Patent ID: 7364140

Claim:
A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) apparatus to supply pressurized breathable gas to a patient, said apparatus comprising: a flow generator having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a humidifier having a gas inlet coupled to the gas outlet of the flow generator; and a filter operatively positioned between the gas outlet of the flow generator and the gas inlet of the humidifier, wherein said humidifier comprises: a hollow body adapted for at least partial filling with water to a predetermined maximum water level; a heating element to heat the water in the body; and a flow divider adapted to divide the interior of the body above the maximum water level into a relatively dry gas region and a relatively wet gas region, wherein the gas inlet to the body and a gas outlet from the body is above the maximum water level, and wherein the flow divider of the humidifier includes a flow dividing plate that divides the interior of the body above the maximum water level into a relatively dry gas region above the plate and a relatively wet gas region below the plate.