Respiration system and connector system therefor for reducing contaminations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10456549-B2
Application number	US-201313761295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2013
Priority date	Feb 10, 2012
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

A respiration system with a respirator ( 2 ) and with a breathing system ( 1 ), which is detachably coupled with the respirator. The coupling between the respirator and the breathing system takes place by at least two connector systems ( 3 ). The coupling between the respirator and the breathing system is designed such that the volume flow through the connector systems always takes place in only one direction. A pressure sensor ( 9; 9 ′) is preferably combined with at least one of the connector systems ( 3 ) such that a unidirectional volume flow, by which the direction of migration of bacteria through the connector system is influenced in the desired manner, becomes established within this connector system ( 3 ), as a result of which the connector system and the coupled sensor are kept free from bacteria, viruses and other contaminants.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A respiration system comprising:
a respirator comprising a respirator housing having a respirator housing interior space;
at least two connector systems, each of said two connector systems comprising a connector structure having a connector structure outer surface portion, a first connector structure end portion and a second connector structure end portion;
a breathing system detachably coupled with the respirator by the at least two connector systems, the breathing system comprising an expiratory branch and an inspiratory branch, said at least two connector systems being formed separate from said expiratory branch and said inspiratory branch, said breathing system comprising a breathing system housing having a breathing system housing interior space, said respirator housing and said breathing system housing defining a gap, said respirator housing having a respirator housing opening and a respirator housing outer surface, said connector structure extending from a position located in said respirator housing interior space through said respirator housing opening to another position located in said breathing system housing interior space, wherein said connector structure bridges said gap, said connector structure outer surface portion extending continuously, without interruption from said respirator housing interior space to said breathing system housing interior space, said second connector structure end portion being located in said breathing system housing interior space at a spaced location from said respirator housing outer surface, wherein said second connector structure end portion is located outside of said respirator housing outer surface, said first connector structure end portion being located in said respirator housing interior space;
a controllable gas inlet to admit gas from the respirator into the breathing system via one of the at least two connector systems;
a controllable gas outlet to draw off gas from the breathing system into the respirator via another one of the at least two connector systems;
valves controlling the controllable gas inlet and the controllable gas outlet such that only a unidirectional volume flow, by which the direction of migration of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants through the respective connector system is affected, prevails in each corresponding connector structure, so that collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on the connector systems is essentially reduced, wherein gas flows only into the breathing system via the gas inlet during operation of the respirator, wherein the gas does not flow back into the respirator during operation of the respirator, wherein no bacteria or viruses present in the breathing system enters the one of the at least two connector systems associated with the gas inlet during operation of the respirator, wherein the bacteria or viruses, which enter the breathing system from expired fluid, enter only one of the connector systems arranged in the respirator from the breathing system via the gas outlet such that the bacteria or viruses remain in the respirator; and
a sensor wherein at least one of the at least two connector systems is coupled with the sensor such that due to the unidirectional volume flow through the respective connector system, collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on a measuring line of the coupled sensor or on the coupled sensor itself is essentially prevented from occurring, the measuring line being connected to the connector structure outer surface portion within the respirator housing interior space such that the measuring line is directed away from the unidirectional volume flow.

2. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
each of the at least one of the at least two connector systems is coupled with the sensor via a respective measuring line for the sensor, said sensor being arranged in said respirator housing interior space, said measuring line comprising an opening, wherein a filter is arranged between said opening and said sensor; and
a constant or intermittent volume flow, which is necessary for the operation of the breathing system, is combined within each of the at least two connector systems with the measuring line for the corresponding sensor such that the volume flow is merged with the measuring line of the sensor or with the sensor itself already within the respirator.

3. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the controllable gas inlet introduces gas from the respirator through one of said valves via one of the at least two connector systems into the breathing system, wherein each of the at least two connector systems is coupled with a respective sensor such that the volume flow through the connector system is a respective unidirectional flow, wherein the gas is sent in one direction through one of the connector systems and the gas is not sent in an opposite direction through the one of the connector systems, wherein the bacteria or viruses are prevented from being transferred from the respirator into the breathing system via the respective unidirectional flow from breathing system to the respirator.

4. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
a further connector system; and
a controllable fresh gas supply unit connected to the respirator to introduce fresh gas to the respirator and into the breathing system via the further connector system, wherein the further connector system is coupled with a respective sensor such that the volume flow through the further connector system is a further connector system unidirectional volume flow.

5. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising another sensor, the sensor and the another sensor defining a plurality of pressure sensors, each of the pressure sensors being coupled with a corresponding one of the at least two connector systems via a respective measuring line, said measuring line comprising an arcuate portion, said measuring line comprising an opening in fluid communication with said corresponding one of the at least two connector systems and one of said pressure sensors, said one of said pressures sensors being located at a first distance from a housing of said respirator, said opening being located at a second distance from said housing of said respirator, wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance.

6. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the breathing system further comprises a CO 2 absorber; and
the CO 2 absorber is provided between the expiratory branch and the inspiratory branch.

7. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a respiration drive electrically connected to the respirator, wherein:
the breathing system comprises connectors; and
the respiration drive is detachably coupled with the breathing system via the connectors.

8. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising another sensor, the sensor and the another sensor defining a plurality of pressure sensors, each of the pressure sensors being coupled with a corresponding one of the at least two connector systems via a respective measuring line, said measuring line comprising an arcuate measuring line portion and a measuring line opening in fluid communication with said connector socket and one of said pressure sensors, wherein each connector structure comprises a connector socket essentially in the form of a cylindrical pipe that is connected with the measuring line for a corresponding pressure sensor such that the volume flow through the connector socket is merged with the respective measuring line within the respirator, each of said pressure sensors being arranged in said respirator housing interior space,

Assignees

• Draeger Medical Gmbh
• Draegerwerk Ag & Co Kgaa

Inventors

• Heesch Ralf
• Türker Ahmet

Classifications

• A61M16/1055

  bacterial · CPC title

• A61M16/0057

  Pumps therefor · CPC title

• A61M16/22

  Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices {; Other means for removing carbon dioxide}(cartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00) · CPC title

• A61M2205/12

  with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit · CPC title

• A61M16/0891

  Closed circuit, e.g. for anaesthesia · CPC title