RESPIRATOR WITH END-OF-SERVICE-LIFE DETECTION

• US 20120085349A1
• Filed: 10/06/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tobias, Peter, Krafthefer, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,616,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0227 Materials having sensing or indicating function, e.g. indicating a pressure increase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/125 with incorporated filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/705 Testing of filters for leaks blood in dialysate A61M1/1692
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 19/00 Cartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus carbon dioxide absorbing devices A61M16/22
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 9/006 Indicators or warning devices, e.g. of low pressure, contamination

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for detecting when respiratory cartridges of a respirator have reached their end-of-service-life. In some instances, two or more respiratory cartridges are removably connectable to a respirator housing, where each of the two or more respiratory cartridges receives ambient air and deliver cleaned air to the respirator housing. One of the respiratory cartridges may be configured to have a lower adsorption capacity than the remaining respirator cartridges. A gas sensor may be situated downstream of the reduced capacity respirator cartridge, and may detect an increased concentration of the targeted gas in the cleaned air delivered by the reduced capacity respiratory cartridge. When detected, an end-of-service-life indication may be provided to the user.

Claims

1. A respirator comprising:

a respirator housing for providing cleaned air to a user;

two or more respiratory cartridges removably connectable to the respirator housing, each of the two or more respiratory cartridges receiving ambient air and delivering cleaned air to the respirator housing;

a first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges having a lower adsorption capacity for a targeted gas than at least one other of the two or more respirator cartridges; and

a gas sensor positioned downstream of the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges for detecting an increased concentration of the targeted gas in the cleaned air delivered by the first respiratory cartridge to the respirator housing.

2. The respirator of claim 1 further comprising a pump for pumping cleaned air from the respirator housing to the user.

3. The respirator of claim 1 further comprising a controller coupled to the gas sensor, wherein the controller issues an end-of-service-life indication to the user when the gas sensor detects the increased concentration of the target gas.

4. The respirator of claim 1 further comprising a tube fluidly interposed between an outlet of the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges and the respirator housing, and wherein the gas sensor is exposed to an interior of the tube.

5. The respirator of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for selectively stopping a flow through the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges.

6. The respirator of claim 5 further comprising a controller coupled to the gas sensor and the valve, wherein the controller closes the valve when the gas sensor detects an increased concentration of the targeted gas in the tube.

7. The respirator of claim 4 further comprising a second respiratory cartridge that has an inlet in fluid communication with the tube, and an outlet in fluid communication with the respirator housing.

8. The respirator of claim 7, wherein the flow through the second respiratory cartridge experiences a U-turn.

9. The respirator of claim 1, further comprising a second respirator cartridge that has an inlet in fluid communication with the respiratory housing and an outlet in fluid communication with a gas stream flowing to the user of the respirator.

10. The respirator of claim 1, further comprising an adapter situated between an outlet of the first respiratory cartridges and the respirator housing, wherein the adapter contains the gas sensor and a downstream absorbent.

11. A respirator comprising:

a respirator housing for providing cleaned air to a user;

a pump for pumping cleaned air from the respirator housing to the user;

a first respiratory cartridge connectable to the respirator housing, the first respiratory cartridge receiving ambient air and delivering cleaned air to the respirator housing;

a second respiratory cartridge connectable to the respirator housing, the second respiratory cartridge receiving ambient air and delivering cleaned air to the respirator housing;

a third respiratory cartridge connectable to the respirator housing, the third respiratory cartridge receiving ambient air and delivering cleaned air to the respirator housing;

the first respiratory cartridge having a lower adsorption capacity for a targeted gas than the second respiratory cartridge and the third respiratory cartridge;

a tube fluidly interposed between an outlet of the first respiratory cartridge and the respirator housing;

a gas sensor exposed to an interior of the tube;

a valve for selectively closing off the tube; and

a controller coupled to the gas sensor and the valve, wherein the controller closes the valve when the gas sensor detects an increased concentration of the targeted gas in the tube, the controller also issues an end-of-service-life indication to the user when the gas sensor detects an increased concentration of the targeted gas in the tube.

12. The respirator of claim 11 further comprising a fourth respiratory cartridge that has an inlet in fluid communication with the tube, and an outlet in fluid communication with the respirator housing.

13. The respirator of claim 12, wherein the flow through the fourth respiratory cartridge experiences a U-turn.

14. A method for providing cleaned air to a user, comprising:

passing ambient air through two or more respiratory cartridges into a respirator housing, wherein a first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges has a lower adsorption capacity for a targeted gas than at least one other of the two or more respirator cartridges;

detecting when the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges has the targeted gas break through; and

issuing an end-of-service-life indication to the user when it is detected that the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges has the targeted gas break through.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising preventing air from passing from the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges and into the respirator housing when it is detected that the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges has the targeted gas break through.

16. The method of claim 14, replacing all of the two or more respiratory cartridges after the end-of-service-life indication is issued.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising, cleaning the air provided by the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges before providing the air into the respirator housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the air provided by the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges is cleaned before providing the air into the respirator housing by a specially configured respiratory cartridge.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the air provided by the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges is cleaned before providing the air into the respirator housing by a specially configured adapter.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising increasing the flow rate of air through the two or more respiratory cartridges other than the first respiratory cartridges after it is detected that the first one of the two or more respiratory cartridges has the targeted gas break through.