RESPIRATION SYSTEM AND CONNECTOR SYSTEM THEREFOR FOR REDUCING CONTAMINATIONS

• US 20130206145A1
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Published: 08/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Drager Medical GmbH (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: HEESCH, Ralf, TRKER, Ahmet
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/205.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0891 Closed circuit, e.g. for anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/12 with interchangeable cassettes forming partially or totally the fluid circuit

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.

Claims

1. A respiration system comprising:

a respirator;

at least two connector systems;

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;

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 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 the corresponding two connector systems, so that collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on the connector systems is essentially prevented from occurring; 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 the measuring line of the coupled sensor or on the coupled sensor itself is essentially prevented from occurring.

2. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each of the at least one of the at least two connector systems is coupled with the sensor via a measuring line for the sensor; and

a constant or intermittent volume flow, which is necessary for the operation of the breathing system, is combined within each of the at least two connector systems with the measuring line for the corresponding sensor such that the volume flow is merged with the measuring line of the sensor or with the sensor itself already within the respirator.

3. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controllable gas inlet introduces gas from the respirator through a valve via one of the at least two connector systems into the breathing system, wherein each of the at least two connector systems is coupled with a sensor such that the volume flow through the connector system is a unidirectional flow.

4. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a further connector system; and

a controllable fresh gas supply unit connected to the respirator to introduce fresh gas to the respirator and into the breathing system via the further connector system, wherein the further connector system is coupled with a sensor such that the volume flow through the further connector system is a unidirectional volume flow.

5. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising pressure sensors, each of the pressure sensors being coupled with a corresponding one of the at least two connector systems via a measuring line.

6. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the breathing system further comprises a CO₂ absorber; and

the CO₂ absorber is provided between the expiratory branch and the inspiratory branch.

7. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a respiration drive electrically connected to the respirator, wherein:

the breathing system comprises connectors; and

the respiration drive is detachably coupled with the breathing system via the connectors.

8. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising pressure sensors, each of the pressure sensors being coupled with a corresponding one of the at least two connector systems via a measuring line wherein each of the at least two connector systems comprises a connector socket essentially in the form of a cylindrical pipe that is connected with the measuring line for a corresponding pressure sensor such that the volume flow through the connector socket is merged with the respective measuring line within the respirator.

9. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the at least two connector systems comprises:

a connector socket connected to the respirator; and

a passage opening provided in a housing of the breathing system, wherein each of the connector sockets of the respirator is inserted into a corresponding passage opening of the breathing system for coupling the breathing system with the respirator.

10. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

each of the at least two connector systems has a connector socket connected to the respirator;

each connector socket has a side wall with a socket; and

a pressure sensor is provided at an end of the socket, arranged within the respirator.

11. A respiration system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising pressure sensors wherein:

the socket is a tube socket;

a tube is arranged at the tube socket;

the tube forms a measuring line; and

the pressure sensors are connected to an end of the respective tubes.

12. A respiration system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the socket is sloped relative to the connector socket in a direction opposite to a direction of flow through the connector socket.

13. A respiration system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising filters, each filter being connected between the end of the tube and the pressure sensor.

14. A respiration system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising pressure sensors wherein:

each of the at least two connector systems has a connector socket connected to the respirator;

a port socket is arranged on a side wall of each connector socket within the respirator; and

each pressure sensor is connected at an end of a respective port socket.

15. A respiration system in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

the port socket has an end connected with the respective pressure sensor; and

a filter membrane is provided between the end of the port socket and the pressure sensor.

16. A respiration system in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

the port socket is provided at an end with a flange;

the flange engages with a clamp; and

the respective sensor is fastened to the port socket via the clamp.

17. A respiration system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the filter membrane possesses water-repellant and/or antibacterial properties.

18. A connector system for coupling a respirator and a breathing system, the connector system comprising:

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; and

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, 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 systems, so that a collection of bacteria, viruses or other contaminants on the connector systems is essentially prevented from occurring.

19. A connector system in accordance with claim 18, wherein each of the first connector system and the second connector system comprises:

a connector socket connected to the respirator; and

a socket arranged on a side wall of connector socket within the respirator, the socket having an end connected to a pressure sensor.

20. A connector system in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

the socket is a tube socket;

a tube is connected to the tube socket;

the tube forms a measuring line; and

the pressure sensor is provided connected to an end of the tube.

21. A connector system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the socket is slightly sloped in relation to the connector socket, in a direction opposite to a unidirectional direction of flow through the connector socket.

22. A connector system in accordance with claim 19, wherein a filter is provided between the tube socket and the pressure sensor.

23. A connector system in accordance with claim 18, wherein each of the first connector system and the second connector system comprises a connector socket connected to the respirator, wherein:

the connector socket has a side wall with a port socket within the respirator; and

a pressure sensor is connected to the port socket.

24. A connector system in accordance with claim 23, wherein:

a filter membrane is provided between an end of the port socket and the pressure sensor.

25. A connector system in accordance with claim 23, wherein

the port socket is provided with a flange at an end;

a clamp is provided to engage the flange to fasten the pressure sensor to the port socket.

26. A connector system in accordance with claim 23, wherein the filter membrane possesses water-repellant and/or antibacterial properties.

27. A respiration system comprising:

a respirator comprising a respirator housing, a controllable gas inlet and a controllable gas outlet;

valves controlling the controllable gas inlet and the controllable gas outlet;

a breathing system comprising an expiratory branch and an inspiratory branch;

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; and

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, 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 and the second connector system 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 essentially prevented.