We have a six year old son who has recently had a trach. We have an LTV 950 vent, but the heater/humidifier lasts only 1.5 hours. This is not practical at night for working parents who need some sleep. Does anyone know of a larger capacity heater/humidifier compatible with this vent? Do any humidifiers have temperature feedback monitored from the patient end of the tubing? Thanks.

Hi,

I am not sure what brand of humidifier you are using. Ask your homecare provider if the system you are using has a continuous water-feed system available. You can also ask about the temp monitoring. Fisher & Paykel makes humidifiers that show airway temperature and they also have a chamber for their humidifiers that has a continuous water-feed system.

All my best,
Cyndy Miller RRT
Director of Clinical Education
Newport Medical Instruments
www.ventilators.com

What may help is a new product by Hudson RCI. It's called a ConchaTherm 2000. It's a heated humidifier system with a reusable humidifier chamber that's bigger than any I've seen. Typically, the vent humidifiers are of low volume since the vent needs to be checked periodically through the night. A larger humidifier will allow more rain out to occur in the tubing which can cause problems if neglected. Hope this helps.

I would recommend the Puritan Bennett GoodKnight H2O Heated Humidifier as it last through the night and is very quiet. You can find one at Med1Online. See the ebay listing at ebay Item # 7500745332 or call 720-889-1591 ext.201 and ask for Wes

I wonder what humidifier you are using... if it's the old bear humidifier, it uses heat as a means to create humiditiy... newer humidifers use other technologies (ultrasound) to create the humidity... therefore using less water!

I use a LTV 950 and a Fisher-Paykel humidifier. I don't know the model right off the top of my head. This humidifier will last for about 10-16 hours depending on how full one fills the chamber, and how high the temperature is set. (I usually set mine between 34ºC and 36ºC.