Abstract: A personal airway humidification apparatus includes means for generating a heated air laden with gaseous (molecular) water. The personal airway humidification apparatus further includes an accumulator coupled to the generating means for retaining a volume of the gaseous water-laden heated air prior to being delivered by natural breathing to a user and a delivery tube coupled to the accumulator. The delivery tube has a sufficiently large diameter bore to enable the user's natural breathing to draw the gaseous water-laden heated air from the accumulator and through the delivery tube. The personal airway humidification apparatus also includes a one-way valve coupled to the delivery tube for venting exhalations of the user to atmosphere and preventing the exhalations from being exhaled back into the delivery tube and an interface device by which the gaseous water-laden heated air enters the user's mouth from the delivery tube.

Abstract: A personal airway humidification and oxygen-enrichment apparatus includes at least two membranes adapted to produce a conditioned gas. At least a first of the membranes is adapted to produce a first gas and at least a second of the membranes is adapted to produce a second gas having an oxygen content higher than the first gas. The conditioned gas includes the first gas, the second gas, or a combination thereof from the membranes. The membranes are adapted to produce the first gas and the second gas so that the conditioned gas contains gaseous water to about 100 percent saturation. The apparatus includes means for delivering water to the membranes, means for delivering an initial gas to the membranes, and a delivery hose adapted to receive the conditioned gas from one or more of the membranes and deliver the conditioned gas to a delivery device.

Abstract: A personal airway humidification and oxygen-enrichment apparatus includes at least two membranes adapted to produce a conditioned gas. At least a first of the membranes is adapted to produce a first gas and at least a second of the membranes is adapted to produce a second gas having an oxygen content higher than the first gas. The conditioned gas includes the first gas, the second gas, or a combination thereof from the membranes. The membranes are adapted to produce the first gas and the second gas so that the conditioned gas contains gaseous water to about 100 percent saturation. The apparatus includes means for delivering water to the membranes, means for delivering an initial gas to the membranes, and a delivery hose adapted to receive the conditioned gas from one or more of the membranes and deliver the conditioned gas to a delivery device.

Abstract: A personal airway humidification apparatus includes means for generating a heated air laden with gaseous (molecular) water. The personal airway humidification apparatus further includes an accumulator coupled to the generating means for retaining a volume of the gaseous water-laden heated air prior to being delivered by natural breathing to a user and a delivery tube coupled to the accumulator. The delivery tube has a sufficiently large diameter bore to enable the user's natural breathing to draw the gaseous water-laden heated air from the accumulator and through the delivery tube. The personal airway humidification apparatus also includes a one-way valve coupled to the delivery tube for venting exhalations of the user to atmosphere and preventing the exhalations from being exhaled back into the delivery tube and an interface device by which the gaseous water-laden heated air enters the user's mouth from the delivery tube.