Patent ID: 8375945

Claim:
A method of delivering a pressurized flow of breathable gas to a patient, the method comprising: providing the pressurized flow of breathable gas to a docking assembly at an inlet of the docking assembly by removably connecting a gas flow generating system to the docking assembly such that a load bearing base surface of the gas flow generating system is positioned entirely on a base floor surface of the docking assembly; connecting a patient circuit to an outlet associated with the docking assembly; removably connecting a tank to the base floor surface of the docking assembly such that the tank is laterally disposed with respect to the gas flow generating system, the tank being adapted to contain a liquid such that a humidity level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas is elevated as the pressurized flow of breathable gas passes through the tank; wherein connecting the tank to the docking assembly places the inlet in communication with the outlet, and delivers the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the inlet to the outlet while elevating the humidity level of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; intercepting a portion of the pressurized flow of breathable gas at the outlet of the docking assembly; delivering the portion of the pressurized flow of breathable gas to a pressure sensor along a pressure bypass circuit, wherein the pressure bypass circuit is formed separate from the tank; determining a pressure of the pressurized flow of breathable gas; and delivering the pressurized flow of breathable gas from the outlet to the patient along the patient circuit.