Humidifier reservoir

Abstract

An apparatus for humidifying a flow of pressurised, breathable air includes varying a first pressure of the flow of breathable gas to vary a level of thermal engagement between the conductive portion of the reservoir and the heater plate, varying a height of the variable portion varies a level of thermal engagement between the conductive portion of the reservoir and the heater plate, use of a humidifier reservoir base component with a maximum water capacity substantially equal to the predetermined maximum volume of water of the humidifier reservoir or the use of intersecting inlet and outlet axes.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A water reservoir for an apparatus for generating a humidified flow of air for delivery to an entrance of the airways of a patient for respiratory therapy, the water reservoir comprising:
 a reservoir base configured to hold a predetermined maximum volume of water;   a reservoir lid pivotally connected to the reservoir base to allow the water reservoir to be movable between an open position and a closed position, the reservoir lid comprising an inlet and an outlet; and   a variable portion configured to sealingly engage the reservoir lid and the reservoir base when the water reservoir is in the closed position,   wherein the reservoir base includes an overfill protection element configured and arranged to form an egress path of water at a predetermined location when the predetermined maximum volume of water is exceeded,   wherein, in the closed position of the water reservoir, the variable portion is configured to block or seal the overfill protection element to prevent fluid communication into and out of the water reservoir through the overfill protection element, and   wherein, in the open position of the water reservoir, the overfill protection element is configured so that excess water above the predetermined maximum volume of water will spill out via the overfill protection element when the predetermined maximum volume of water is exceeded and the reservoir base is in its working orientation.   
     
     
         3 . The water reservoir according to  claim 2 , wherein the overfill protection element comprises a sloped profile. 
     
     
         4 . The water reservoir according to  claim 3 , wherein the sloped profile is part of a side profile of the reservoir base. 
     
     
         5 . The water reservoir according to  claim 3 , wherein the variable portion sealingly engages the reservoir base to surround and seal edges of the sloped profile. 
     
     
         6 . The water reservoir according to  claim 2 , further comprising a hinge joint to pivotally couple the reservoir lid to the reservoir base for pivotal movement of the reservoir lid between the open position and the closed position, wherein the hinge joint includes a pair of hinges each configured to engage with a respective one of a pair of recess portions to provide said pivotal movement. 
     
     
         7 . The water reservoir according to  claim 6 , wherein the hinge joint is positioned on an insertion end of the water reservoir and the egress path is positioned on an opposite, graspable end of the water reservoir, and wherein the egress path is positioned on a right side of the graspable end when the water reservoir is viewed from the graspable end. 
     
     
         8 . The water reservoir according to  claim 6 , wherein the pair of hinges are provided to the reservoir lid and the pair of recess portions are provided to the reservoir base. 
     
     
         9 . The water reservoir according to  claim 6 , further comprising a latch arrangement to secure the reservoir base and the reservoir lid together, wherein the latch arrangement is on an opposite side of the water reservoir with respect to the pair of hinges. 
     
     
         10 . The water reservoir according to  claim 9 , wherein the latch arrangement is configured to allow the reservoir lid and the reservoir base to move relative to one another while the variable portion maintains sealing between the reservoir lid and the reservoir base. 
     
     
         11 . The water reservoir according to  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir lid includes a pair of support edges, and wherein the reservoir base includes a pair of abutment support surfaces to engage the respective support edges at the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The water reservoir according to  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir base comprises side walls forming a cavity configured to hold the predetermined maximum volume of water, and wherein the reservoir base further comprises a flange projecting inwardly from at least one of the side walls and forming at least a portion of an opening into the cavity, and wherein the reservoir base further comprises a lip along at least a portion of an edge of the flange. 
     
     
         13 . The water reservoir according to  claim 12 , wherein the lip extends substantially perpendicular to the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The water reservoir according to  claim 2 , wherein the overfill protection element comprises at least one orifice, and wherein the at least one orifice is provided in one or more positions along a perimeter of the reservoir base. 
     
     
         15 . The water reservoir according to  claim 2 , wherein the overfill protection element comprises a sloped profile,
 wherein the variable portion sealingly engages the reservoir base to surround and seal edges of the sloped profile,   further comprising a hinge joint to pivotally couple the reservoir lid to the reservoir base for pivotal movement of the reservoir lid between the open position and the closed position, wherein the hinge joint includes a pair of hinges each configured to engage with a respective one of a pair of recess portions to provide said pivotal movement,   wherein the hinge joint is positioned on an insertion end of the water reservoir and the egress path is positioned on an opposite, graspable end of the water reservoir, and wherein the egress path is positioned on a right side of the graspable end when the water reservoir is viewed from the graspable end,   further comprising a latch arrangement to secure the reservoir base and the reservoir lid together, wherein the latch arrangement is on an opposite side of the water reservoir with respect to the pair of hinges,   wherein the latch arrangement is configured to allow the reservoir lid and the reservoir base to move relative to one another while the variable portion maintains sealing between the reservoir lid and the reservoir base,   wherein the reservoir lid includes a pair of support edges, and wherein the reservoir base includes a pair of abutment support surfaces to engage the respective support edges at the open position,   wherein the reservoir base comprises side walls forming a cavity configured to hold the predetermined maximum volume of water, and wherein the reservoir base further comprises a flange projecting inwardly from at least one of the side walls and forming at least a portion of an opening into the cavity, and wherein the reservoir base further comprises a lip along at least a portion of an edge of the flange, and   wherein the lip extends substantially perpendicular to the flange.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for generating a humidified flow of air, comprising:
 a water reservoir dock; and   the water reservoir according to  claim 2  provided to the water reservoir dock.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the water reservoir dock forms a cavity to partially receive the water reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the water reservoir dock includes a heater plate adapted to thermally engage a conductive portion provided to the water reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . A water reservoir for an apparatus for generating a humidified flow of air for delivery to an entrance of the airways of a patient for respiratory therapy, the water reservoir comprising:
 a reservoir base comprising side walls forming a cavity configured to hold a predetermined maximum volume of water,   wherein the reservoir base further comprises a flange projecting inwardly from at least one of the side walls and forming at least a portion of an opening into the cavity, and wherein the reservoir base further comprises a lip along at least a portion of an edge of the flange; and   a reservoir lid pivotally connected to the reservoir base to allow the water reservoir to be movable between an open position and a closed position, the reservoir lid comprising an inlet and an outlet.   
     
     
         20 . The water reservoir according to  claim 19 , wherein the reservoir base includes an overfill protection element configured and arranged to form an egress path of water at a predetermined location when the predetermined maximum volume of water is exceeded, and
 wherein, in the open position of the water reservoir, the overfill protection element is configured so that excess water above the predetermined maximum volume of water will spill out via the overfill protection element when the predetermined maximum volume of water is exceeded and the reservoir base is in its working orientation.   
     
     
         21 . The water reservoir according to  claim 20 , wherein the overfill protection element comprises a sloped profile. 
     
     
         22 . The water reservoir according to  claim 21 , wherein the sloped profile is part of a side profile of the reservoir base. 
     
     
         23 . The water reservoir according to  claim 19 , wherein the lip extends substantially perpendicular to the flange. 
     
     
         24 . The water reservoir according to  claim 19 , further comprising a hinge joint to pivotally couple the reservoir lid to the reservoir base for pivotal movement of the reservoir lid between the open position and the closed position, wherein the hinge joint includes a pair of hinges each configured to engage with a respective one of a pair of recess portions to provide said pivotal movement. 
     
     
         25 . The water reservoir according to  claim 24 , wherein the pair of hinges are provided to the reservoir lid and the pair of recess portions are provided to the reservoir base. 
     
     
         26 . The water reservoir according to  claim 24 , further comprising a latch arrangement to secure the reservoir base and the reservoir lid together, wherein the latch arrangement is on an opposite side of the water reservoir with respect to the pair of hinges. 
     
     
         27 . The water reservoir according to  claim 19 , wherein the reservoir lid includes a pair of support edges, and wherein the reservoir base includes a pair of abutment support surfaces to engage the respective support edges at the open position. 
     
     
         28 . The water reservoir according to  claim 19 , wherein the lip extends perpendicular to the flange,
 further comprising a hinge joint to pivotally couple the reservoir lid to the reservoir base for pivotal movement of the reservoir lid between the open position and the closed position, wherein the hinge joint includes a pair of hinges each configured to engage with a respective one of a pair of recess portions to provide said pivotal movement,   further comprising a latch arrangement to secure the reservoir base and the reservoir lid together, wherein the latch arrangement is on an opposite side of the water reservoir with respect to the pair of hinges, and   wherein the reservoir lid includes a pair of support edges, and wherein the reservoir base includes a pair of abutment support surfaces to engage the respective support edges at the open position.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for generating a humidified flow of air, comprising:
 a water reservoir dock; and   the water reservoir according to  claim 19  provided to the water reservoir dock.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the water reservoir dock forms a cavity to partially receive the water reservoir. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the water reservoir dock includes a heater plate adapted to thermally engage a conductive portion provided to the water reservoir.