Patent ID: 7814907

Claim:
A system for delivering a supply of gases to a patient comprising: a gases supply providing a flow of gases, a humidifier receiving said flow of gases from said gases supply and capable of humidifying said flow of gases up to a level of humidity prior to delivery to said patient, a conduit conveying said flow of gases from said humidifier to said patient, a sensing device to sense the humidity, temperature or flow rate of said flow of gases after said flow of gases have been humidified by said humidifier, said sensing device comprising: a cartridge or open tubular section having a port, a sensor, a housing removably containing said sensor, a filter attached to said housing, and wherein the cartridge or open tubular section is removably coupled, in use, in line between said humidifier and said conduit, the housing being removably coupled to said port of said cartridge or open tubular section, in use said housing being sealably connected to the port such that said sensor is exposed to said flow of gases through said cartridge or open tubular section, and the filter being located such that said sensor is exposed to a portion of said flow of gases passing through said filter only, with a significant portion of the flow of gases passing from the humidifier to the conduit without passing through the filter material, the filter and housing preventing contamination passing from the flow of gases to the sensor, the sensor being removable from the housing for subsequent reuse, the functionality of said sensor being intact after removal from the housing.