Flow member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10869985-B2
Application number	US-201615559468-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A flow member ( 200 ) is for a flow assembly ( 100 ) of a pressure support system ( 2 ). The pressure support system includes a patient interface device ( 6 ), a flow generator ( 4 ), and a coupling conduit ( 8 ). The flow assembly includes a cover ( 102 ) and a sensing assembly ( 110 ). The sensing assembly has a flow sensor ( 114 ) having flow sensing components ( 118,120 ). The flow member comprises: a body ( 202 ) comprising: a mounting portion ( 204 ) connected to the cover, thereby enclosing the sensing assembly, a gas conduit ( 206 ) at least partially overlaying the mounting portion, the second conduit fluidly coupling the first conduit to the flow generator, and a number of flow conduits ( 208,210 ) each extending transverse to the gas conduit ( 206 ) and receiving a corresponding flow sensing component. Each flow conduit terminates at a distal end portion ( 209,211 ) in fluid communication with the gas conduit ( 206 ), each distal end portion being spaced a distance from the gas conduit ( 206 ) and located internal with respect thereto.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flow member comprising:
a gas conduit for conveying a gas containing moisture,
a sensing conduit for allowing a sensing component outside the gas conduit to sense a property of the gas via the sensing conduit, and
a number of walls disposed internal to the gas conduit and extending longitudinally with respect thereto;
wherein the sensing conduit passes through an outer wall of the gas conduit and terminates at a distal end portion thereof inside the gas conduit at a port disposed in a first wall of the number of walls, the distal end portion and the port disposed in the first wall being spaced a distance from the outer wall of the gas conduit to reduce an amount of moisture contained in the gas entering into the sensing conduit, and
wherein the number of walls are concave contoured in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension thereof in such a way that in right side up and upside down orientations gravity will force moisture to flow away from the distal end portion of the sensing conduit at the port disposed in the first wall of the number of walls.

2. The flow member of claim 1 wherein a second wall and a third wall of the number of walls are spaced from each other and from the first wall to block and cause moisture to flow away from and below the port; and wherein the second wall is disposed between the first wall and the third wall.

3. The flow member of claim 2 wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall are oriented parallel with one another.

4. The flow member of claim 2 wherein each of the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall is concave facing the sensing conduit.

5. The flow member of claim 2 wherein the first wall has a first longitudinal length along the gas conduit;
wherein the second wall has a second longitudinal length along the gas conduit;
wherein the third wall has a third longitudinal length along the gas conduit; and
wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than each of the second longitudinal length and the third longitudinal length.

6. The flow member of claim 2 wherein the gas conduit has a first side portion and a second side portion disposed opposite one another;
wherein the sensing conduit extends inwardly from the first side portion;
wherein each of the second wall and the third wall is at least partially disposed between the second side portion and the port.

7. The flow member as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing conduit comprises a first flow conduit and a second flow conduit spaced along the gas conduit from the first flow conduit.

8. The flow member as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gas conduit and the sensing conduit are made of a single piece of material.

9. A flow assembly comprising:
a cover;
a sensing assembly comprising the sensing component; and
the flow member as claimed in claim 1 , and further comprising a mounting portion enclosing the sensing assembly.

10. The flow assembly of claim 9 wherein the sensing assembly further comprises a pressure sensor; and
wherein the flow member further comprises a pressure conduit for allowing the pressure sensor to sense a pressure of the gas in the gas conduit.

11. The flow assembly of claim 10 wherein the sensing component comprises a first flow sensing component and a second flow sensing component;
wherein the sensing assembly further comprises a sealing gasket disposed on the gas conduit;
wherein the sealing gasket has a first thru hole, a second thru hole, and a third thru hole;
wherein the first flow sensing component is aligned with the first thru hole;
wherein the second flow sensing component is aligned with the second thru hole; and
wherein the pressure sensor is aligned with the third thru hole.

12. The flow assembly of claim 11 wherein the flow member further comprises a first stabilizing element and a second stabilizing element each extending outwardly from the gas conduit; and
wherein each of the first stabilizing element and the second stabilizing element engages the sealing gasket in order to retain the sealing gasket on the flow member.

13. A pressure support system comprising:
a patient interface device;
a gas flow generator structured to produce a flow of breathing gas for a patient; and
a coupling conduit and the flow assembly as claimed in claim 9 coupled between the gas flow generator and the patient interface device.

14. The flow member as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a second sensing conduit for allowing a second sensing component outside the gas conduit to sense a second property of the gas via the second sensing conduit, wherein the second sensing conduit passes through the outer wall of the gas conduit and terminates at a distal end portion thereof inside the gas conduit at a second port disposed in the first wall of the number of walls, the distal end portion of the second sensing conduit and the first wall being spaced a distance from the outer wall of the gas conduit to reduce an amount of moisture contained in the gas entering into the second sensing conduit.

15. The flow member as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising a pressure drop element extending longitudinally through the gas conduit, wherein the pressure drop element includes first and second rounded end portions, wherein each of the first and second rounded end portions are aligned with and located directly below a corresponding one of the port and the second port in the first wall of the number of walls.

16. The flow member as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the pressure drop element comprises a cylindrical-shaped air punch centrally located within the gas conduit.

17. The flow member as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the number of walls comprises three walls, and the air punch is disposed within a second wall of the three walls.

18. The flow member as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a pressure drop element extending longitudinally through the gas conduit, wherein the pressure drop element includes first and second rounded end portions, wherein one of the first and second rounded end portions is aligned with and located directly below the port in the first wall of the number of walls.

19. The flow member as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the pressure drop element comprises a cylindrical-shaped air punch centrally located within the gas conduit.

20. The flow member as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the number of walls comprises three walls, and the air punch is disposed within a second wall of the three walls.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Rothermel Justin Edward

Classifications

• G01F15/125

  Filters · CPC title

• G01F1/50

  Correcting or compensating means · CPC title

• G01F15/12

  Cleaning arrangements; Filters · CPC title

• G01F1/6842

  with means for influencing the fluid flow · CPC title

• A61M16/00 Primary

  Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators (iron lungs A61H31/02); Tracheal tubes · CPC title