Description:-Please see the attached .pdf file- , Claims:We claim:
1. A circuit connector for a humidification system, the humidification system comprising a base unit and a humidification chamber, the humidification chamber being configured to be engageable with the base unit, the circuit connector comprising:
an inlet configured to provide a fluid connection to an outlet of the humidification chamber to receive heated and/or humidified gases therefrom;
an outlet configured to provide a fluid connection to a conduit for directing the heated and/or humidified gases to or from a patient or other person; and
an electrical terminal configured to provide an electrical connection to a base unit electrical terminal, the electrical terminal comprising at least six electrical contact pads,
wherein the at least six electrical contact pads comprise at least:
two heater pads configured to be electrically coupled to heater wires;
two sensor pads configured to be electrically coupled to sensor wires; and
two identification pads configured to be electrically coupled to identification wires.
2. The circuit connector of claim 1, the electrical contact pads being arranged such that:
the two heater pads are adjacent each other;
the two sensor pads are adjacent each other; and
the two identification pads are adjacent each other,
wherein the identification pads are positioned between the sensor pads and the heater pads.
3. The circuit connector as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the electrical contact pads are arranged in the order of the sensor pads, the identification pads and the heater pads, wherein the identification pads are positioned in between the sensor pads and the heater pads.
4. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heater pads are longer than the sensor pads.
5. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims wherein the heater pads are longer than the identification pads.
6. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the identification pads are positioned between the sensor pads and heater pads, and the identification pads are positioned closer to the sensor pads than the heater pads.
7. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heater pads and identification pads are spaced by a first distance and the sensor pads are spaced from each other by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
8. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sensor pads and the identification pads are spaced from each other by a first distance and the heater pads are spaced from the identification pads by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
9. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein:
the electrical contact pads are formed on a Printed Circuit Board.
10. The circuit connector as claimed in claim 9 wherein the printed circuit board is a substantially flat piece that is horizontally oriented.
11. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 9 or claim 10 wherein the electrical contact pads are exposed on an outer surface of the printed circuit board.
12. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the printed circuit board is supported by an outer support surface of the circuit connector.
13. The circuit connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outer support surface is wider at a distal end than at a proximal end.
14. The circuit connector as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, the printed circuit board being flush with the outer support surface.
15. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the contact pads are respectively spaced from an edge of the printed circuit board.
16. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein:
the two heater pads are adjacent to each other and separated by a first distance;
the two sensor pads are adjacent to each other and separated by a second distance;
the two identification pads adjacent to each other and separated by a third distance; and
the first distance and second distance are respectively greater than the third distance.
17. The circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the at least six exposed electrical contact pads are arranged on the same plane.
18. A base unit comprising a base unit electrical terminal configured to make a removable electrical connection with the circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, in use, wherein the base unit electrical terminal comprises a plurality of electrical contact terminals having an arrangement complementary to the arrangement of the electrical contact pads of the circuit connector.
19. The base unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the plurality of electrical contact terminals of the base unit electrical terminal are located on an underside surface of a hood or shroud portion extending in a forward and horizontal direction from the base unit.
20. The base unit as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein the plurality of electrical contact terminals of the base unit electrical terminal are sprung terminals.
21. The base unit as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the base unit electrical terminal comprises a substantially flat, horizontally oriented circuit board, the plurality of contact terminals being disposed on the circuit board.
22. The base unit as claimed in claim 21, the base unit electrical terminal being disposed on a cartridge that is configured to be removably attached to the base unit, wherein the cartridge comprises the hood or shroud portion and the hood or shroud portion extends beyond an edge of the circuit board, in use.
23. A breathing circuit for a humidification system comprising a circuit connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the breathing circuit is configured to be connected to the circuit connector to provide a fluid connection to the outlet of the humidification chamber and/or to provide an electrical connection to the base unit electrical terminal.
24. The breathing circuit as claimed in claim 23, comprising a plurality of wires extending along at least a part of the breathing circuit, wherein:
the plurality of wires comprise heating wires and/or sensor wires; and
the plurality of wires comprise one end at the circuit connector.
25. A circuit connector for a humidification system, the humidification system comprising a base unit and a humidification chamber, the humidification chamber being configured to be engageable with the base unit, the circuit connector comprising:
an electrical terminal configured to provide an electrical connection to an electrical terminal associated with the base unit,
a front cover comprising:
an angled cutout configured to obtain an orientation of the circuit connector relative to an outlet of the humidification chamber, and
an inner plug retained within a cavity of the front cover, the inner plug comprising:
an inlet configured to provide a fluid connection to an outlet of the humidification chamber to receive heated and/or humidified gases therefrom;
an outlet configured to provide a fluid connection to a conduit for directing the heated and/or humidified gases to a patient or other person;
wherein the circuit connector is configured to make a releasable and lockable connection to the outlet of the humidification chamber, thereby providing the fluid connection from the inlet of the circuit connector to the outlet of the humidification chamber, such that the circuit connector also provides the electrical connection from the electrical terminal of the circuit connector to the electrical terminal associated with the base unit when the humidification chamber is engaged with the base unit and the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
26. The circuit connector of claim 25, wherein the angled cutout is configured to slidably engage a projection on the outlet of the humidification chamber.
27. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 26, wherein the outlet of the humidification chamber comprises a first portion that extends substantially vertically from the humidification chamber and a second portion that extends substantially horizontally from the first portion, the second portion being downstream of the first portion, in use, wherein the inlet of the circuit connector is configured to provide a fluid connection to the second portion of the circuit connector and the angled cutout is configured to accommodate the first portion, the angled cutout inhibiting or limiting engagement of the circuit connector to the outlet of the humidification chamber when not correctly orientated to accommodate the first portion received in the angled cutout.
28. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector comprises one or more pins configured to, in use, make contact with one or more tracks of a printed circuit board of the electrical terminal of the base unit.
29. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector comprises a printed circuit board comprising one or more tracks configured to, in use, make contact with one or more pins of the electrical terminal of the base unit.
30. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector comprises an edge card configured to, in use, be received in an edge card receptacle, the electrical terminal associated with the base unit comprising said edge card receptacle.
31. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector comprises an edge card receptacle configured to, in use, receive an edge card, the electrical terminal associated with the base unit comprising said edge card.
32. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 31, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector is electrically connected to one or more heater wires and/or one or more sensor wires, the conduit comprising said one or more heater wires and/or said one or more sensor wires.
33. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 32, comprising a recess or projection configured to be engaged by a latch on a wall of the outlet of the humidification chamber, thereby providing said releasable and lockable connection of the circuit connector to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
34. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 33, comprising a latch configured to engage a recess or projection on a wall of the outlet of the humidification chamber, thereby providing said releasable and lockable connection of the circuit connector to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
35. The circuit connector of claim 33 or 34, comprising an activator configured for disengaging the latch from the recess or projection to allow removal of the circuit connector from the outlet of the humidification chamber.
36. The circuit connector of claim 35, wherein the activator comprises at least one manually depressible button or switch.
37. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 36, wherein at least a portion of the inlet of the circuit connector is receivable inside the outlet of the humidification chamber when the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
38. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 36, wherein at least a portion of the outlet of the humidification chamber is receivable inside the inner plug of the circuit connector when the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
39. The circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 38 wherein the inner plug defines a lumen.
40. A medical tube comprising the circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 39.
41. The medical tube of claim 40, wherein the circuit connector is integral to or connected to a conduit.
42. The medical tube of claim 40 or 41, configured to form at least part of an inspiratory limb of a respiratory circuit.
43. A humidification chamber for a humidification system, the humidification chamber comprising:
an outer wall;
an upper wall connected to the outer wall, the outer wall and the upper wall at least partially defining a volume for containing a liquid;
an inlet to receive gases into the humidification chamber from a gases source; and
an outlet configured to connect to a circuit connector for directing heated and/or humidified gases from the humidification chamber to a patient or other person;
wherein the outlet is configured to provide a releasable and lockable connection to the circuit connector and comprises a projection configured engage an angled cutout on the circuit connector to obtain an orientation of the circuit connector relative to the outlet.
44. The humidification chamber of claim 43, wherein the projection is configured to slidably engage the angled cutout in the circuit connector.
45. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 44, wherein the outlet of the humidification chamber comprises a first portion that extends substantially vertically from the humidification chamber and a second portion that extends substantially horizontally from the first portion, the second portion being downstream of the first portion, in use.
46. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 45 comprising a recess or projection configured to be engaged by a latch of the circuit connector, thereby providing said releasable and lockable connection of the circuit connector to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
47. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 46, comprising a latch configured to engage a recess or projection of the circuit connector, thereby providing said releasable and lockable connection of the circuit connector to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
48. The humidification chamber of claim 46 or 47, comprising an activator for disengaging the latch from the recess or projection to allow removal of the circuit connector from the outlet of the humidification chamber.
49. The humidification chamber of claim 48, wherein the activator comprises at least one manually depressible button or switch.
50. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 49, wherein at least a portion of the outlet of the humidification chamber is receivable inside the inlet of the circuit connector when the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
51. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 49, wherein the outlet of the humidification chamber is configured to receive at least a portion of the inlet of the circuit connector inside the outlet of the humidification chamber when the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
52. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 51, configured to couple to a base unit, at least in part, via a coupler of, or associated with, the base unit.
53. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 52, wherein the circuit connector is the circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 39.
54. The humidification chamber of any one of claims 43 to 53, wherein at least a downstream end of the outlet is oriented in a substantially parallel direction to a direction of engagement of the humidification chamber with the base unit.
55. A humidification chamber for a humidification system, the humidification chamber comprising an outlet configured to connect to the circuit connector of any one of claims 25 to 39.
56. A humidification system comprising:
a base unit;
a humidification chamber configured to operatively connect to the base unit, the humidification chamber comprising an outer body defining a chamber, an inlet port comprising a wall defining a passage into the chamber, an outlet port comprising a wall defining a passage out of the chamber;
a circuit connector configured to connect the outlet port to a humidified gases delivery conduit, the circuit connector comprising an electrical terminal configured to electrically connect to an electrical terminal associated with the base unit, the circuit connector configured to provide a releasable and lockable connection to the outlet port of the humidification chamber, the circuit connector comprising a front cover including at least an angled cutout configured to obtain an orientation of the circuit connector relative to an outlet of the humidification chamber,
wherein the outlet port is configured to circuit connector and comprises a projection configured engage the angled cutout to obtain an to control the orientation of the circuit connector relative to the outlet port.
57. The system of claim 56, comprising a pressurized gas source, the pressurized gas source comprising an outlet, the outlet of the pressurized gas source being connected or connectable to the inlet port of the humidification chamber, the humidification chamber defining a flow passage between the pressurized gas source and outlet port.
58. The system of any one of claims 56 to 57, wherein the humidification chamber is releasably and lockably engageable with the base unit.
59. The system of any one of claims 56 to 58, wherein the circuit connector is not fixedly or lockably attachable to the base unit.
60. The system of any one of claims 56 to 58, wherein the circuit connector is not fixedly or lockably attachable to a coupler located between the circuit connector and the base unit.
61. The circuit connector of any one of claims 56 to 60, wherein at least a portion of the outlet of the humidification chamber is receivable inside the inlet of the circuit connector when the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
62. The system of any one of claims 56 to 60, wherein at least a portion of an inlet of the circuit connector is receivable inside the outlet of the humidification chamber when the circuit connector is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber.
63. A circuit connector (2012) for a humidification system (2000) for respiratory therapy, the humidification system (2000) comprising a base unit (2002) and a humidification chamber (2004), the humidification chamber (2004) being configured to be engageable with the base unit (2002), the circuit connector (2012) comprising:
an inlet configured to provide a fluid connection to an outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) to receive heated and/or humidified gases therefrom;
an outlet configured to provide a fluid connection to a conduit for directing the heated and/or humidified gases to or from a patient or other person; and
an electrical terminal configured to provide an electrical connection to a base unit electrical terminal,
characterized in that:
the electrical terminal comprises exposed contact pads (2106) that are sized, positioned and configured to be brought into contact with the base unit electrical terminal;
the exposed contact pads (2106) are configured to be positioned above the inlet of the circuit connector (2012) in use when the exposed contact pads (2016) are in contact with the base unit electrical terminal.
64. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 63, wherein the exposed contact pads (2106) are configured to be horizontally orientated relative to the base unit electrical terminal, in use.
65. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 63 or 64, wherein the electrical terminal comprises six contact pads (2106).
66. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 65, wherein the six contact pads (2106) comprise two contact pads for sensor wires, two contact pads for identification, and two contact pads for heater wires.
67. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 66, wherein the two contact pads for the heater wires are longer than the two contact pads for the sensor wires and the two contact pads for identification.
68. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 65 or 66, wherein the six contact pads (2106) all have the same length.
69. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 66 to 68, wherein the two contact pads for the heater wires are adjacent each other.
70. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 66 to 69, wherein the two contact pads for the sensor wires and the two contact pads for identification are uniformly spaced and the two contact pads for the heater wires are spaced apart from each other by the same spacing as between the two contact pads for the sensor wires but the two contact pads for the heater wires are spaced apart from the closest of the two contact pads for the sensor wires and the two contact pads for identification by a distance greater than the distance separating the two contact pads for the heater wires from each other.
71. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 64 to 70, wherein the exposed contact pads (2106) are formed on a printed circuit board and the printed circuit board is supported by an outer support surface.
72. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 71, wherein the outer support surface is wider at a distal end than at a proximal end.
73. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 63, wherein the circuit connector (2012) is configured to make a releasable and lockable connection to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004), thereby providing the fluid connection from the inlet (8) of the circuit connector (2012) to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004), such that the circuit connector (2012) also provides the electrical connection from the electrical terminal of the circuit connector to the base unit electrical terminal when the humidification chamber (2004) is engaged with the base unit (2002) and the circuit connector (2012) is connected to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004).
74. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 73, comprising an orientator configured to orientate the circuit connector (2012) relative to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) and/or to orientate the electrical terminal of the circuit connector relative to the base unit electrical terminal.
75. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 73, wherein the orientator comprises a recess configured to slidably engage a projection on the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) such that the circuit connector may only be slid onto the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) in a predetermined orientation.
76. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 73 or 75, wherein the orientator comprises a projection configured to slidably engage a recess in the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) such that the circuit connector may only be slid onto the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) in a predetermined orientation.
77. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 63 to 76, wherein the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) comprises a first portion that extends substantially vertically from the humidification chamber (2004) and a second portion that extends substantially horizontally from the first portion, the second portion being downstream of the first portion, in use, wherein the inlet (8) of the circuit connector (2012) is configured to provide a fluid connection to the second portion of the humidification chamber (2004) and the circuit connector (2012) comprises a cutout to accommodate the first portion, the cutout inhibiting or limiting engagement of the circuit connector (2012) to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004) when not correctly orientated to accommodate the first portion received in the cutout.
78. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 77, wherein the cutout is contoured to have a wider opening and a narrower termination, thereby providing tolerance as to the orientation of the circuit connector (2012) on initial engagement and correcting the orientation on continued engagement as the circuit connector (2012) is pushed towards the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004).
79. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 63 to 78, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector (2012) is electrically connected to one or more heater wires and/or one or more sensor wires, the conduit comprising said one or more heater wires and/or said one or more sensor wires.
80. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 63 to 79, comprising a recess or projection configured to be engaged by a latch on a wall of the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004), thereby providing said releasable and lockable connection of the circuit connector (2012) to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004).
81. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 63 to 80, comprising a latch configured to engage a recess or projection of a wall of the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004), thereby providing said releasable and lockable connection of the circuit connector (2012) to the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004).
82. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 80 or 81, comprising an activator configured for disengaging the latch from the recess or projection to allow removal of the circuit connector (2012) from the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004).
83. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 82, wherein the activator comprises one or more manually depressible buttons or switches.
84. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 63 to 83, wherein at least a portion of the circuit connector (2012) is receivable inside the outlet of the humidification chamber (2004).
85. The circuit connector (2012) of claims 63 to 84, wherein the electrical terminal of the circuit connector (2012) is substantially parallel to the inlet (8) of the circuit connector (2012) thereby enabling both the electrical and fluid connections to be effected in a single motion.
86. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 66, the electrical contact pads (2106) being arranged such that:
the two contact pads for the heater wires are adjacent each other;
the two contact pads for the sensor wires are adjacent each other; and
the two contact pads for identification are adjacent each other,
wherein the two contact pads for identification are positioned between the two contact pads for the sensor wires and the two contact pads for the heater wires.
87. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 86, wherein the electrical contact pads (2106) are arranged in the order of the contact pads for the sensor wires, the two contact pads for identification and the two contact pads for heater wires, wherein the contact pads for identification are positioned in between the contact pads for the sensor wires and the heater wires.
88. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 86 or 87, wherein the contact pads (2106) for the heater wires are longer than the contact pads for the sensor wires.
89. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 86 to 88, wherein the contact pads for identification are positioned between the contact pads for sensor wires and the contact pads for the heater wires, and the contact pads for identification are positioned closer to the contact pads for the sensor wires than the contact pads for the heater wires.
90. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 86 to 89, wherein the contact pads for the heater wires are spaced from each other and the contact pads for identification are spaced from each other by a first distance and the contact pads for the sensor wires are spaced from each other by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
91. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 86 to 90, wherein the contact pads for identification comprise a shorter length than the contact pads for the heater wires and/or the sensor wires.
92. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 86 to 91, wherein the contact pads for the sensor wires and identification are spaced from each other by a first distance and the contact pads for the heater wires are spaced from the contact pads for identification by a second distance, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
93. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 86 to 92, wherein:
the electrical contact pads are formed on a Printed Circuit Board supported by an outer support surface of the circuit connector; and
the printed circuit board is a substantially flat piece that is horizontally oriented and the electrical contact pads are exposed on an outer surface of the printed circuit board.
94. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 93, wherein the outer support surface is wider at a distal end than at a proximal end.
95. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 93 or 94, the printed circuit board being flush with the outer support surface.
96. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 93 to 95, wherein the contact pads are respectively spaced from an edge of the printed circuit board.
97. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 93 to 96, wherein:
the two contact pads for the heater wires are adjacent to each other and separated by a first distance;
the two contact pads for the sensor wires are adjacent to each other and separated by a second distance;
the two contact pads for identification are adjacent to each other and separated by a third distance; and
the first distance and second distance are respectively greater than the third distance.
98. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 66, wherein spacing between the two contact pads for the sensor wires and the spacing between the two contact pads for identification are uniform and the two contact pads for the heater wires are spaced apart from each other by the same spacing as between the two contact pads for the sensor wires but the two contact pads for the heater wires are spaced apart from the closest of the two contact pads for the sensor wires and the two contact pads for identification by a distance greater than the distance separating the two contact pads for the heater wires from each other.
99. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 71 or any claim from 56 to 92 when dependent on claim 71, comprising a support region that underlies and supports the printed circuit board to reduce flexure or deflection of the printed circuit board in use.
100. The circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claim 99, wherein the support region comprises one or more ribs configured to support the printed circuit board, the one or more ribs extending under a central portion of the printed circuit board.
101. A humidification system for respiratory therapy comprising any one or more of:
a circuit connector (2012) as claimed in claims 63 to 100;
a medical tube;
a humidification chamber ;
a coupler; and
a base unit,
wherein optionally any one or more of:
the medical tube comprises the circuit connector (2012);
the circuit connector (2012) is integral to or connected to a conduit; and
the medical tube is configured to form at least part of an inspiratory limb of a respiratory circuit.

Dated this the 10th day of July 2024.
NANDA ELANGBAM
[IN/PA-1639]
of SUBRAMANIAM & ASSOCIATES
Attorneys for the applicants