Wire heated tube with temperature control system, tube type detection, and active over temperature protection for humidifier for respiratory apparatus

Abstract

A PAP system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator to generate a supply of breathable gas to be delivered to the patient; a humidifier including a heating plate to vaporize water and deliver water vapor to humidify the supply of breathable gas; a heated tube configured to heat and deliver the humidified supply of breathable gas to the patient; a power supply configured to supply power to the heating plate and the heated tube; and a controller configured to control the power supply to prevent overheating of the heating plate and the heated tube.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A respiratory treatment apparatus configured to provide respiratory therapy to a patient, the respiratory treatment apparatus including:
 a housing;   a blower positioned in the housing that is configured to generate a flow of pressurized gas;   a humidifier tub including (i) an inlet to receive the flow of pressurized gas generated by the blower, (ii) a heat conductive bottom surface to conduct heat to the water to add humidification to the flow of pressurized gas, and (iii) an outlet to provide a humidified flow of pressurized gas;   a heating plate that is configured to positioned adjacent to the heat conductive bottom of the humidifier tub to supply heat to the heat conductive bottom of the humidifier tub;   a tube connector extending from the housing and configured to output the humidified flow of pressurized gas, wherein the tube connector is configured to connect to an output tube for fluid communication to a patient interface;   a tube electrical connector positioned adjacent the tube connector and having a plurality of electrical contacts that are configured to contact a plurality of corresponding electrical terminals positioned on the output tube, wherein the tube electrical connector and the plurality of electrical contacts are provided separately from the tube connector, and wherein the tube electrical connector is configured to snap fit with the output tube and the plurality of corresponding electrical terminals;   a first sensor configured to measure a temperature of the heating plate;   a second sensor configured to measure a temperature of ambient air; and   a controller configured to (i) receive a first signal from the first sensor representing the temperature of the heating plate and a second signal from the second sensor representing the temperature of the ambient air, and (ii) in response to a determination that one or more heating plate alarm conditions exist based on at least the temperature of the heating plate and the temperature of the ambient air, trigger an alarm.   
     
     
         22 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the controller provides the determination that the one or more heating plate alarm conditions exist by determining that the temperature of the heating plate is less than a minimum threshold heating plate temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the controller provides the determination that the one or more heating plate alarm conditions exist by comparing the temperature of the ambient air to a minimum threshold ambient air temperature. 
     
     
         24 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more heating plate alarm conditions is determined to exist when (i) the temperature of the heating plate is determined to be less than the minimum threshold heating plate temperature and (ii) the temperature of the ambient air is determined to be greater than the minimum threshold ambient air temperature. 
     
     
         25 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a display positioned on the housing to output information identifying the alarm.   
     
     
         26 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein respiratory treatment apparatus is configured to be portable. 
     
     
         27 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the patient interface comprises a nasal interface. 
     
     
         28 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the patient interface comprises a mask. 
     
     
         29 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising means for connecting the output tube to the tube connector. 
     
     
         30 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , further including the output tube, wherein the tube electrical connector and the tube connector are shaped to contemporaneously mate with a corresponding cuff of the output tube. 
     
     
         31 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the cuff of the output tube includes a heel structured to releasably mate with the tube electrical connector. 
     
     
         32 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the cuff of the output tube includes a printed circuit board. 
     
     
         33 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to supply electrical power to one or more heater wires of the output tube. 
     
     
         34 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a user display interface positioned along an upper face of the housing having the blower positioned therein, the user display interface comprising: a display screen configured to display interactive menus, a power button adjacent to the display screen, and user input buttons adjacent to the display screen and having a different size than the power button. 
     
     
         35 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the user input buttons of the user display interface are configured for user selection of menu options on the interactive menus. 
     
     
         36 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the user display interface further comprises push button dial. 
     
     
         37 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a movable member to releasably retain the humidifier tub and urge the heat conductive bottom of the humidifier tub against the heating plate. 
     
     
         38 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the movable member is adjustable from a first position to a closed position to releasably retain the humidifier tub. 
     
     
         39 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the movable member comprises a lid structure having a viewing window. 
     
     
         40 . The respiratory treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a light, to illuminate the contents of the humidifier tub.