Abstract:
Zwei einfache, kostengünstig herstellbare, mit neuartigen, trägheitsarm regelbaren Heiz- und Befeuchtungs-Elementen mit hoher elektrischer Effizienz arbeitende Vorrichtungen zur Anwärmung und Anfeuchtung von Atemgasen nach dem Verdunster-Verdampferprinzip werden anhand von zwei Ausführungsbeispielen beschrieben. Das erste Vorrichtungsbeispiel ist sehr klein, kompakt, leichtgewichtig, weitgehend lageunabhängig arbeitend und ist vor allem für den mobilen Einsatz gedacht. Das zweite Vorrichtungsbeispiel flaschenförmig, leichtgewichtig, weitgehend lageunabhängig ohne externe Pumpe und Befeuchtungswasser-Reservoir arbeitend ist vor allem für den Einsatz im Bereich Home Care optimiert. Diese Atemgas-Anwärm-Anfeucht-Vorrichtungen werden von einer elektrisch-elektronischen Steuer-Strom-Versorgungs- und Überwachungs-Vorrichtung, nach dem Stand der Technik, kontrolliert.
Abstract:
Colds are treated by making use of the fact that external viruses such as the cold virus, flu influenza and herpes simplex are highly susceptible to heat and humidity, and hence having the patient breathe in a very warm hot air stream and humid air stream, combined as a hot and humid air stream, localised to the respiratory organs. Also, external viruses such as herpes simplex are treated by firing a localised hot and humid air stream at the affected site. A feature of the present product is that the hot air stream and humid air stream are combined, and treatment takes place by locally increasing the temperature and the humidity in the respiratory organs and parts affected by external viruses. When the virus or influenza is exposed to heat and humidity, it is either weakened or dies. This phenomenon has been frequently discussed in many published medical books and in recent articles as well. Pairing these two virus-eradicating conditions is highly efficacious due to a synergistic effect. Many elderly people in Korea and some people with a tradition of the experience treat colds by surrounding their entire bodies with warming hot air, and some claim that the hot air of saunas (Turkish baths) constitutes a good form of treatment for colds. However, such practices carry a risk of heat stroke. The cold treatment device employing a hot and humid air stream can exhibit a substantial therapeutic effect since the hot and humid air stream is blasted at the respiratory organs or just part of the body so as to avoid damage to the body and, more particularly, the brain.
Abstract:
A humidifier heater base assembly is disclosed for use in a humidifier which is used for heating and humidifying a flow of respiratory gases supplied to a user. The assembly preferably includes a heater plate having a thermally conductive portion and a perimeter portion around the perimeter of the heater plate, and a resilient member having an inner part attached to the perimeter portion. An outer part of the resilient member is adapted to provide a resilient perimeter flange around at least part and preferably the whole of the perimeter portion. The resilient member is adapted to allow the heater base to be fixed to the humidifier by the resilient perimeter flange in such a manner that the heater plate and the inner part can move relative to the humidifier in a direction substantially transverse to the general plane of the heater plate. At least a portion of the resilient perimeter flange remains stationary relative to the humidifier.
Abstract:
Diese Erfindung betrifft eine Verdunstungskammer (2) mit einer Wanne (7) und einer Zwischenkammer (10), die im Betrieb oberhalb der Wanne angeordnet ist. Der Boden der Zwischenkammer weist einen Flüssigkeitsauslass (14) auf, durch den Flüssigkeit (25) von der Zwischenkammer in die Wanne (7) flieβt. Die Zwischenkammer (10) weist ein Pegelventil (17, 20) auf, das aus einem Flüssigkeitsanschluss (18) Flüssigkeit in die Zwischenkammer nachlaufen lässt, so dass der Flüssigkeitspegel in der Zwischenkammer (10) zwischen einem Minimalpegel und einem Maximalpegel liegt. Diese Erfindung betrifft ferner eine Zwischenkammer (2, 10) mit einem Flüssigkeitsanschluss (18), einem Pegelventil (17, 20) sowie einem Ausgleichsanschluss (19). Über den Flüssigkeitsanschluss (18) wird eine Flüssigkeit zugeführt. Das Pegelventil (17, 20) lässt aus dem Flüssigkeitsanschluss (18) Flüssigkeit in die Zwischenkammer (10) nachlaufen, so dass der Flüssigkeitspegel in der Zwischenkammer (10) zwischen einem Minimalpegel und einem Maximalpegel liegt. Der Ausgleichsanschluss (19) ist pneumatisch mit dem Gasraum um den Schwimmer (20) herum verbunden. Die Erfindung betrifft ferner entsprechende Verfahren.
Abstract:
A humidifier (14) for humidifying a flow of breathable gas to be delivered to a patient includes a chamber (16) configured to receive the flow of breathable gas; a tub (20) configured to contain a supply of water, the tub being configured to be inserted into the chamber; a lid (18) provided on the chamber and being movable between an open position and a closed position; and a seal (19) provided on the lid, the seal being configured to seal the chamber such that the flow of breathable gas pressurizes the chamber. The humidifier may be connectable to a flow generator (12) configured to generate the flow of breathable gas. A tube for delivering the humidified flow may be connected to the humidifier. The tube may be a heated or non-heated tube. A respiratory apparatus for delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient may include the humidifier and the flow generator and/or the tube. A method of humidifying a flow of breathable gas comprises sealing a chamber containing a supplying a water and pressurizing the chamber by directing the flow of breathable gas into the chamber.
Abstract:
A breathing assistance system for delivering a stream of heated, humidified gases to a user, comprising a humidifier unit which holds and heats a volume of water, and which in use receives a flow of gases from a gases source via an inlet port, the flow of gases passing through the humidifier and exiting via an exit port, the system further having a temperature sensor which measures the temperature of the gases exiting the humidifier unit, an ambient temperature sensor which measures the temperature of gases before they enter the humidifier unit, and a flow sensor which measures the flow rate of the gases stream, the system also having a controller which receives data from the temperature and flow sensors, and which determines a control output in response, the control output adjusting the power to the humidifier unit to achieve a desired output at the humidifier unit exit port.
Abstract:
A respiratory humidification system (10) having a capillary passage (52) in communication with a ventilator (80), the ventilator adapted to deliver an air stream, a heater operable to at least partially vaporize water in the capillary passage, a pumping unit (40) adapted to supply water to the capillary passage, wherein the water upon heating is at least partially vaporized to form an aerosol stream. The aerosol stream is combined with the air stream to form a humidified air stream.
Abstract:
An apparatus for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a flow generator (22) to generate a flow of breathable gas; a humidifier chamber (1) to contain a supply of water (13); a first flow path (10) to deliver the flow of breathable gas from the flow generator (22) to the humidifier chamber (1); a second flow path (4) to deliver the flow of breathable gas from the humidifier chamber (1) to a patient interface (5); and a wicking element (36) and/or a flat, elongate heating element (12) provided at least in the humidifier chamber (1). A method of delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes generating a flow of breathable gas; and humidifying the flow by passing the flow over a supply of water. Humidifying the flow includes heating the supply of water and/or the flow with a heating element in thermal contact with the water and/or the flow before passing the supply of water, the flow over the supply of water, and/or the flow after passing the supply of water; and controlling a voltage applied to the heating element to control the humidity of the flow. A tube (4, 10) for use in delivering a flow of breathable gas to a patient includes a circuit including electrically conductive ink (70) provided on an inner surface and/or an outer surface.
Abstract:
A method for humidifying gas in a ventilator circuit 100, 101, 102, 105, 106 comprises aerosolising a humidifying agent such as water or saline using an aerosol generator 2 and delivering the aerosolised humidifying agent to the inspiration line 101 of the ventilator circuit coupled to the respiratory system of a patient. The aerosol generator 2 comprises a vibratable member 40 having a plurality of apertures extending between a first surface and a second surface. A controller 3 controls the operation of aerosol generator 2, for example in response to the flow of air in the inspiration line 101 as detected by a sensor 11.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Beatmungsgerät mit einer Zuführeinrichtung (2, 4) zum Zuführen von Inspirationsluft zu einem Patienten, einer Abführeinrichtung (3, 5) zum Abführen von Exspirationsluft vom Patienten und zumindest einer Feuchtemesseinrichtung (1) zum Bestimmen der Feuchte der dem Patienten zugeführten Inspirationsluft und/oder der vom Patienten abgeführten Exspirationsluft, wobei die Feuchtemesseinrichtung eine Kondensationsoberfläche aufweist, wobei Mittel zum Einstellen der Temperatur der Kondensationsoberfläche vorgesehen sind und wobei eine optische Nachweiseinrichtung zum Bestimmen des Betauungszustandes der Kondensationsoberfläche vorhanden ist.