Humidifiers

In the early years of our profession, keeping the reservoirs of humidifiers filled was a major undertaking. Large bottles of distilled water were transported on carts for the technicians and therapists to refill room humidifiers and oxygen humidifiers. (One can only image the bacterial cross-contamination that resulted from this practice!) A variety of room humidifiers and bubble humidifiers are featured in this gallery.

Humidification devices used prior to the 1940s are featured in this section of the gallery.

The French Blue and White enamel steam inhaler from the 1930s is from the collection of Felix Khusid.

In November 1932, F. A. Blashfield filed a patent application for a "Gas Humidifying Device. The patent was granted on September 25, 1934.

The box containing a Renwal Model 25 steam vaporizer from 1938 is pictured.

Humidifiers from the 1940s are featured.

In the 1940s, refillable humidifiers were constructed of a threaded metal top and metal reservoir, making it impossible for oxygen technicians to visualize the water levels in the reservoir.

The Humidicrib provided "scientific control of humidity and temperature to greatly increase the premature infant's chance of survival and normal, healthy growth."

A Walton room humidifier from the 1940s is shown. It was constructed of copper.

A Walton copper room humidifier is shown with the lid removed. The unit could either sit on the floor or on a metal stand.

A 1949 ad for a Hankscraft room vaporizer is shown. The unit vaporized a triethylene glycol solution "to reduce airborne bacteria and virus particles."

A variety of humidifiers from the 1950s are featured in this section.

Practical Electric Products, Inc. produced the PRAC-T-KAL automatic vaporizers and room humidifiers in the 1940s and 1950s. An "automatic vaporizer humdifier" from the early 1950s is shown.

A Prak-T-Kal humidifier from the 1950s is shown.

The Walton Cold Steam hospital humidifier was described as a "centrifugal atomizer" that provided high humidity in oxygen tents or hospital rooms.
Thereafter, unheated hospital room humidifiers were referred to as "cold steamers".
This ad appeared in the December 1959 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

J. Gilroy et al filed a patent application for a "Humidifier" in November 1950. The patent was granted on January 18, 1955.

In the 1950s, oxygen humidifiers with refillable glass reservoirs were introduced.

The Air-Shields Hydrojette was a mobile, cool vapor humidifier used at the hospital bedside. This ad, which appeared in the September 1958 issue of the IINHALATION THERAPY journal, indicated that the device was recommended as supportive treatment for croup, bronchial asthma, poliomyelitis, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders.

A 1950s room humidifier system is shown.

Humidifiers from the 1960s are featured in this section of the gallery.

This ad from the April 1962 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal featured the dual action humidifier from Puritan Corporation. The Puritan Bubble Jet could be set for "vaporization or nebulization". It offered either a glass jar or a shatterproof plastic reservoir jar.

In the 1960s, humidifiers with metal caps and refillable plastic reservoirs were introduced. A Melco humidifier is shown.

This unit, patented on May 1,1962 was a "combined room humidifier and medicinal vaporizer or the like."

The ad for the Walton Model HA humidity canopy enclosures indicated that they were "less confining for children or adults undergoing cold steam humidity therapy."

On July 27, 1962, Raymond Banks applied for a patent for a room humidifier. The patent was granted on November 3, 1964 to the inventor and originally assigned to Walton Labs, Inc.

This ad for the hospital model Ohio VaporMaster humidifier appeared in the June 1963 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal. The unit included an aluminum reservoir basin.

The reusable Ohio jet humidifier with plastic reservoir is shown.

The Bennett Cascade Humidifier is featured in this October 1965 ad from the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

The Bennett Cascade humidifier was introduced in the 1960s. The heated humidifier was initially designed for use with the Bennett IPPB respiration units and later was also used with the Bennett MA-1.

In the late 1960s, resusable humidifiers with plastic caps and refillable reservoirs were introduced. In many devices, the bubbler unit was still constructed of metal. A Hudson humidifier is shown.

The internal components of a Hudson humidifier is shown. the reusable unit had a metal "bubbler" with a plastic cap and reservoir.

On April 16, 1962, Paal Myklebust filed a patent application for a room humidifier. The patent was granted on June 8, 1965 and assigned to the Hankscraft Company

The Bunn Defensor 505 Humidifier was featured in the October 1967 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

Several humidifiers from the 1970s are featured.

In the 1970s, many hospitals switched over to single patient use, room humidifiers such as the Hankscraft unit shown.

For convenience and reduction in cross-contamination, pre-filled, disposable humidifier reservoirs were introduced.

The Humidilizer, a room humidifier produced by MistO2Gen , was trademarked in 1978.

Humidifiers from the 1980s are featured.

Heat Moisture Exchangers (HME) were introduced into clinical practice in the mid-1980s and provided passive humidification.

The Inspiron Vapor-Phase advanced humidifier model included adjustable temperature controls and temperature alarms.

A Hudson RCI servo-controlled, heated Concha humidifier is shown.

A Wick humidifier and heater by Bird Corporation is shown.

A wrap-around heater for Bard-Parker humidifiers is shown.

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