Abstract: A humidifier for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a humidification chamber, a reservoir and a water delivery mechanism. The humidification chamber may include a water retention feature such as a wick, a heating element for heating the humidification chamber, and an air flow baffle configured to promote humidification. The humidifier may be further configured to execute one or more algorithms, for example to determine a condition of the humidifier and/or to mitigate any detected faults. In some forms, the humidifier may also comprise algorithms for controlling one or more components of the humidifier.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating element which converts electrical power to heat energy, a heatable element having a first surface and a second surface, and a dielectric laminate layer between the heating element and the first surface of the heatable element, wherein the dielectric laminate layer is thermally conductive to transfer heat energy from the heating element to the heatable element, and wherein the second surface of the heatable element is configured heat a liquid in a container.

Abstract: A connection assembly for a respiratory therapy system, comprising: an outlet assembly, said outlet assembly including an outlet housing and a swivelling disc located on said outlet housing, said outlet housing and said swivelling disc defining, at least in part, a recess; an outlet connector located at an end of a tube portion, said outlet connector including an electrical connector; and a cable having a first end to connect to the electrical connector and a second end to connect to at least one electrical component of the respiratory therapy system, said cable having a slack portion, wherein said outlet connector and said swivelling disc are rotatable in unison between a first position and a second position, and wherein the slack portion of the cable extends from the recess and wraps around the swivelling disc as the swivelling disc is rotated from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A humidifier for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a humidification chamber, a reservoir and a water delivery mechanism. The humidification chamber may include a water retention feature such as a wick that encloses part of the flow path, a heating element for heating the humidification chamber, and an air flow baffle configured to promote humidification. The humidifier may be further configured to execute one or more algorithms, for example to determine a condition of the wick or to detect condensation in the flow path. In some forms, the humidifier may also comprise algorithms for controlling one or more components of the humidifier such as to control the build up of foreign matter on the wick.

Abstract: A vent arrangement for a respiratory pressure therapy device may include one or a plurality of vents configured with a variable aperture for communicating a flow of breathable gas. The vent arrangement may be configured with a cross section profile exposed to the flow of breathable gas communicating through the vent that does not change as the aperture size changes. A vent arrangement may include a plurality of the vents and the aperture size of each vent may be controlled independently or together, and may be controlled according to one or more input signals from one or more sensors. Examples of suitable input signals include flow, pressure, noise, accelerometer outputs, orientation of a patient or presence of any obstructions. A patient interface or an air circuit may include the vent arrangement, or the vent arrangement may be configured to connect with a patient interface or an air circuit.

Abstract: A vent device for a respiratory device, comprising one or a plurality of vents configured with a variable aperture size for communicating a flow of breathable gas. Said vent device being configured so that the cross section profile exposed to the flow of breathable gas communicating through the vent does not change as the aperture size changes. A vent device may comprise of a plurality of the said vents, wherein the aperture size of each vent may be controlled independently or together, and may be controlled according to one or more input signals from one or more sensors. Examples of suitable input signals include flow, pressure, noise, accelerometer outputs, orientation of a patient or presence of any obstructions. A patient interface or a patient conduit may comprise the vent device, or the vent device may be configured to connect with a patient interface or a patient conduit.

Abstract: A vent arrangement for a respiratory pressure therapy device may include one or a plurality of vents configured with a variable aperture for communicating a flow of breathable gas. The vent arrangement may be configured with a cross section profile exposed to the flow of breathable gas communicating through the vent that does not change as the aperture size changes. A vent arrangement may include a plurality of the vents and the aperture size of each vent may be controlled independently or together, and may be controlled according to one or more input signals from one or more sensors. Examples of suitable input signals include flow, pressure, noise, accelerometer outputs, orientation of a patient or presence of any obstructions. A patient interface or an air circuit may include the vent arrangement, or the vent arrangement may be configured to connect with a patient interface or an air circuit.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a heating element including a porous structure of electrically resistive and thermally conductive material configured to substantially vaporise liquid that is passed through the porous structure. The porous structure has a liquid inlet and a vapour outlet. The humidifier further includes an outer housing surrounding at least a portion of the porous structure for containing the liquid and vapour within the porous structure. The porous structure includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, the first and second connectors being configured for receiving electrical power and applying a voltage across the porous structure to generate heat.

Abstract: A control system provides automated control of gas washout of a patient interface, such as a mask or nasal prongs. A gas washout vent assembly of the system may include a variable exhaust area such as one defined by overlapping apertures of the assembly or a conduit having a variable gas passage channel. The vent assembly may be formed by nested structures, such as conic or cylindrical members, each having an opening of the overlapping apertures. The vent assembly may be attached substantially near or included with the patient interface. An actuator of the assembly, such as a solenoid or voice coil, manipulates an aperture of the vent assembly. The actuator may be configured for control by a controller to change the exhaust area of the vent assembly based on various methodologies including, for example, sleep detection, disordered breathing event detection, rebreathing volume calculation and/or leak detection.

Abstract: A control system (706) provides automated control of gas washout of a patient interface, such as a mask or nasal prongs. A gas washout vent assembly (60) of the system may include a variable exhaust area such as one defined by overlapping apertures of the assembly or a conduit having a variable gas passage channel. The vent assembly may be formed by nested structures, such as conic or cylindrical members, each having an opening of the overlapping apertures. The vent assembly may be attached substantially near or included with the patient interface. An actuator of the assembly, such as a solenoid or voice coil, manipulates an aperture of the vent assembly. The actuator may be configured for control by a controller to change the exhaust area of the vent assembly based on various methodologies including, for example, sleep detection, disordered breathing event detection, rebreathing volume calculation and/or leak detection.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating element which converts electrical power to heat energy, a heatable element having a first surface and a second surface, and a dielectric laminate layer between the heating element and the first surface of the heatable element, wherein the dielectric laminate layer is thermally conductive to transfer heat energy from the heating element to the heatable element, and wherein the second surface of the heatable element is configured heat a liquid in a container.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating element (48) which converts electrical power to heat energy, a heatable element (44) having a first surface and a second surface, and a dielectric laminate layer (46) between the heating element and the first surface of the heatable element, wherein the dielectric laminate layer (46) is thermally conductive to transfer heat energy from the heating element (48) to the heatable element (44), and wherein the second surface of the heatable element is configured heat a liquid in a container.

Abstract: A humidifier for humidification of air to be delivered to a patient's airways may include a humidification chamber, a reservoir and a water delivery mechanism. The humidification chamber may include a water retention feature such as a wick that encloses part of the flow path, a heating element for heating the humidification chamber, and an air flow baffle configured to promote humidification. The humidifier may be further configured to execute one or more algorithms, for example to determine a condition of the wick or to detect condensation in the flow path. In some forms, the humidifier may also comprise algorithms for controlling one or more components of the humidifier such as to control the build up of foreign matter on the wick.

Abstract: A connection assembly for a respiratory therapy system, comprising: an outlet assembly, said outlet assembly including an outlet housing and a swivelling disc located on said outlet housing, said outlet housing and said swivelling disc defining, at least in part, a recess; an outlet connector located at an end of a tube portion, said outlet connector including an electrical connector; and a cable having a first end to connect to the electrical connector and a second end to connect to at least one electrical component of the respiratory therapy system, said cable having a slack portion, wherein said outlet connector and said swivelling disc are rotatable in unison between a first position and a second position, and wherein the slack portion of the cable extends from the recess and wraps around the swivelling disc as the swivelling disc is rotated from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A vent arrangement for a respiratory pressure therapy device may include one or a plurality of vents configured with a variable aperture for communicating a flow of breathable gas. The vent arrangement may be configured with a cross section profile exposed to the flow of breathable gas communicating through the vent that does not change as the aperture size changes. A vent arrangement may include a plurality of the vents and the aperture size of each vent may be controlled independently or together, and may be controlled according to one or more input signals from one or more sensors. Examples of suitable input signals include flow, pressure, noise, accelerometer outputs, orientation of a patient or presence of any obstructions. A patient interface or an air circuit may include the vent arrangement, or the vent arrangement may be configured to connect with a patient interface or an air circuit.

Abstract: A control system (706) provides automated control of gas washout of a patient interface, such as a mask or nasal prongs. A gas washout vent assembly (60) of the system may include a variable exhaust area such as one defined by overlapping apertures of the assembly or a conduit having a variable gas passage channel. The vent assembly may be formed by nested structures, such as conic or cylindrical members, each having an opening of the overlapping apertures. The vent assembly may be attached substantially near or included with the patient interface. An actuator of the assembly, such as a solenoid or voice coil, manipulates an aperture of the vent assembly. The actuator may be configured for control by a controller to change the exhaust area of the vent assembly based on various methodologies including, for example, sleep detection, disordered breathing event detection, rebreathing volume calculation and/or leak detection.

Abstract: A vent device for a respiratory device, comprising one or a plurality of vents configured with a variable aperture size for communicating a flow of breathable gas. Said vent device being configured so that the cross section profile exposed to the flow of breathable gas communicating through the vent does not change as the aperture size changes. A vent device may comprise of a plurality of the said vents, wherein the aperture size of each vent may be controlled independently or together, and may be controlled according to one or more input signals from one or more sensors. Examples of suitable input signals include flow, pressure, noise, accelerometer outputs, orientation of a patient or presence of any obstructions. A patient interface or a patient conduit may comprise the vent device, or the vent device may be configured to connect with a patient interface or a patient conduit.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heating element (48) which converts electrical power to heat energy, a heatable element (44) having a first surface and a second surface, and a dielectric laminate layer (46) between the heating element and the first surface of the heatable element, wherein the dielectric laminate layer (46) is thermally conductive to transfer heat energy from the heating element (48) to the heatable element (44), and wherein the second surface of the heatable element is configured heat a liquid in a container.

Abstract: A humidifier includes a heating element including a porous structure of electrically resistive and thermally conductive material configured to substantially vaporise liquid that is passed through the porous structure. The porous structure has a liquid inlet and a vapour outlet. The humidifier further includes an outer housing surrounding at least a portion of the porous structure for containing the liquid and vapour within the porous structure. The porous structure includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector, the first and second connectors being configured for receiving electrical power and applying a voltage across the porous structure to generate heat.

Abstract: A method mounting a MEMS integrated circuit on a substrate. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a film frame tape supported by a wafer film frame, the film frame tape having the plurality of MEMS integrated circuits releasably attached via respective frontsides to the film frame tape; (b) treating a backside surface oxide layer of each MEMS integrated circuit with liquid ammonia; (c) positioning a substrate at the backside of one of said MEMS integrated circuits; (d) positioning a bonding tool on a zone of the film frame tape aligned with the MEMS integrated circuit; and (e) applying a bonding force from the bonding tool so as to bond the backside of the MEMS integrated circuit to the substrate.