Patent ID: 8215301

Claim:
Apparatus for controlling the delivery of a respiratory gas to a user comprising: heating means including a heating element for heating a respiratory gas to a temperature sufficient to be delivered in a flow path to a user at a predetermined temperature level; respiratory gas conveying means for moving said respiratory gas in a first flow path and subsequently in a second flow path at a predetermined rate to a user; said respiratory gas conveying means including a delivery tube having a first portion containing said heating element, with said first portion being connected at a distal end to means for administering respiratory gas to a user; said heating element having a distal end portion positioned adjacent the distal end of said first delivery tube portion; said delivery tube including a second portion having a distal end connected to means for administering respiratory gas to a user, with said distal end of said second portion occluded from the flow of respiratory gas through said second portion; means for administering said respiratory gas to said user at said predetermined flow rate and at said predetermined temperature level; and monitoring means in thermal contact with said respiratory gas moving in said first flow path for monitoring the temperature of said respiratory gas prior to the administration of said respiratory gas in said second flow path essentially directly to said user, said monitoring means including a sensor fixedly secured to the distal end of said second portion occluding the flow of respiratory gas through said second portion and positioned transversely across said first flow path in thermal contact with said respiratory gas and forming a wall for directing the flow of respiratory gas in said second flow path.