Humidification apparatus having rfid tag sensor at patient end of gas pathway

Abstract

A breathing circuit for delivering heated, humidified gases to a patient for medical purposes is described, comprising a humidifier chamber holding a quantity of water, a blower unit that delivers a pressurized gases stream to the chamber inlet, and a control system that adjusts output parameters of the breathing circuit, the circuit including a heater plate which heats the water in the chamber so that gases flowing through the chamber become heated and humidified, the circuit also including a gases transportation pathway and patient interface to convey heated humidified gases to a patient, the gases transportation pathway including an RFID tag located at the patient end which senses a parameter of the gases passing through the pathway, the control system including an RFID interrogator interrogating and receiving data relating to the sensed parameter from the RFID tag in real time, and adjusting the output parameters of the breathing circuit accordingly. A breathing circuit for delivering heated, humidified gases to a patient for medical purposes is described, comprising a humidifier chamber holding a quantity of water, a blower unit that delivers a pressurized gases stream to the chamber inlet, and a control system that adjusts output parameters of the breathing circuit, the circuit including a heater plate which heats the water in the chamber so that gases flowing through the chamber become heated and humidified, the circuit also including a gases transportation pathway and patient interface to convey heated humidified gases to a patient, the gases transportation pathway including an RFID tag located at the patient end which senses a parameter of the gases passing through the pathway, the control system including an RFID interrogator interrogating and receiving data relating to the sensed parameter from the RFID tag in real time, and adjusting the output parameters of the breathing circuit accordingly. 55545445

1 .- 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A respiratory apparatus system for delivery of heated, humidified gases to a patient for medical purposes, the system comprising:
 a humidifier configured to hold a humidifier chamber adapted to hold a quantity of liquid and including an inlet and an outlet to allow a flow of gases through the humidifier chamber, the humidifier comprising:
 a blower unit adapted to in use deliver the flow of gases to the inlet of the humidifier chamber, wherein the flow of gases is pressurised, 
 a heater plate which in use is located adjacent to the humidifier chamber and which is adapted to heat the quantity of liquid in the humidifier chamber so that the flow of gases through the humidifier chamber becomes heated and humidified, and 
 a control system configured to adjust one or more output parameters of the system, 
   a gases transportation pathway connected to the outlet of the humidifier chamber to convey the flow of gases to the patient, the gases transportation pathway including a patient interface adapted to supply the patient with the flow of gases, and   an RFID tag located at or in the patient interface, the RFID tag adapted to sense a parameter of the flow of gases, wherein the control system includes an RFID interrogator adapted to interrogate and receive data from the RFID tag in real time, the data relating to the sensed parameter, the control system configured to adjust the output parameters of the system according to the data.   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag acts as a gases pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the flow of gases passing through the patient interface. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag acts as a gases temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the flow of gases passing through the patient interface. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag acts as a gases flow sensor to measure a flow rate of the flow of gases passing through the patient interface. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag is configured to measure an oxygen content of the flow of gases passing through the patient interface. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag is configured to measure a humidity of the flow of gases passing through the patient interface. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the gases transportation pathway comprises a breathing conduit with a heater wire, wherein the heater wire is configured to provide heat to an inside surface of the breathing conduit. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the output parameters adjusted by the control system comprise any combination of: fan speed, heater plate power output, or heater wire power output. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the heater wire is further configured to act as an aerial for the RFID tag. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag is further configured to act as a patient interface identifier. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the patient interface is one of a nasal cannula, a nasal mask, a full face mask, or a tracheostomy fitting. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70 , wherein the control system includes a plurality of pre-set identification profiles, the RFID interrogator interrogating the RFID tag and identifying which type of the patient interface is connected to the humidifier. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 71 , wherein the control system automatically adjusts an initial value of the output parameters depending on the identified patient interface. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag contains data relating to an expiry date for the patient interface, the RFID interrogator in use interrogating the RFID tag and comparing a present date to the expiry date and initiating an alarm condition in response to the expiry date having passed. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the RFID tag is of a semi-passive or active type. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the gases transportation pathway comprises a breathing conduit with a heater wire, wherein the heater wire is configured to provide power to the RFID tag. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 74 , wherein the RFID tag includes an integral power supply. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the blower unit further comprises a user-operable control adapted to allow a user to set the output parameters of the system. 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 77 , wherein the output parameters that can be set by the user comprise one or both of a gases temperature and a gases humidity. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 60 , further comprising at least a second RFID tag at another location or component of the system.