Respiration system and connector system therefor for reducing contaminations
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A respiration system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A connector system for coupling a respirator and a breathing system, the connector system comprising:
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a first connector system connecting the respirator and the breathing system to connect a controllable gas inlet of the respirator to the breathing system to admit gas from the respirator into the breathing system via the first connector system, said first connector system being formed separate from inspiration and expiration branches of the breathing system, said first connector system comprising a first connector body having a first connector body first end and a first connector body second end, said first connector body first end being located in a respirator interior space of said respirator, said first connector body second end being located in a breathing system interior space of said breathing system, wherein said first connector body bridges a gap between said respirator and said breathing system, said first connector body comprising a first connector body portion extending continuously, without interruption, from a position in said breathing system interior space to a position in said respirator interior space; a second connector system connecting the respirator and the breathing system to connect a controllable gas outlet of the respirator to the breathing system to draw off gas from the breathing system into the respirator via the second connector system, said second connector system comprising a second connector body having a second connector body first end and a second connector body second end, said second connector body first end being located in said respirator interior space of said respirator, said connector body second end being located in said breathing system interior space of said breathing system, said second connector body comprising a second connector body portion extending continuously, without interruption, from a position in said breathing system interior space to a position in said respirator interior space, wherein said second connector body bridges another gap between said respirator and said breathing system, wherein valves control flow through 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 the first connector system and in the second connector system, so that a collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on the connector systems is reduced, said second connector system being formed separate from the inspiration and expiration branches of the breathing system, wherein the 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 first connector system 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 first connector system and the second connector system 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 first connector system and the second connector system is coupled with the sensor, wherein valves control the flow through the controllable gas inlet and the controllable gas outlet such that due to the only unidirectional volume flow through the respective connector system, collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on one of a measuring line of the sensor and the coupled sensor itself is essentially prevented from occurring, the measuring line being connected to one of the first connector system and the second connector system in the respirator interior space such that the measuring line extends in a direction away from the unidirectional volume flow. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A respiration system comprising:
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a respirator comprising a respirator housing, a controllable gas inlet and a controllable gas outlet, said respirator housing comprising a respirator interior space; valves controlling the controllable gas inlet and the controllable gas outlet; a breathing system comprising an expiratory branch and an inspiratory branch, said breathing system comprising breathing system housing having a breathing system interior space; a first connector system connected to the respirator housing and connecting the respirator controllable gas inlet and the breathing system to admit gas from the respirator into the breathing system via the first connector system, said first connector system being formed separate from said expiratory branch and said inspiratory branch, said first connector system comprising a first connector system socket having a first connector system socket first end portion and a second connector system socket second end portion, said first connector system socket first end portion being arranged in said breathing system interior space, said second connector system socket second end portion being arranged in said respirator interior space, said first connector system socket comprising a first connector system socket outer surface portion extending continuously from said breathing system interior space to said respirator interior space; a second connector system connected to the respirator housing and connecting the respirator controllable gas outlet and the breathing system to draw off gas from the breathing system into the respirator via the second connector system, said second connector system being formed separate from said expiratory branch and said inspiratory branch, said second connector system comprising a second connector system socket having a second connector system socket first end portion and a second connector system socket second end portion, said second connector system socket first end portion being arranged in said breathing system interior space, said second connector system socket second end portion being arranged in said respirator interior space, said second connector system socket comprising a second connector system socket outer surface portion extending continuously from said breathing system interior space to said respirator interior space, wherein said first connector system and said second connector system socket bridge a gap between said breathing system housing and said respirator housing; and a sensor wherein at least one of the first connector system and the second connector system is coupled with the sensor, wherein; the breathing system is detachably coupled with the respirator housing by the first connector system and the second connector system; and the valves control flow through the controllable gas inlet and the controllable gas outlet such that only a unidirectional volume flow prevails in each of the first connector system socket and the second connector system socket by which the direction of migration of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants through the respective connector system is affected such that a collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on the connector systems is reduced and the valves control flow through the controllable gas inlet and the controllable gas outlet 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 sensor or on the sensor is reduced, wherein the 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 first connector system associated with the gas inlet during operation of the respirator, wherein the bacteria or viruses enter the breathing system from expired fluid, the bacteria or viruses entering only one of the first connector system and the second connector system arranged in the respirator from the breathing system via the gas outlet such that the bacteria or viruses remain in the respirator, wherein the bacteria or viruses are not transferred from the respirator into the breathing system, the measuring line being connected to one of the first connector system and the second connector system within the respirator interior space such that the measuring line extends in a direction away from the unidirectional volume flow.
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Specification