and are radially outwards of the gas passage cross-section, and the contact elements are integrated with the second connector. 
     
     
         22 . A heatable respiratory gas tube arrangement, the tube arrangement comprising:
 a heatable respiratory gas tube configured to deliver positive pressure gas from the a CPAP device to a patient,   a first connector at a first end of the tube and configured to connect to a breathing mask, and   a second connector at a second end of the tube and configured to connect to a CPAP device or a humidifier device, wherein the second connector is configured to connect to a power supply socket on the CPAP device or the humidifier device when the second connector is engaged into the power supply socket, and comprises a connector plug providing a respiratory gas passage cross-section and contact elements configured to supply the heatable respiratory gas tube with power.   
     
     
         23 . The tube arrangement of  claim 22 , wherein the first connector is an elastomer socket. 
     
     
         24 . The tube arrangement of  claim 23 , wherein the second connector is an elastomer socket. 
     
     
         25 . The tube arrangement of  claim 22 , wherein the heatable respiratory gas tube arrangement further comprises a heat-insulating layer. 
     
     
         26 . The tube arrangement of  claim 25 , wherein the heat-insulating layer comprises an air-cushion layer. 
     
     
         27 . The tube arrangement of  claim 26 , wherein the respiratory gas tube comprises a spirally reinforced plastic material configured to resist kinking. 
     
     
         28 . The tube arrangement of  claim 27 , wherein the heat-insulating layer comprises a wall thickness in a range of 1-7 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The tube arrangement of  claim 27 , wherein the heat-insulating layer is glued to the heatable respiratory gas tube. 
     
     
         30 . The tube arrangement of  claim 29 , wherein the heatable respiratory gas tube comprises an electrical resistance heater. 
     
     
         31 . The tube arrangement of  claim 22 , wherein the contact elements extend parallel to and are radially outwards of the gas passage cross-section, and the contact elements are integrated with the second connector.