Technologies for sanitizing humidifiers

Abstract

Technologies (e.g., devices, systems and methods) for sanitizing reservoirs of humidifiers are described. In some embodiments, the technologies include a sanitization gas system and a connector unit. The connector unit is configured to install into a portion (e.g., wall, bottom, top, or lid) of a reservoir, such as a reservoir of a humidifier. The connector unit includes an inlet passageway for supplying sanitizing gas (e.g., ozone) into the reservoir, and an outlet passageway for removing sanitizing gas from the reservoir. In some embodiments at least a portion of the outlet passageway is disposed radially around the inlet passageway. The sanitization gas system may provide a sanitizing gas to the inlet passageway and receive the sanitizing gas from the outlet passageway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for sanitizing a humidifier, comprising:
 a reservoir comprising a bottom, at least one sidewall, and a cover;   a connector unit comprising body member, an inlet passageway in the body member, and an outlet passageway in the body member, the inlet passageway comprising a first proximal end and first distal end and the outlet passageway comprising a second proximal end and a second distal end;   
       wherein:
 the outlet passageway is laterally offset from the inlet passageway; 
 the connector unit extends through the bottom, the at least one sidewall, or the cover, such that the first and second proximal ends are located outside the reservoir and the first and second distal ends are located inside the reservoir; 
 the inlet passageway is configured to fluidly couple a gas supply system to an interior of the reservoir; and 
 the outlet passageway is configured to fluidly couple the interior of the reservoir to an exhaust system. 
 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first inlet connector coupled to the first proximal end;   a second inlet connector coupled to the first distal end;   a first supply line configured to fluidly couple the gas supply system to the inlet passageway via the first inlet connector; and   a second supply line configured to couple to the second inlet connector.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second supply line comprises a proximal end configured to couple to the second connector and a distal end configured to be disposed beneath any liquid in the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an outlet connector; and   a return line configured to fluidly couple the outlet passageway to the exhaust system via the outlet connector.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet connector comprises the second proximal end, and the second distal end is not coupled to a connector. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second inlet connector comprises said first distal end, and the second distal end is located proximal to the first distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising said sanitizing gas system, wherein said sanitizing gas system is fluidly coupled to said inlet passageway and is configured to provide a sanitizing gas. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said sanitizing gas is ozone. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the gas supply system comprises a sanitizing gas generator and an air pump, the air pump configured to generate an air flow for advancing said ozone gas to the inlet passageway and into the reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sanitizing gas generator is an ozone generator. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising said exhaust system, wherein:
 the exhaust system is coupled to said outlet passageway via said second proximal end; and   the exhaust system comprises a vacuum pump and a filter, the vacuum pump configured to draw the sanitizing gas into the second distal end, through the outlet passageway, and to said filter.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sanitizing gas is ozone, and said filter is configured to convert ozone to oxygen. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said filter is a magnesium oxide filter, an activated carbon filter, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a sanitizing gas system, the sanitizing gas system comprising a housing, said gas supply system, and said exhaust system, wherein said gas supply system and said exhaust system are disposed within said housing.