Apparatus for supplying respiratory gas and a method for controlling the apparatus

• US 20040182386A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Humidification Technologies GmbH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meier, Jorg
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas and a method of controlling the apparatus. In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas comprising a conveyor device for conveying the respiratory gas, a conduit means for feeding the respiratory gas conveyed by the conveyor device to a person, and a humidification device for humidifying the respiratory gas, which is distinguished by a sensor device for generating a signal indicative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity and a control device for controlling the humidification device having regard to the signal which is generated by the sensor device and which is indicative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity. Furthermore there is proposed a method of supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, in which the respiratory gas is introduced by means of a conveyor device into a conduit system leading to a patient and is humidified, wherein the conveyor device is operated in such a way that a respiratory gas pressure which is above ambient pressure obtains in the air conduit system, which is distinguished in that signals indicative in respect of the relative and/or absolute humidity of the respiratory gas are generated by means of a sensor device and the humidity of the respiratory gas is adjusted on the basis of the signals generated in that way.

Claims

1. Apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas comprising:

a conveyor device for conveying the respiratory gas,

a conduit means for feeding the respiratory gas conveyed by the conveyor device to a person, and

a humidification device for humidifying the respiratory gas,

characterised by a sensor device for generating a signal indicative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity and a control device for controlling the humidification device having regard to the signal which is generated by the sensor device and which is indicative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the sensor device is arranged in the region, near the patient, of a respiratory gas conduit system.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the respiratory gas conduit system includes a breathing mask and that the sensor device is arranged in the region of said breathing mask.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterised in that the sensor device is integrated into the breathing mask.

5. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the sensor device (5, 5a, 5b) is arranged in the region of a coupling structure provided between the breathing mask and a hose conduit portion.

6. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the sensor device is arranged in the region of the humidification device.

7. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the sensor device includes an electronic sensor element and that provided in the region of the sensor element is an electronic circuit for generating a data sequence representative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity detected on the part of the sensor element.

8. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that there is provided a temperature detection device for detecting the temperature of the respiratory gas.

9. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the temperature detection device is arranged in the region of a breathing mask.

10. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the degree of humidification achieved by the action of the humidification device is regulated by adjusting the temperature of the humidification water which comes into contact with the respiratory gas in the humidification device.

11. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the humidification action of the humidification device is regulated by varying the effective contact surface available for humidification or the intensity of contact of the respiratory gas with the water surface.

12. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the amount of water introduced into the respiratory gas is established by the respiratory gas being brought into contact with a quantitatively controlled amount of water.

13. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 12 characterised in that the loading of the respiratory gas with water is adapted by controlling the respiratory gas temperature.

14. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 13 characterised in that the degree of humidification of the respiratory gas is adjusted by defined adjustment of the flow characteristic of the respiratory gas which comes into contact with the humidification water.

15. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 14 characterised in that the degree of humidification of the respiratory gas is adjusted by adjustment of the respiratory gas flow coming into contact with the humidification water.

16. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 15 characterised in that provided in the region of the sensor device is a transmitting device for wireless transmission of the data sequence indicative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity.

17. Apparatus according to at least one of claims 1 to 16 characterised in that the transmitting device is in the form of a blue tooth transmitting device.

18. A method of supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, in which the respiratory gas is introduced by means of a conveyor device into a conduit system leading to a patient and is humidified, wherein the conveyor device is operated in such a way that a respiratory gas pressure which is above ambient pressure obtains in the air conduit system, characterised in that signals indicative in respect of the relative and/or absolute humidity of the respiratory gas are generated by means of a sensor device and the humidity of the respiratory gas is adjusted on the basis of the signals generated in that way.

19. A method according to claim 18 characterised in that the signals indicative in respect of the respiratory gas humidity state are detected in the region of a breathing mask.

20. A method according to claim 18 or claim 19 characterised in that to adjust the respiratory gas humidity level the temperature of the respiratory gas and/or the temperature of the humidification water which comes into contact with the respiratory gas is definedly adjusted.