outlet 26 communicate with the rest of the tubing to provide the humidified airflow to the user an optional integrated heating element 70 is also pictured just below the humidification element the heating element 70 heats the fluid to the desired temperature prior to the humidification process this entire humidification structure sits within the fluid reservoir 21 as the fluid level 93 drops the humidification structure drops with it remaining on the surface this embodiment offers several advantages there is no need to transport fluid from a reservoir to the humidification element there is no need to heat the entire fluid reservoir the humidification element always has access to fluid for humidification this embodiment offers an alternative integrated humidifier design a preferred embodiment of the system achieves humidification through the use of an ultrasonic humidification element this can entail a piezoelectric material that oscillates at ultrasonic frequencies to create tiny droplets of water or mist this approach offers several advantages ultrasonic elements can be made with a very small size making them particularly well suited for portable applications additionally they are relatively efficient in power use compared to other humidification technologies ultrasonic humidification can be realized in multiple ways in one approach the oscillating element is placed beneath a small amount of water and when it vibrates the droplets are emitted from the surface of the water in another form the vibrating element has micro holes that allow for the passage of water from a reservoir side to the opposite side where it is converted into droplets of airborne water vibrating elements with holes can be more efficient as they do not require the.