DE202012007229U1 - Apparatus for on-site generation of humidifier water for use in breathing gas humidifiers - Google Patents

Abstract

System for the on-site production of demineralized and / or decontaminated water and supply of the water to a respiratory therapy device with a distillation device (1) which generates distilled water and delivers it via an outlet; a storage bottle (3) for filling with the dispensed distilled water; and an adapter (2) for connecting the outlet to the storage bottle (3).

Description

Field of the invention

Apparatus for on-site generation of humidifier water for use in combination with humidifiers.

State of the art

For the humidification of respiratory gases in the context of home ventilation is usually resorted to commercially available piercing containers (bottles or bags) with demineralized sterile water. This is not only logistically expensive (shipping the full container) but also contributes to the operating costs of such devices relevant.

Therefore, there are different approaches, for. B. in non-invasive respiratory therapy sleep-related breathing disorders, instead of the distilled sterile water z. As well as to use boiled drinking water, which is to be improved by these measures with respect. The germ load and which also calcifications in the water tank to be reduced.

For humidifier humidifiers whose humidification chambers are intended for continuous automatic refilling (ie in particular having one or more float valves), the approach to boiling off the water can not be an acceptable solution. This is mainly due to the undefined efficiency of decoction with respect to the quality improvement of the water and the fact that no "closed" system is produced by the decoction and usually subsequently Umfüllvorgänge and thus exist various Eintrittspforten for microorganisms and impurities on the way of the water into the humidifier chamber.

At worst, the water in the humidifier chamber may be a source or vector of pathogens on the ventilated patient, namely, when droplets from the chamber reach the patient. This is z. B. at Durchblubber humidifiers especially at higher gas flow to be feared, but also with other humidifiers in the case of malfunction (flop failure) or tipping over the device, etc.

invention

According to embodiments, the present invention relates to a system or apparatus for on-site generation of demineralized and / or decontaminated water and delivery of the water to a respiratory therapy system or a respiratory therapy apparatus having a distillation device ( 1 ) (eg a household distillery) which produces distilled water and dispenses it via an outlet, a storage bottle ( 3 ) for filling with the dispensed distilled water and an adapter ( 2 ) (eg a mechanical and hydraulic adaptation) for connecting the outlet to the storage bottle ( 3 ).

Distillation is a proven highly effective process for improving the purity of the distillate. Since water in the gaseous state can not transport microorganisms, a very high depletion of microorganisms, but also of particles and dissolved substances can be assumed. In the domestic environment commercial distillers (eg household distilleries) can be used.

In order to provide as few entry ports for impurities after distillation, the outlet of the distiller or distillery as directly as possible (ie without Umfüllvorgänge or potentially contaminated surfaces) on (if possible only) an adapter to connect to the storage bottle.

The storage bottle must therefore be heat-resistant and suitable for multiple use, therefore, appropriate bottles from the field of special food are predestined for this, especially as here the evidence regarding the release of toxic substances from the bottle material manufacturer are already out.

The storage bottle may have a bottle shape with a lower portion and a tapered neck terminating at an upper opening.

After filling, the storage bottle may preferably be connected to a humidifier chamber. The system or the device can for this purpose have a Überleitset for the transfer of the distilled water from the storage bottle in the humidifier. For this purpose, the storage bottle and / or the transfer set are preferably provided, designed and / or arranged such that the storage bottle can be turned over or inverted (eg turned upside down). Preferably, the water may flow from the inverted supply bottle via the transfer set into the humidifier chamber. The humidifier chamber may be part of the system or device or provided as part of the respiratory therapy system or the respiratory therapy device.

The transfer set may include a connector for connection to the humidifier chamber. The connector or the Connector are preferably provided, designed and / or arranged so that there is no open water flow and / or the storage bottle, the Überleitset and the humidifier chamber form a closed system. The connector may be provided, formed, and / or arranged such that it does not provide entry ports for external contaminants.

The storage bottle is preferably tightly connectable to the Überleitset. For this purpose, the storage bottle may have a thread for connection to the Überleitset.

The one or more adapters are preferably disinfectable. Furthermore, the adapter or adapters are preferably to be designed such that surfaces with contact to the distillate and / or the inside of the bottle can be disinfected (eg by boiling) and should also provide as far as possible no entry ports for external contaminants during operation (ie no open water supply). ä.). The adapter is preferably provided, constructed and / or arranged such that there is substantially no open water flow and / or that it does not provide entry ports for external contaminants.

The adapter may be provided, configured and / or arranged such that the storage bottle and the distillation device form a closed system. According to embodiments of the invention, the storage bottle is tightly connectable to the adapter. For this purpose, the storage bottle may have a thread for connection to the adapter. Alternatively or additionally, the adapter can be provided, designed and / or arranged such that it can be plugged into the storage bottle (eg into the upper opening of the storage bottle).

The adapter may have an inlet opening, which is preferably provided and / or adapted to be connected to the outlet of the distillation apparatus. The inlet opening may be provided by a recess or depression, which is preferably formed in correspondence with an outlet of the distiller to avoid open water flow. For example, the adapter may have a substantially rectangular, circular, semicircular or trapezoidal recess.

The adapter may further comprise an outlet opening, which is preferably provided and / or formed such that the adapter is connectable to the storage bottle. The outlet opening preferably extends along a longitudinal axis, which may form an angle of approximately 70 ° -110 °, preferably an angle of approximately 90 ° -100 ° with a longitudinal axis of the recess.

Advantageously, an embodiment in which the bottle is optionally protected during the distilling, including the / the adapter against falling, to minimize the risk of a domestic scalding accident.

That on the o. G. Type of drinking water distillate is thus for the desired purpose of much higher quality than just boiled drinking water. However, it clearly does not yet meet the criteria of demineralised sterile water.

It is to be assumed even with very lime-containing drinking water that the residual mineral content of the distillate is so low that the function of the humidifier chamber itself is not relevantly affected the period of use.

In contrast to the use of demineralized water from the hardware store or the like, the germ load due to the distillation is classified as very low. U. a. also because the production of water can be done almost immediately before use and no germ growth z. B. is to be feared in the course of months or years of storage.

Nevertheless, sterility can not be assumed when using the procedure described here, in particular since distilling apparatus or stills, adapters and bottles can not always be handled in a sterile manner.

Therefore, unless it can be safely ruled out that undesirable drops or splashes of water could enter the tubing system and thus the patient, the quality of the water may not be acceptable.

The additional security desired for this purpose can be achieved by means of a heated respiration filter. Heated HEPA filters are to be regarded as state of the art here (see, for example, Utility Model 20 2006 011 754.7). If, when using such a filter, water drops leave the humidifier chamber, they are retained on the filter or, in the worst case, filtered at the appropriate differential pressure. Typically, z. As the tipping of the humidifier, which is equipped with such a filter, the water retained in the filter and a stenosis alarm of the ventilator would alert the user in good time to the error and the need for immediate user intervention.

The described method is not intended to be used in nursing homes, hospitals or similar facilities, since the problem of more aggressive bacterial environment and the cross-transmission of germs by Caregivers, residents and medical devices represents a significant risk. But for use in the home environment, it is appropriate to reduce the operating costs of breathing gas humidifier relevant while maintaining a very high infection and product safety.

Embodiments of the invention further relate to a system or device for on-site generation of demineralized and / or decontaminated water for respiration and respiratory therapy with or consisting of a distillation device ( 1 ) (eg a household distillery), an adapter ( 2 ) (eg a mechanical and hydraulic adaptation to a heat-resistant storage bottle ( 3 )) and a Überleitset ( 4 ) to transfer the water from the suspended bottle to the humidifier chamber. Furthermore, the device may have an (optional) heated ventilation filter ( 5 ), the humidifier chamber ( 6 ) hygienically decoupled from the patient, have or consist of the above-mentioned elements. The distillation device, the adapter, the supply bottle, the transfer set, the humidifier chamber and / or the filter can have the features described above.

An inventive adapter ( 2 ) for connecting the outlet of a distillation device ( 1 ) with a storage bottle ( 3 ) may also be provided separately. The adapter ( 2 ) is preferably formed and / or arranged such that it does not provide open water flow and / or entry ports for external contaminants and / or is preferably designed to be suitable for use in a system and apparatus described above.

The invention further relates to the use of distillation apparatus and the use of storage bottles in any of the systems described above.

Further embodiments of the invention relate to a kit with a distillation device ( 1 ), a storage bottle ( 3 ) for filling with distilled water, and an adapter ( 2 ) for the connection of the distillation apparatus ( 1 ) (eg an outlet of the distillation apparatus) with the storage bottle ( 3 ). The adapter is preferably provided, designed and / or arranged such that it does not offer open water guidance and / or no entry ports for external contaminants. The kit preferably provides one of the systems described above.

• 1. Erzeugung von destilliertem Wasser in einer Destilliervorrichtung;
• 2. Verbindung eines Auslasses der Destilliervorrichtung mit einer Vorratsflasche über einen Adapter, der vorzugsweise so vorgesehen ist, dass er keine offene Wasserführung und/oder keine Eintrittspforten für externe Verunreinigungen bietet;
• 3. Befüllung der Vorratsflasche mit dem destillierten Wasser;
• 4. Verbindung der Vorratsflasche mit einer Befeuchterkammer.

The invention may further relate to a method for on-site generation of demineralized and decontaminated water and delivery of the water to a respiratory therapy device. The method can be one of the following steps:

• 1. production of distilled water in a distiller;
• 2. connecting an outlet of the distillation device to a storage bottle via an adapter, which is preferably provided so that it does not provide open water flow and / or inlet ports for external contaminants;
• 3. filling the storage bottle with the distilled water;
• 4. Connection of the storage bottle with a humidifier chamber.

One or more of the steps may be performed in the order listed.

Preferred embodiments of the system according to the invention are illustrated by way of example in the following drawings, wherein the embodiments shown may be varied in many ways within the scope of the claims and the disclosure of the figures is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

1 shows a distillation device in the form of a household still ( 1 ) via an adapter ( 2 ) with a heat-resistant storage bottle ( 3 ) connected is. As further in 2 shown, the heat-resistant storage bottle ( 3 ) after filling by means of a transfer kit ( 4 ) with a humidification chamber ( 5 ) get connected. A heated ventilation filter ( 6 ) retains, if necessary, drops leaving the humidifier chamber.

3A shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the adapter ( 2 ) 3B a top view of the adapter ( 2 ) from 3A and 3C the section along the line HH of 3B , As based on the 3A - 3C recognizable, the adapter ( 2 ) preferably an inlet opening ( 7 ) provided and / or adapted to be connected to an outlet of the distiller. The inlet opening ( 7 ) is preferably provided by a recess or depression, which is preferably formed in correspondence with an outlet of the distillation device in order to avoid an open water supply. Thus, in the example shown, the adapter has a trapezoidal recess. However, other shaped recesses, such as oval, square, rectangular, circular or other polygonal shapes may be used.

Furthermore, an outlet opening ( 8th ) is provided and / or formed via which the adapter ( 2 ) with the storage bottle ( 3 ) is connectable. The outlet opening ( 8th ) preferably extends along a longitudinal axis ( 9 ) with a longitudinal axis ( 10 ) of the recess can form an angle of about 70 ° -110 °, preferably an angle of about 90 ° -100 ° (see 3C ).

One embodiment may, for. B. only one or more or all of the o. G. Features and functions individually or in common. Thus, a variety of design variants can be realized.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Household distillery

2

mechanical and hydraulic adaptation

3

heat resistant storage bottle

4

Überleitset

5

humidification chamber

6

heated respiratory filter

7

inlet port

8th

outlet

9

Longitudinal axis of the outlet opening

10

Longitudinal axis of the recess

Claims (22)

System for on-site production of demineralized and / or decontaminated water and supply of the water to a respiratory therapy device with a distillation device ( 1 ), which produces distilled water and releases it via an outlet; a storage bottle ( 3 ) for filling with the dispensed distilled water; and an adapter ( 2 ) for connecting the outlet to the storage bottle ( 3 ). A system according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is provided so as not to provide an open flow of water, preferably wherein the supply bottle and the distillation device form a closed system. The system of claims 1 or 2, wherein the adapter is provided so as not to provide entry ports for external contaminants. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter is reusable and disinfectable. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage bottle is connectable to a humidifier chamber. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a transfer set for transferring the distilled water from the supply bottle into a humidification chamber. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Überlesitset and the storage bottle are designed so that the storage bottle for the transfer of the distilled water can be inverted into the humidifier chamber. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage bottle is tightly connectable to the adapter and / or the Überleitset, preferably wherein the storage bottle has a thread for connection to the adapter and / or the Überleitset. System according to claims 1 to 7, wherein the adapter is designed so that it can be plugged into the storage bottle. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage bottle has a bottle shape with a lower portion and a tapered neck terminating at an upper opening. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage bottle is heat-resistant and suitable for multiple use, preferably wherein the storage bottle is a bottle for tube feeding. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a humidifier chamber. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises a heatable ventilation filter which is preferably arranged to retain the drops leaving the humidifying chamber. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises a holding means, which counteracts a drop of the storage bottle during filling, preferably wherein the adapter is provided so that the storage bottle is firmly connected during the filling with the distillation apparatus. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system is suitable for producing demineralized and decontaminated water in a domestic environment. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the distiller is a commercially available distillation apparatus. Adapter for connecting the outlet of a distillation device with a storage bottle, wherein the adapter is preferably provided so that it offers no open water flow. An adapter according to claim 17 for use in a system according to claims 1 to 16. Concluding to connect a storage bottle of a system according to claims 1 to 16 to a humidification chamber, the transfer set having a connector for connection to the humidifier chamber. Use of a distillation apparatus in a system according to claims 1 to 16. Use of a storage bottle in a system according to claims 1 to 16. Kit with a distiller that generates and discharges distilled water through an outlet; a storage bottle for filling with the dispensed distilled water; and an adapter for connecting the outlet to the storage bottle, the adapter being preferably provided so as not to provide open water flow, the kit preferably providing a system according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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