WO1984002656A1

WO1984002656A1 - Respirator

Info

Publication number: WO1984002656A1
Application number: PCT/FI1984/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Taisto Haekkinen
Original assignee: Etelae Haemeen Keuhkovammayhdi
Priority date: 1983-01-07
Filing date: 1984-01-05
Publication date: 1984-07-19
Also published as: FI830059L; GB8418677D0; SE8404450L; FI67178B; FI67178C; GB2142832B; GB2142832A; JPS60500654A; SE459394B; SE8404450D0; DE3490002T1; FI830059A0

Abstract

Respirator intended for pulmonary patients and for indisposed or unconscious persons. The respirator comprises a drug atomizer (13), a supply pressure source communicating with the drug atomizer (13) for conducting air or oxygen, an injector (21) communicating with the drug atomizer (13), and control valves (15, 16) for regulating the atomizing rate of the drug atomizer (13), respectively the respiration pressure. The respirator is composed of a modular system comprising a basic unit consisting of a drug atomizer (13) and a control valve (15) thereto connected, by the aid of which the air or oxygen flow to the drug atomizer (13) can be regulated, and a first tube-like connector (18) which by one end can be connected to the inlet connector (19) of the control valve (15) and by its other end to a connector (20)) communicating with the supply pressure source. To the modular system has been connected an injector (21) connected to the drug atomizer (13), a second tube-like connector (22) connected by one end to the respiration pressure control valve (16) and by its other end to the injector (21), and an exhalation valve mounted between the mouthpiece (11) and the drug atomizer (13) and by the aid of which the counterpressure to exhalation flow can be steplessly regulated. The respiration pressure control valve (16) has been placed in a branch line (35) between the tube-like connectors (18, 22). The first tube-like connector (18) communicates with the supply pressure line (26) through an electrically controlled magnetic valve (36). The respiration pressure control valve (16) likewise communicates with the supply pressure line (26) through the electrically controlled magnetic valve (36). The control means (37) for the magnetic valve (36) comprises a first timing means for setting the operating period of the respirator to conform to the patient's respiratory rhythm, respectively a second timing means for regulating the rest period of the respirator to conform to the patient's respiratory rhythm.

Description

Respirator

The present invention concerns a respirator intended for pulmonary patients, for indisposed or unconscious persons, said respirator comprising a drug atomizer, a supply pressure source communicating with the drug atomizer for conducting air or oxygen, an injector communicating with the drug atomizer, and control valves for regulating the atomizing rate of the drug atomizer, respectively for regulating the respiration pressure, and which respirator has been composed of a modular system comprising a basic unit con¬ sisting of a drug atomizer and a control valve thereto connected, by the aid of which the air or oxygen flow to the drug atomizer can be regulated, and which is provided with an inlet connector for conducting air or oxygen to the control valve, and a first tube-like connector connectable by one end to the inlet connector of the control valve and by its other end to a connector communicating with the supply pressure source, and to said modular system having been connected an injector connected to the drug atomizer of said modular system, another tube-like connector which by one end has been connected to said respiration pressure control valve and by its other end to said injector, and an exhalation valve placed between a mouthpiece and the drug atomizer and by the aid of which the counterpressure to exhalation flow can be step¬ lessly controlled.

The purpose of the respirator is to help pulmonary patients whose respiration is impaired. Respiration apparatus is mostly fitted with drug atomizer, whereby the atomized drugs penetrate deep into even the smallest bronchial passages, aided by the pressurized air being inhaled. In the earlier Finnish Patent No. 53927 by the same applicant, a respirator has been disclosed wherein the exhalation counterpressure can be steplessly regulated. This respirator of prior art is appropriate for numerous different uses, e.g. hospital, home, rescue vehicle, beach, swimming pool and various vehicular uses. Said respirator is, however, composed of one single apparatus

OMPI entity which cannot be modified for any uses other than as a respir¬ ator.

The same drawback also encumbers the automatic respirators commonly

-f used in hospitals. Moreover, such fixed automatic respirators are comparatively expensive in initial outlay.

In the U.S. Patent No. 4,276,876, a respirator has been disclosed which is composed of a modular system in a simple and fast way to become a respirator appropriate in various uses. In this design of prior art, a modular system is employed, comprising a basic unit composed of a drug atomizer and a control valve thereto connected, by the aid of which the air or oxygen flow to the drug atomizer can be regulated and which is provided with an inlet connector for conducting air or oxygen to the control valve. The modular system furthermore comprises a first tube-like connector connectable by one end to the inlet connection of the control valve and by its other end to a connector connected to the supply pressure source. To a modular system like this has been connected a respiration pressure control valve, which has been connected by a conical connection or equivalent to the drug atomizer control valve. In addition, to the modular system has been connected an injector, which has been connected to the drug atomizer, and another tube¬ like connector, connected by one end to the control valve of the respiration pressure and by its other end to the injector. More¬ over, to the modular system has been connected an exhalation valve placed between the mouthpiece and the drug atomizer and by the aid of which the counterpressure to the exhalation flow can be step¬ lessly regulated.

By a respirator with modular structure as taught by U.S. Patent No. 4,276,876, numerous advantages are gained. The respirator is highly advantageous as to initial price and operating costs, but this prior respirator of modular design still presents a somewhat complicated construction, and it is not suitable to be flexibly converted for instance into an atomizer.

OMPI The object of the present invention is to achieve an improvement in the respirator of the U.S. Patent No. 4,276,876. The more detailed object of the invention is to produce a new respirator of modular design and which is even simpler in its construction, and which in addition is convertible.with ease into an atomizer apparatus.

The aims of the invention are achieved by a respirator which is mainly characterized in that the respiration pressure control valve has been disposed in a branch line between the tube-like connectors, that the first tube-like connector communicates with the supply pressure line through an electrically controlled magnetic valve, and that similarly the respiration pressure control valve likewise communicates with the supply pressure line through an electrically controlled magnetic valve.

In accordance with claim 2, the control means for the magnetic valve comprises a first timing means for regulating the operating period of the respirator consistent with the patient's respiratory rhythm, and similarly, another timing means for regulating the resting period of the respirator to conform to the patient's respiratory rhythm.

Certain advantageous embodiments of the repisrator of the invention are presented in claims 4 and 5.

The invention is described in detail referring to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, presented in the figures of the drawing attached, but to which the invention is not intended to be exclusively confined.

Fig. 1 presents in schematic elevational view, an advantageous embodiment of the respirator of the invention.

Fig. 2 presents the flow diagram of the respirator of Fig. 1 with its regulating and control units. In the embodiment of Figs 1 and 2, the respirator of the invention in general has been indicated with the reference numeral 10. The respirator 10 is modular in structure and comprises a basic unit composed of a drug atomizer 13 and a drug atomizer control valve 15 attached thereto e.g. by a suitable taper connection and by the aid of which the air or oxygen flow into the drug atomizer 13 can be regulated. To the drug atomizer 13 has been connected a mouthpiece 11, and an exhalation valve has been inserted between the mouthpiece 11 and the drug atomizer 13. By the aid of the exhalation valve 12, the counterpressure to exhalation flow can be steplessly regulated. The cup for liquids of the drug atomizer 13 is indicated by reference numeral 14.

The other component of the modular system comprises a pressure tube 18, connectable by one end to the inlet connector 19 of the control valve 15 and by its other end to the connector 20 communicating with the supply pressure source.

To the modular system described in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,276,876 has been connected an injector 21, which is connected to the drug atomizer 13. In addition, to the modular system has been connected another tube-like connector 22, connected by one end e.g. by taper connection 23 to the injector 21 and by its other end to the connector 24, through which the tube-like connector 22 communicates with the respiration pressure control valve 16. The design described in the foregoing is up to this point exactly the same as has been disclosed in the U.S. Patent No. 4,276,876.

In accordance with the basic idea of the invention, the respiration pressure control valve 16 has been disposed in the branch line 35 between the tube-like connectors 18 and 22, and the first tube-like connector 18 communicates with the supply pressure line 26 through an electrically controlled magnetic valve 36, and similarly the respiration pressure control valve also communicates with the supply pressure line 26 through the electrically controlled magnetic valve 36. In Fig. 1, the control panel of the respirator 10 has been indicated with reference numeral 25. To the control panel are carried the supply pressure line 26 and the electric cable 27. Reference numeral 16a indicates the control knob of the respiration pressure control valve 16 and reference numeral 17, a pressure gauge indicating the repiration pressure.

In the present embodiment, the control means 37 of the magnetic valve 36 comprises a first timing means 30 for regulating the operating period of the respirator 10 to conform to the patient's respiratory rhythm, and similarly a second timing means 31 for regulating the resting period of the respirator 10 to conform to the patient's respiratory rhythm. On the panel 25 is provided a toggle switch 32 for starting and stopping the automatic operation of the respirator 10 and a toggle switch 33 for manual adjustment of the respirator 10. In addition, the control panel 25 carries a pilot light 34.

In certain specific embodiments of the respirator 10 of the invention, a pressure regulator 28 provided with pressure gauge 29, installed in the supply pressure line 26 coming from the pressure source is used.

The operation of the respirator 10 of the invention is as follows. When the respirator 10 is being used as a positive pressure therapy means, an inhalation period which suits the patient is regulated with the timing means 30, and similarly with the timing means 31 a suitable respiration interval period. The control valve 15 mounted on the cover of the drug atomizer 13 is regulated, according to a graduation, to be in a flow position ensuring a suitable atomizing rate. Similarly, the air intake apertures 21a of the injector are throttled or opened with reference to a graduation, to regulate a flow rate which is appropriate for the patient. Before the respir¬ ator 10 is connected to the patient, the respirator 10 is started by pressing the switch 33, and with simultaneous observation of the pressure gauge 17 the regulation knob 16a is turned to set the respiration pressure suitably. Thereafter, the switch 32 starting the automatic operation is pressed. The respirator 10 will hence¬ forward automatically take care of the respiratory function in accordance with the rhythm that has been set.

When it is desired to use the respirator 10 of the invention merely as an atomizer means, the procedure according to the first alterna¬ tive embodiment is as follows. On the drug atomizer 13 is mounted a face mask in place of the mouthpiece 11, or the mouthpiece 11 is left in place. The control valve 15 is dismounted from the cover of the drug atomizer 13 and disconnected from the tube-like connector 18, and the tube-like connector 18 is connected directly by a connector 19 to the cover of the drug atomizer 13. Next, the respiration pressure control valve 16 is closed by the aid of the control knob 16a. The operating and resting periods of the drug atomizer are regulated by the timing means 30 and 31. Finally, the atomizing rate is set with the pressure regulator 28 provided with pressure gauge 29.

The respirator 10 of the invention may be used as a mere atomizer means also in the following way. The control valve 15 is dismounted from the cover of the atomizer 13, and to the cover of the drug atomizer 13 is connected the other tube-like connector 22, from which the injector 21 was first been removed; in other words, to the cover of the drug atomizer 13 is connected the other tube-like connector 22 directly by taper juncture 23. Next, the connector 20 of the first tube-like connector 18 is closed e.g. with a suitable plastic plug. Thereafter, the atomizing rate is regulated by the regulation knob 16a of the control valve 16. It is thus understood that in this embodiment no pressure regulator 28 provided with pressure gauge 29 is needed: the components comprised in the basic structure of the respirator 10 suffice to accomplish the modified function.

In the foregoing only a few advantageous embodiments of the invention have been presented, and it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that numerous modifications thereof are feasible within the scope of the inventive idea presented in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A respirator intended for pulmonary patients and for indisposed or unconscious persons, said respirator (10) comprising a drug atomizer (13) , a supply pressure source communicating with the drug atomizer (13) for conducting air or oxygen, an injector (21) communicating with the drug atomizer (13), and control valves (15,16) for regulating the atomizing rate, respectively the respiration pressure, and said respirator (10) being composed of a modular system comprising a basic unit consisting of a drug atomizer (13) and a control valve (15) thereto connected, by the aid of which the air or oxygen flow to the drug atomizer (13) can be regulated and which is provided with an inlet connector (19) for conducting air or oxygen to the control valve (15), and a first tube-like connector (18), connectable by one end to the inlet connector (19) of the control valve (15) and by its other end to a connector (20) communicating with the supply pressure source, and to said modular system being connected an injector (21) connected to the drug atomizer (13) of said modular ,system, a second tube-like connector (22) connected by one end to said respiration pressure control valve (16) and by its other end to said injector (21), and an exhalation valve (12) disposed between a mouthpiece (11) and the drug atomizer (13) and by the aid of which the counterpressure to exhalation flow can be steplessly regulated, characterized in that the respiration pressure control valve (16) has been disposed in a branch line (35) between the tube-like connectors (18,22), that the first tube-like connector (18) communicates with the supply pressure line (26) through an electrically controlled magnetic valve (36) , and that similarly the respiration pressure control valve (16) communicates with the supply pressure line (26) through the electrically controlled magnetic valve (36) .

2. A respirator according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means (37) of the magnetic valve (36) comprises a first timing means (30) for setting the operating period of the respirator (10) to conform to the patient's respiration rhythm,

-BUREA OMPI and similarly a second timing means (31) for setting the rest period of the respirator (10) to conform to the patient's respir¬ ation rhythm.

3. A respirator according to claim 1, characterized in that the respirator is provided with a press button (33) , by which the rhythm of the respirator's (10) operation can be adapted to suit the patient, by finger pressure on said button (33).

4. The use of a respirator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the respirator (10) is used as atomizer by disconnecting the control valve (15) of the drug atomizer (13) from the drug atomizer (13) and from the first tube-like connector (18) , by connecting the tube-like connector (18) directly to the drug atomizer (13) , by closing the respiration pressure control valve (16), by regulating the operating period and rest period of the drug atomizer (13) with timing means (30,31) or by pacing it by finger pressure on a press button (33) to conform to a breaching rhythm appropriate for the patient, and by regulating the atomizing rate of the drug atomizer (13) by the aid of a pressure regulator (28) provided with pressure gauge (29), installed in the supply pressure line (26).

5. The use of a respirator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the respirator means (10) is used as an atomizer by dis¬ connecting the control valve (15) of the drug atomizer (13) from the drug atomizer -(13) , by mounting the second tube-like connector (22), after first removing from it the injector (21), by closing the connector (20) leading to the pressure line (26) of the first tube-like connector (18), by setting the operating period and rest period of the drug atomizer (13) with the timing means (30,31) or pacing them by finger pressure on the button (33) to conform to a respiration rhythm which is appropriate for the patient, and by regulating the atomizing rate of the drug atomizer (13) by the aid of the control valve (16).