Respiratory assistance apparatus

Abstract

A respiratory assistance apparatus (4) is provided, adapted to deliver gases to a user or patient (1). The apparatus (4) comprises a housing (10) provided with a chamber (5) and a heater (25), the chamber (5) comprising at least one gas port (15) connected to, or arranged to be connected to, at least one intermediate passageway (12). The apparatus (4) is operative according to a disinfection mode of predetermined profile in which the heater (25) heats liquid in the chamber (5) to produce vapour at or above a target dewpoint temperature and/or humidity level. The apparatus (4) is arranged such that the vapour is delivered to the intermediate passageway (12) to disinfect the intermediate passageway (12) with moist heat throughout a predetermined duration of the disinfection mode. Associated attachments and methods are also provided.

1 .- 85 . (canceled) 
     
     
         86 . A respiratory assistance apparatus adapted to deliver a gases flow to a user or patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing provided with a heater;   a chamber comprising at least one chamber port configured to be connected to at least one intermediate passageway, the housing being configured to receive the chamber; and   a controller that controls the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate according to a disinfection mode,   during the disinfection mode, the controller controls the heater to heat a liquid in the chamber to produce vapor at or above a target dewpoint temperature,   the apparatus being arranged such that, in use during the disinfection mode, the vapor produced by heating the liquid in the chamber is delivered to the at least one intermediate passageway connected to the chamber through the at least one chamber port to disinfect the at least one intermediate passageway with hot vapor, the vapor being at a temperature above the target dewpoint temperature, and   the controller controlling the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate in a drying mode subsequent to the disinfection mode to dry the at least one intermediate passageway.   
     
     
         87 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86  wherein the chamber is removably mountable on the respiratory assistance apparatus, the at least one chamber port comprises a chamber outlet port, and the chamber further comprises a chamber inlet port arranged to be in fluid communication with a gases source in the housing. 
     
     
         88 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86  further comprising a removeable disinfection tube to deliver vapor to the at least one intermediate passageway, the respiratory assistance apparatus being configured to be controlled according to the disinfection mode when:
 a first end of the at least one intermediate passageway is connected to the chamber outlet port; and 
 the first end of the at least one intermediate passageway is connected to the chamber outlet port with the removable disinfection tube. 
 
     
     
         89 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 88 , wherein the removable disinfection tube comprises a separate heater element. 
     
     
         90 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86  further comprising at least one sensor that measures a parameter of gases flowing in or proximate to the at least one intermediate passageway. 
     
     
         91 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the controller controls the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate in the drying mode by using heat generated by the heater when the liquid in the chamber has been completely used. 
     
     
         92 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the controller controls the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate in the drying mode by using heat generated by a separate heater element. 
     
     
         93 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the controller controls the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate in the drying mode by increasing a gases flow rate through the at least one intermediate passageway such that the gases flow rate is higher during the drying mode than during the disinfection mode. 
     
     
         94 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the controller controls the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate in the drying mode with at least one of a predetermined duration, a clinician or user-controlled duration, or a duration controlled in dependence on moisture levels detected in the at least one intermediate passageway. 
     
     
         95 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86  further comprising
 a safety cap provided with a connector that fluidly couples the safety cap to a downstream end of the at least one intermediate passageway, 
 a duct forming a vapor flow path into the safety cap, and 
 the safety cap condensing vapor received from the duct, and 
 the safety cap comprising a condensing surface onto which vapor from the duct condenses. 
 
     
     
         96 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86  further comprising a compressor in fluid communication with the chamber, the compressor urging gases through the chamber to the at least one intermediate passageway, and prior to termination of the disinfection mode, the controller controls the compressor to provide a ramped increase in flow to dry and/or cool the at least one intermediate passageway. 
     
     
         97 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the controller controls the compressor to slowly discharge any remaining vapor or steam from the chamber near an end of the disinfection mode and then subsequently provides a higher flow rate to cause accelerated drying and/or cooling. 
     
     
         98 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the controller determines completion of the disinfection mode based on stored cycle times for a given respiratory assistance apparatus configuration and a predetermined or detected level of liquid present in the chamber at a start of the disinfection mode. 
     
     
         99 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the target dewpoint temperature is greater than 70° C. 
     
     
         100 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 86 , wherein the disinfection mode has a predetermined profile that includes a duration of the disinfection mode, the target dewpoint temperature being set sufficiently high that the vapor provides sufficient moist heat to disinfect the at least one intermediate passageway at least over the duration of the disinfection mode. 
     
     
         101 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein the target dewpoint temperature is inversely proportional to the duration of the disinfection mode. 
     
     
         102 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein the target dewpoint temperature and the duration of the disinfection mode are predetermined. 
     
     
         103 . The respiratory assistance apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein the target dewpoint temperature and the duration of the disinfection mode are variable according to a user selection of one of the target dewpoint temperature or the duration of the disinfection mode. 
     
     
         104 . A method of disinfecting at least a part of a respiratory assistance apparatus, the respiratory assistance apparatus being adapted to deliver gases flow to a user or patient, the method comprising:
 providing the respiratory assistance apparatus, the respiratory assistance apparatus comprising
 a housing provided with a heater; 
 a chamber comprising at least one chamber port that connects to at least one intermediate passageway, the housing configured to receive the chamber; and 
 a controller; 
   connecting the at least one intermediate passageway to the at least one chamber port; and   using the controller to control the respiratory assistance apparatus to operate according to a disinfection mode;   the respiratory assistance apparatus operating according to the disinfection mode comprising:
 subjecting at least a portion of the respiratory assistance apparatus to a humidified gases flow at or above a target dewpoint temperature, the subjecting comprising:
 using the controller to control the heater to heat a liquid in the chamber to produce vapor at or above the target dewpoint temperature; and 
 delivering the vapor through the at least one chamber port to the at least one intermediate passageway; 
 
 the method further comprising controlling the respiratory assistance apparatus to be operative in a drying mode subsequent to the disinfection mode to dry the at least one intermediate passageway. 
   
     
     
         105 . The method according to  claim 104 , wherein the target dewpoint temperature is greater than 70° C.