Abstract: An improved system and method of determining a low water and/or water-out condition in a humidifier chamber of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system can use a specific frequency band to detect changes in a temperature of a heater plate. The temperature changes can correlate to the specific heat capacity value of the humidifier chamber. The low water and/or water-out detection process can be performed without having to determine the gases flow rate and/or can be run continuously. A heater plate assembly of the system can include a compliant insulation sheet to improve thermal coupling between the heating element and the top heating plate of the heater plate assembly, thereby improving the low water and/or water-out detection process.

Abstract: Medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tube may be a composite structure made of two or more distinct components that are spirally wound to form an elongate tube. For example, one of the components may be a spirally wound elongate hollow body, and the other component may be an elongate structural component also spirally wound between turns of the spirally wound hollow body. The tube need not be made from distinct components, however. For instance, an elongate hollow body formed (for example, extruded) from a single material may be spirally wound to form an elongate tube. The elongate hollow body itself may in transverse cross-section have a thin wall portion and a relatively thicker or more rigid reinforcement portion. The tubes can be incorporated into a variety of medical circuits or may be employed for other medical uses.

Abstract: A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

Abstract: A respiratory or surgical humidifier comprising a heater base and an electrical connector. The heater base is configured to receive a humidifier chamber and supply humidified gases to a breathing tube when coupled with the chamber. The heater base also comprises a control circuit. The electrical connector is provided for electrically coupling the control circuit to a breathing tube. The electrical connector comprises a first power line, a second power line, and a data line configured to allow serial communication between the control circuit and one or more digital devices. Also provided is a humidifier system, a breathing tube, a humidifier chamber and an electrical connector for a humidifier.

Abstract: A maintenance system for a medical device includes a user device configured to communicate with the medical device and execute maintenance tasks on the medical device and communicate with a user via a user interface of the user device or the medical device. The maintenance tasks may be executed by either device or both devices, and communication with a user may occur via a user interface of either device or both devices. The system may also include a server configured to communicate with one or both of the user device and the medical device. The maintenance tasks may include an electrical safety check, a physical check, a performance check, and a functional check. Examples of functional checks include validation of a transient current detector and a thermal cutout.

Abstract: An improved system and method of determining a low water and/or water-out condition in a humidifier chamber of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system can use a specific frequency band to detect changes in a temperature of a heater plate. The temperature changes can correlate to the specific heat capacity value of the humidifier chamber. The low water and/or water-out detection process can be performed without having to determine the gases flow rate and/or can be run continuously. A heater plate assembly of the system can include a compliant insulation sheet to improve thermal coupling between the heating element and the top heating plate of the heater plate assembly, thereby improving the low water and/or water-out detection process.

Abstract: A respiratory or surgical humidifier comprising a heater base and an electrical connector. The heater base is configured to receive a humidifier chamber and supply humidified gases to a breathing tube when coupled with the chamber. The heater base also comprises a control circuit. The electrical connector is provided for electrically coupling the control circuit to a breathing tube. The electrical connector comprises a first power line, a second power line, and a data line configured to allow serial communication between the control circuit and one or more digital devices. Also provided is a humidifier system, a breathing tube, a humidifier chamber and an electrical connector for a humidifier.

Abstract: Over-enthalpy conditions when using a respiratory and/or surgical humidifier system can be prevented. A heating element power in an inspiratory conduit can be limited based at least in part on one or more parameters of the gases flow, and/or on an ambient temperature. The limit on the heating element power in the inspiratory conduit can be achieved using a processor and/or protection circuit(s) located outside the processor. For example, the system can use the processor to determine and/or apply the limit as a level of protection and use the protection circuit(s) as another level of protection.

Abstract: An improved system and method of controlling the operation of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system that can provide humidified gases of substantially constant humidity in dependence upon only one monitored variable, being signals received from a temperature sensor. A power controller can be configured to control a level of power supplied to a heater plate in dependence upon heater plate temperature and a humidity profile so as to drive an operating point of the humidifier towards the humidity profile. The rate of change of a heater plate temperature setpoint can be variably controlled in dependence upon a heater plate temperature setpoint and heater plate temperature.

Abstract: An improved system and method of monitoring the operation of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system. A controllable load can be connected across output terminals to a tube heating element to test the operation of a tube heating element supply circuit. A range of tests may be performed by controlling the state of one or more components and monitoring one or more sensors. Tests may be performed either during or not during therapy and either with a gas supply tube connected or not. Transient currents may also be detected and the power supply to a tube heating element can be stopped where transient currents outside a permitted range are detected.

Abstract: A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

Abstract: A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tube may be a composite structure made of two or more distinct components that are spirally wound to form an elongate tube. For example, one of the components may be a spirally wound elongate hollow body, and the other component may be an elongate structural component also spirally wound between turns of the spirally wound hollow body. The tube need not be made from distinct components, however. For instance, an elongate hollow body formed (for example, extruded) from a single material may be spirally wound to form an elongate tube. The elongate hollow body itself may in transverse cross-section have a thin wall portion and a relatively thicker or more rigid reinforcement portion. The tubes can be incorporated into a variety of medical circuits or may be employed for other medical uses.

Abstract: Medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tube(s) may be a composite structure made of two or more distinct components that are spirally wound to form an elongate tube. For example, one of the components may be a spirally wound elongate hollow body, and the other component may be an elongate structural component also spirally wound between turns of the spirally wound hollow body. The tube(s) need not be made from distinct components, however. For instance, an elongate hollow body formed (for example, extruded) from a single material may be spirally wound to form an elongate tube. The elongate hollow body itself may in transverse cross-section have a thin wall portion and a relatively thicker or more rigid reinforcement portion. The tube(s) can be incorporated into a variety of medical circuits or may be employed for other medical uses.

Abstract: An improved system and method of determining a low water and/or water-out condition in a humidifier chamber of a respiratory or surgical humidifier system can use a specific frequency band to detect changes in a temperature of a heater plate. The temperature changes can correlate to the specific heat capacity value of the humidifier chamber. The low water and/or water-out detection process can be performed without having to determine the gases flow rate and/or can be run continuously. A heater plate assembly of the system can include a compliant insulation sheet to improve thermal coupling between the heating element and the top heating plate of the heater plate assembly, thereby improving the low water and/or water-out detection process.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical tubes and methods of manufacturing medical tubes. The tubes have first and second heating wires and a sensing wire in electrical communication with a temperature sensor. The first and second heating wires are either equally spaced from the sensing wire to minimise electrical interference or a capacitor is coupled between one of the heating wires and the sensor wire to compensate for differences in capacitive coupling between the wires.

Abstract: A maintenance system for a medical device includes a user device configured to communicate with the medical device and execute maintenance tasks on the medical device and communicate with a user via a user interface of the user device or the medical device. The maintenance tasks may be executed by either device or both devices, and communication with a user may occur via a user interface of either device or both devices. The system may also include a server configured to communicate with one or both of the user device and the medical device. The maintenance tasks may include an electrical safety check, a physical check, a performance check, and a functional check. Examples of functional checks include validation of a transient current detector and a thermal cutout.

Abstract: A gases humidification system includes a measuring chamber and a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber has one or more mixing elements that improve a mixing of gases before reaching the measuring chamber. Ultrasonic sensing is used to measure gases properties or characteristics within the measuring chamber. A baffle or a vane may be used to control and direct the gases flow through the mixing chamber as the gases flow moves into the measuring chamber.