Device for supplying a respiratory gas and air-conduction structure provided in said device

• US 20070068526A1
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAP Medizin-Technologie GMBH (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bechtel, Martin, Lang, Bernd, Biener, Achim, Mayer, Wolfgang, Burz, Jahann, Lange, Jorn
• Application Number:
  US10/578,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20070068526A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supplying a respiratory gas, in particular a CPAP device and also to an air-conduction structure that is provided in said device. The aim of the invention is to provide a device of this type for supplying a respiratory gas, which is characterised by a silent operation and which has advantages in terms of the assembly method and of hygiene over conventional devices of this type. This is achieved by a device for supplying a respiratory gas, comprising a transport unit for transporting said gas at a pressure level that exceeds the ambient pressure, a housing for receiving the transport device and an air-conduction structure for guiding the respiratory gas from the transport device to an outlet region, said air-conduction device being configured by a moulded foam part comprising respiratory-gas channels. This enables the provision of a respiratory-gas supply device, in particular a CPAP device, in which the air-conduction device is formed by a sound absorbing, interchangeable foam element, or a foam element that can be washed separately.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A device for supplying a respiratory gas, in particular a CPAP device, having:

a delivery device for delivering the respiratory gas at a pressure level that is above the ambient pressure,

a housing device, for receiving the delivery device, and

an air-conduction structure for conducting the respiratory gas from the delivery device to an outlet region,

wherein the air-conduction structure is embodied as a molded foam part made from a foamed material.

34. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the molded foam part defines air-carrying conduits.

35. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the molded foam part is subdivided into a first portion of the molded part and a second portion of the molded part.

36. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the air-conduction structure is embodied such that it forms a sound absorption path.

37. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the sound absorption path is formed upon the cooperation of the first portion of the molded part with the second portion of the molded part.

38. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the sound absorption path is formed in some portions by the first portion of the molded part and in some portions by the second portion of the molded part.

39. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that support structures are provided, for bracing the molded foam part.

40. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the molded foam part is detachably coupled to the support structures.

41. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the molded foam part is injection-molded onto the support structures.

42. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the molded foam part defines a receiving portion, for elastically resiliently receiving the delivery device.

43. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the receiving portion is embodied such that the delivery device is received in it without play, with a slight press fit.

44. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the first portion of the molded part and the second portion of the molded part have different material properties.

45. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that at least one of the portions of the molded part forms a filter device.

46. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that a filter device is coupled to the foam body.

47. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the foam body forms a portion to stand on.

48. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the housing device forms a receiving jacket and is placed onto the foam body.

49. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that at least some of the air-conduction conduits are formed by an outer surface region of the foam body.

50. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the sound absorption path has a multiply winding course.

51. The device in accordance with claim 33, characterized in that the inner wall of the conduit, which surrounds the sound absorption path and is formed by the foam body or a coating provided on it, is provided with sound absorbing profile sections.

52. A CPAP device, including a core module and an outer module provided for receiving the core module, wherein the core module includes a foam body, and an air-conduction path is embodied in the foam body and is in communication with a respiratory gas delivery device, for furnishing a respiratory gas conduction portion with sound absorbing properties.

53. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the respiratory gas delivery device is embedded in the foam body.

54. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the foam body is embodied in multiple parts.

55. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that function components are inserted into the foam body.

56. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that conduction structure components are inserted into the foam body.

57. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 56, characterized in that the conduction structure component is embodied as a breathing hose connection structure component and/or as an air humidifier connection structure component.

58. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the foam body forms a securing device for suspending the delivery device and/or other function components of the CPAP device.

59. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the further function components are a power pack.

60. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the further function components are sensor devices for pressure and/or volumetric flow.

61. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the further function components are a control unit.

62. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the further function components are valve devices.

63. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the further function components are switch devices.

64. The CPAP device in accordance with claim 52, characterized in that the geometry of the foam part is determined by a plastic injection molding tool, and the foam part is produced by means of a plastic material injection molding operation.