HUMIDIFIER WITH LAYERED HEATING ELEMENT

• Main Authors: BATH, Andrew Roderick, FOOTE, Roger Mervyn Lloyd, HUBY, Ronald James, VERMA, Hargopal, TANG, Zhuo Ran
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 30.09.2020
• Subjects: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROMTHE BODY; ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE

The invention relates to a humidifier for humidifying a pressurized flow of breathable gas for respiratory therapy for a patient. The humidifier comprises a tub (20; 60; 360; 460; 560) adapted to hold a liquid and a heating apparatus (36; 68; 368; 468; 568; 668; 868). The heating apparatus (36; 68; 368; 468; 568; 668; 868) includes a heating element (48; 74; 474; 574; 674; 974; 1074; 1174) which converts electrical power to heat energy, a heatable element (44; 70; 470; 570; 670) having a first surface and a second surface, and a dielectric laminate layer (46; 72; 1075) between the heating element (48; 74; 474; 574; 674; 974; 1074; 1174) and the first surface of the heatable element (44; 70; 470; 570; 670). The dielectric laminate layer (46; 72; 1075) is thermally conductive to transfer heat energy from the heating element (48; 74; 474; 574; 674; 974; 1074; 1174) to the heatable element (44; 70; 470; 570; 670) and the second surface of the heatable element (44; 70; 470; 570; 670) is configured to heat the liquid in the tub (20; 60; 360; 460; 560). The heating apparatus (36; 68; 368; 468; 568; 668; 868) further includes a protective layer (50; 76; 676; 1073) covering an outer surface of the heating element (48; 74; 474; 574; 674; 974; 1074; 1174) and an outer surface of the dielectric laminate layer (46; 72; 1075), wherein the protective layer (50; 76; 676; 1073) extends over peripheral edges of the heating element (48; 74; 474; 574; 674; 974; 1074; 1174) and dielectric laminate layer (46; 72; 1075), and onto a peripheral portion of the first surface of the heatable element (44; 70; 470; 570; 670) extending beyond the heating element (48; 74; 474; 574; 674; 974; 1074; 1174) and dielectric layer (46; 72; 1075).