Abstract: The invention relates to a breathing assistance apparatus that may be configured to reduce the risk of damage to electronics within the apparatus as a result of liquid leaks within the apparatus or impacts to the apparatus. In other forms, the apparatus may be configured to allow for easy assembly and/or safe operation.

Abstract: An electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material can be used to heat water in a reservoir of a respiratory humidifier to encourage heating and/or humidification of gases passing through the respiratory humidifier. The electrically conductive plastic material can at least in part overmould the base and/or walls of the chamber and/or the reservoir of the respiratory humidifier. The reservoir can also partially or fully be formed from the electrically conductive plastic material.

Abstract: A humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700) for humidifying gases is provided comprising: a water tub that is configured to receive a volume of water; a gases inlet for receiving a flow of gases into an interior volume of the humidification chamber; and a gases outlet through which a humidified flow of gases may exit the interior volume of the humidification chamber. One or more fill apertures (120) are provided in fluid communication with the water tub such that the water tub can be filled with water through the one or more fill apertures. A sealing closure (850) is also provided and configured to be releaseably mounted on the humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700), the sealing closure (850) being configured to sealingly close each fill aperture (120) when the sealing closure (850) is mounted on the humidification chamber to resist gas and/or vapour escaping from the one or more fill apertures (120).

Abstract: The invention relates to a breathing assistance apparatus that may be configured to reduce the risk of damage to electronics within the apparatus as a result of liquid leaks within the apparatus or impacts to the apparatus. In other forms, the apparatus may be configured to allow for easy assembly and/or safe operation.

Abstract: A humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700) for humidifying gases is provided comprising: a water tub that is configured to receive a volume of water; a gases inlet for receiving a flow of gases into an interior volume of the humidification chamber; and a gases outlet through which a humidified flow of gases may exit the interior volume of the humidification chamber. One or more fill apertures (120) are provided in fluid communication with the water tub such that the water tub can be filled with water through the one or more fill apertures. A sealing closure (850) is also provided and configured to be releaseably mounted on the humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700), the sealing closure (850) being configured to sealingly close each fill aperture (120) when the sealing closure (850) is mounted on the humidification chamber to resist gas and/or vapour escaping from the one or more fill apertures (120).

Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus that comprises a housing with inner and outer walls and an upper surface, wherein the walls and upper surface are integrally formed as a single part to avoid seams or joins between the walls to reduce the risk of damage to electronics within the apparatus as a result of liquid leaks. Also disclosed is a control system for a heating element of a humidifier which provides a secondary or back up protection mechanism to disable power to the heating element if a first electronic protection circuit does not cause the first switching member to disable power to the heating element.

Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus that comprises a housing with inner and outer walls and an upper surface, wherein the walls and upper surface are integrally formed as a single part to avoid seams or joins between the walls to reduce the risk of damage to electronics within the apparatus as a result of liquid leaks. Also disclosed is a control system for a heating element of a humidifier which provides a secondary or back up protection mechanism to disable power to the heating element if a first electronic protection circuit does not cause the first switching member to disable power to the heating element.

Abstract: A humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700) for humidifying gases is provided comprising: a water tub that is configured to receive a volume of water; a gases inlet for receiving a flow of gases into an interior volume of the humidification chamber; and a gases outlet through which a humidified flow of gases may exit the interior volume of the humidification chamber. One or more fill apertures (120) are provided in fluid communication with the water tub such that the water tub can be filled with water through the one or more fill apertures. A sealing closure (850) is also provided and configured to be releaseably mounted on the humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700), the sealing closure (850) being configured to sealingly close each fill aperture (120) when the sealing closure (850) is mounted on the humidification chamber to resist gas and/or vapour escaping from the one or more fill apertures (120).

Abstract: An energy storage system having one or more battery packs and a system controller for controlling the battery packs. Each battery pack has rechargeable storage cells and a battery pack controller in communication with the system controller. Through the operation of the system controller, battery packs with different initial charge states can be operated in parallel during a charge process and a discharge process. Discharging multiple battery packs in parallel offers not only a higher capacity and a longer run time than is available from a single battery pack, but also offers higher peak currents than available from a single battery pack, which are important in motor control applications. A battery pack design including a battery pack connector with both power and control contacts supporting user replacement of the battery packs.