The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 28, 1988
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1987
Kenneth G Miller, Corona Del Mar, CA (US);
Intertech Resources Inc., Bannockburn, IL (US);
Abstract
A humidifier assembly is disclosed. The humidifier assembly includes a housing, a heater in the housing, a hollow shell on the housing, a partition wall within the shell, and a liquid water inlet that is unitary with the hollow shell. The heater provides an exposed heated surface for contacting liquid water in a direct heat transfer relationship. The hollow shell and the partition wall together define a humidification chamber. The hollow shell also defines a breathable gas inlet and a humidified, breathable gas outlet, both of which communicate with the humidification chamber. The partition wall includes a hydrophobic filter that permits water vapor but not liquid water to pass therethrough. The hollow shell, the partition, wall and the housing together define a liquid water-tight but water vapor permeable water reservoir between the partition wall and the heater. The liquid water inlet comunicates directly with the water reservoir and provides liquid water that can be vaporized upon contact with the heated surface. Vaporized water passes through the hydrophobic filter into the humidification chamber to humidify the breathable gas.