FR2583644A1 - FEEDING DEVICE FOR HUMIDIFIER, ESPECIALLY RESPIRATORY CIRCUIT - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS DEVICE IS USED TO CONNECT A HUMIDIFIER 14 TO A TANK 16. THE PROBLEM IS, AMONG OTHERS, TO AVOID ANY MANUAL INTERVENTION AND TO ELIMINATE THE CLEANING. ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, THE DEVICE CONSISTS OF TWO EXTENDED DUCTS 62 AND 68 ARRANGED ALONG ONE OF THE OTHER AND TO BRING WATER FROM THE TANK TO THE HUMIDIFIER AND AIR IN REVERSE DIRECTION, OF MEANS 56- 88 TO CONNECT AN UPSTREAM END 64-70 OF THE DUCTS TO THE TANK AND MEANS 74 TO CONNECT THE DUCTS TO THE HUMIDIFIER, THE DOWNSTREAM END OF THE TWO DUCTS BEING INSIDE THE HUMIDIFIER, THAT, 66, OF THE FIRST DUCT BEING CLOSE TO THAT, 72, OF THE SECOND DUCT AND THIS LAST BEING SECTIONED AT A CERTAIN ANGLE FROM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THIS DUCT68. THE INVENTION FINDS AN ADVANTAGEOUS APPLICATION ON RESPIRATORY CIRCUITS.

Description

The present invention relates to devices

  supplying liquid for a humidifier.

  Humidifiers are already known as part of a breathing circuit for a patient. In such devices, a sterile liquid is placed in the humidifier, this liquid being

  heated, and passed through this liquid a mixture of air

  fan, to heat and humidify this air mixture, the resulting air mixture being sent to the patient. However, during the use of this humidifier, the liquid is used to humidify the air mixture and it is necessary to periodically refill the humidifier with full liquid. In the past, the humidifier was normally primed and an additional liquid poured into it. It has been found that this method is impractical and presents the

  risk of contamination of the liquid due to handling thereof.

  Other methods include pouring water through one of the orifices of a cover provided for the humidifier. Alternatively, it is possible to bring

  water from a bag of flexible and suspended solution, through

  of a special set. This disposable set is manufactured by a company, consists of a tee fitting that fits on the outlet

  of ladtdei laei. Leteyauscuelobmalade is connected to the perpendicular leg

  of the tee and the remaining leg is connected to the solution bag by

  vinyl tube Water is supplied in dropping water through

  to the fitting by opening a hose clamp when necessary.

  Although the filling process is simplified, it is still manual, which requires frequent attention. In addition, some versions of the humidifier offer a special orifice for inserting a water supply device. This device, manufactured by a company, is made up of a suspended glass bottle, which sends the water, through a tube of diameter, interjected to a var. is xoe inside the can

  The valve closes automatically when the water level reaches the maximum

  required. Although the system supplies water continuously as needed, the special assembly should be cleaned and sterilized for

of its reuse.

  This is why the invention aims to provide a

  supply device for connecting a humidifier to a tank

  see. - 2 - For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device

  supply for connecting a humidifier to a tank,

  terized in that it includes a first elongated conduit to bring

  the water from the reservoir to the humidifier, a second conduit arranged -

  along the first duct for passing air from the humidifier to the tank, means for connecting an upstream end of the first and second ducts to the tank so as to ensure the passage of

  fluid and means for connecting the conduits to the humidifier, the

  mite downstream of the first and second conduits being disposed inside the humidifier and the downstream end of the first conduit being disposed near the downstream end of the second conduit. The device presents a

  elbow connected to the first and second conduits and having a first portion

  hollow around, with a certain spacing, these first and second

  ducts, and a second hollow part communicating with the first part

  in order to allow the passage of fluid and extending under a certain

  angle with respect to the longitudinal axes of the first and second

  ucts. A downstream end of the first and second conduits extends across

  the elbow and, from there, to a location within the

the humidifier.

  A feature of the present invention is

  constituted by the outer diameter of the first duct which is sensitive

  smaller than the outer diameter of the second duct so as to make the first duct as small as possible and the second duct as wide as possible without obstructing the passage of humidified air, to

through the elbow towards the patient.

  Another feature of the invention lies in the downstream end of the second duct which is formed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the second duct in order to break the surface tension and empty a lower portion of the second duct.

  during the use of the device.

  Yet another feature of the invention resides in the fact that at least a portion of the downstream end of the second duct is located below the downstream end of the first duct so as to

  facilitate a quick initial filling of the humidifier.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will emerge from the following description, as a nonlimited example

  and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an elevational and partial view of a humidifier assembly comprising a supply device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a humidifier of the assembly of FIG. 1, - fig. 3 is a sectional and partial view of the feed device of the assembly of FIG. 1, - fig. 4 is a perspective and partial view of a lower portion of the tank of the assembly of FIG. 1, - fig. 5 is a perspective view of a fastener provided for the reservoir of FIG. 4, and - fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the upstream ends of the ducts for placement in a

lower part of the tank.

  If we refer to fig. 1-3, there is shown a humidifier assembly bearing as a whole the reference 10 and comprising a fan 12 of a known type, a humidifier 14 of a known type, a

  reservoir 16 for containing sterile water and a feeding device

  18 in accordance with the present invention.

  As shown, the humidifier 14 comprises a bowl 20 containing a reservoir of sterile water W in its lower part, and a lid 22 removably fixed on an upper part of this bowl 20 by means of suitable means such as a thread 24,

  this bowl 20 and this lid 22 defining a chamber 25. This humidifier

  The indicator 14 also comprises a heating device 26 of a known type, for heating the water W contained in the humidifier 14.

  humidifier 14 has an inlet port 28 belonging to a section

  an elongated tubular section 30, a lower part of which is located below

  water level W, this lower part of the section 30 has

  both openings 32 to allow passage of gases therethrough.

  The humidifier 14 has an annular flange 34 extending from one side of the tubular section 30 towards a central portion of the bowl 20, with an upper wall or bubble plate 36 which is disposed along the tubular section 30 and above the annular flange 34 and having a plurality of relatively small openings 38 for a purpose to be described below. As shown, this paddle plate 36 is located below the water level W. The humidifier 14 also has a tubular section 40 located on the lid 22

  and having an outlet port 42.

  The assembly 10 has a corrugated tube 44 connecting an outlet 46 of the fan 12 to the inlet orifice 28 of the humidifier 14. In use, the fan 12 delivers a certain volume of gas, for example a mixture of oxygen, cyclically, pressure and volume being adjusted so as to simulate the normal respiratory mechanism of a patient. The gas is discharged, through the tube 44 and the tubular section

  , in the water W and through the apertures 32, to a similar location

  killed in the middle of the collar 34. The gas then passes through the openings

  38 of the splash plate 36 and through the water,

  placement located above the water level W. The splash plate 36 provides an improved gas-to-water mixture and fractionates the gas flow rate

  in order to avoid large bubbles. While gas is

  Pouring the water W and the splash plate 36, it is humidified by the water W. In addition, the heating device 26 heats up, this water W, and the heated water in turn heats the gas while it passes through the water. The heated and moistened gas passes along the surface of the water W and through the outlet port 42, to the patient, as

  this will be described in more detail below.

  The reservoir 16 is suspended by means of

  such a hook 48 engaging in an upper ring 50 of oe r: evr-16, this at a location above the humidifier 14. This tank 16 has an outer wall 52 defining a chamber

  54 which contains water or a sterile liquid L which is sent to the humidi-

  modifier 14 as will be described below. As shown in figs. 4 and 6, 6serva 16 has two orifices' lower 56 and 58 and

  a projection 60 extending downwardly in the vicinity of these orifices.

  As shown in figs. 3 and 6, the feed device 18 of the present invention comprises a first water conduit 62 having an upstream end 64 connected to the reservoir 16 and a downstream end 66 housed in the humidifier 14. The feeding device 18 ceçe a gas art 68, an upstream end 70

  connected to the tank 16 and a downstream end 72 housed in the humidifier

  14. The Alinectatic Disclosure Device 18 having a pre-:

  Cylinder digging 76 extending, with a certain spacing,

  turn of the first and second conduits 62 and 68, and a second part cy-

  Hollow hollow 78 communicating with this first portion 76 and extends

  at an angle of approximately 900 to the longitudinal axes

  The elbow 74 has first and second connecting ends, hollow and upwardly directed, and 82 and third and fourth hollow and downwardly extending connection ends 84. and 86, the first tip 80 communicating with the

  third endpiece 84 and the second endpiece 82 with the fourth endpiece 86.

  As shown, these tips 80-86 are arranged above the first

  and second portions 76 and 78 of the elbow 74.

  The first conduit 62 comprises an upstream tubular section 88 having a downstream end 90 which is engaged on the first nozzle 80. This tubular section 88 has an upstream end which ends with a point 92 intended to connect this tubular section 88 to

  tank 16 through the orifice 58 and to allow l) not -

  wise of fluid. This same tubular section 88 also presents

  adjacent to the tip 92 a flange e..x t e r e n 94

  The second duct 68 has an upstream tubular section 96 having a downstream end 98 connected to the second endpiece 82. This tubular section 96 has a hollow point 100 allowing a reduction in the displacement of this tubular section 88 inside the reservoir 16. connect the second

  led 68 to the reservoir 16 through the orifice 56. This same tubular section

  lair 96 presents near the tip 100 an ex-

  T e r n e 102 used to limit the movement of this tip 100 to

inside the tank 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the downstream ends of the first and second conduits 62 and 68 are constituted by a tubular section with two extruded channels 104 comprising a first tube 106 forming part of the first conduit 62 and having an upstream end 108

  engaging on the third endpiece 84, and a second tube 110 forming part-

  of the second duct 68 and having an upstream end 112 which engages on the fourth endpiece 86. In use of the assembly 10, the first portion 76 of the elbow 74 is fixed on the tubular section 40 of the humidifier 14, so that in this configuration, this section

  tubular 104 extends through the first portion 76 of the elbow 74 to

  at a location significantly below the elbow 74, indoors

  of the bowl 20 of the humidifier 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outside diameter of the first tube 106 is significantly smaller than the outside diameter of the second tube 110, the inner diameter of the first tube 106 being made as small as possible and the inner diameter of the second tube 110 made as wide as possible, purposes which will be described below. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the first tube 106 is approximately 2 mm in diameter, the inner diameter of the second tube is approximately 6.6 mm in diameter, and the inner diameter of the

  first portion 76 of the elbow 74 is approximately 18.5 mm in diameter.

  it is larger than the width of the tubular section 104 which is approximately 12 mm. Moreover, the downstream end 72 of the second

  conduit 68 is shaped at an angle of less than 60, and preferably

  approximately 45, relative to the longitudinal axis of this second conduit 68 for purposes which will be described below. The end

  downstream of the first duct 62 is shaped at an approximate angle of

  90 relative to the longitudinal axis of this first conduit 62.

  shown me, the lowest part of the oblique portion of the downstream end 72 of the second conduit 68 is located near the downstream end 66 of the first conduit 62, while the downstream end 66 of the first conduit 62 is preferably located in an intermediate position between

  the upper and lower parts of the oblique part of the second

duit 68.

  If we continue the description of the use of

  the assembly 10, referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a corrugated tube 114 is connected to the second portion 78 of the elbow 74 and extends to the patient. When the first portion 76 of the elbow 74 is connected to the tubular section 40 of the humidifier 14, the humidified heated gas flows through the outlet orifice 42, the first and second portions 76 and 78 of the elbow 74 and, passing through

  through the tube 114, goes to the patient for therapeutic treatment

tick.

  If we refer to fig. 4 and 5, the 10 together

  carries a fastener 116 for holding the first and second conduits 62 and 68 on the reservoir 16. This fastener 116 has at one end a first hook 118 which engages the first and second conduits 62 and 68 in the vicinity of the collars 94 and 102. This fastener has at its other end a second hook 120 which extends partially around the projection 60 of the reservoir 16. The same fastener 116 still presents

  a central portion 122 connecting the first and second hooks 118 and 120.

  First hook 118 may be firstly secured around first and second conduits 62 and 68, and then securing second hook 120 around protrusion 60 of reservoir 16. In this manner, this fastener 116 holds the first and second conduits 62 and 68 in the tank 16, so as to prevent accidental tearing of these ducts for purposes 7- which will be described below. This fastener 116 can be made in

  any suitable material, for example metal.

  During the use of the assembly 10, the water W which is used to humidify the gas which is directed towards the patient lowers the level of water in the bowl 20 of the humidifier 14, and in the past it was necessary to periodically refill the

  water supply W in the humidifier 14. The operation is effected

  normally killed by removing from the bowl 20 the lid 22 and

  water in this bowl to raise the water level in the

  it. It has been found that this way of doing things is impractical and pre-

  also the risk of contamination during handling,

  water that is poured into the bowl 20. Other methods of filling

wise are described on page 1.

  According to the present invention, the feed device 18 automatically brings water from the tank 16 to the bowl 20 of the humidifier 14 so as to maintain the water level W

  in the humidifier 14. When this water level W is located

  below the downstream end 72 of the second conduit 68, gas passes through the second conduit 68 and rises in the form of bubbles through the liquid L in the reservoir 16, while water passes downwards. through the first conduit 62 into the humidifier 14. However, as the water rises in the humidifier 14 and closes the second conduit 68, water continues to flow for a certain period of time. reservoir 16 into the humidifier 14 via the first conduit 62 and creates a vacuum above the liquid column L located in the reservoir 16. To stop the liquid from flowing downwards from of the reservoir 16, it is necessary that the vacuum prevailing in this reservoir reaches a negative pressure equal to the hydrostatic pressure, in which case the assembly is in equilibrium. Meanwhile, the water in the humidifier 14 has closed the second conduit 68 and begins to rise in the second conduit. The latter fills with water and all

reaches the balance.

  During use of the assembly 10, water is used to humidify the gas directed to the patient, and the water level eventually falls below the downstream end 72 of the second At this point, the surface tension initially prevents the gas from passing upwards in this second conduit 68, but

  the oblique downstream end 72 of this second duct breaks the surface tension

  - 8 - so as to empty the second tube 110 of this second conduit 68. Once

  that the second tube 110 emptied, it exists, acting on the

  the remaining column of water in the second conduit 68, a pressure

  the water flows into the reservoir 16 after which the normal flow of water starts again through the first conduit 62, while gas passes upwardly.

through the second conduit 68.

  In accordance with the present invention, the first tube 106 is made as small as possible in diameter and the second tube 110

  as wide as possible in diameter, while minimizing strangling

  the flow of gas through the bend 74 and the outlet port 42 towards the patient. The first and second tubes 106 and 110 are made to the desired sizes, while allowing a water supply through

  the device 18, from the tank 16 to the humidifier 14.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the device 18 com-

  carries a pair of tongs 124 and 126 which can be used before the initial filling of the humidifier 14, and while the tanks 16 are being changed, to close off the first and second conduits 62 and 68. Of course, the tongs 124 and 126 are open during use of the device, to allow a passage of liquid and gas through

  these first and second conduits 62 and 68.

  It is desirable to use the feeding device

  18 in combination with the tank 16 to initially fill

  the humidifier 14 to the desired level. If we filled the humi-

  14 through the first relatively small duct 62, this would require a prolonged period of time, for example 25 minutes, for

  to reach the desired level of liquid in the humidifier 14. This is

  what it is desirable to initially fill the humidifier 14 with

  through the relatively wide second conduit 68, the liquid

  at the lower edge of the shaped downstream end 72 of the second conduit 68, while the gas passes through the first conduit 62. However,

  if the downstream ends of the first and second conduits 62 and 68 are

  were an inclined plane, the water coming out of the second conduit 68 se-

  it would slow down, and eventually stop the filling of the humidifier 14, since the gas could not pass upwards through this first conduit 62. Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention, the

  first conduit 62 has its downstream end 66 located slightly distal

  The second portion 68 of the second duct 68, so as to prevent water from passing upwardly in the first duct 62 which is used as a gas tube for a period of time. the initial filling of the humidifier 14. The downstream end 66 is shaped to make an angle of 40 to 90 with respect to the long axis.

  of the first duct, and preferably an angle of 90.

  As previously discussed, and as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fastener 116 clings against the flanges 94 and 102 of the

  first and second conduits 62 and 68 and prevents these conduits from being

  In the case where inadvertently one of these conduits 62 or 68 was separated from the tank 16 during the use of the assembly 10, there would be a massive leakage of air into the tank.

  16 and a liquid outlet through the associated orifice 58 or 56 cleared.

  In addition, a continuous flow of water would occur through the con-

  remaining connected 62 or 68, into the humidifier 14, and the fan 12 could pump through the tube 114 and into the

  patient's lungs, part of the overflow of water in the

  14, which could lead to drowning of the patient or other harmful results. Thus, the fastener 116 prevents damage to the patient in the case where one of the conduits 62 and 68 would otherwise be detached

of the tank 16.

- 10 -

REV E N D I C A T IONS

  1. A feed device for connecting a humi-

  refiner (14) to a reservoir (16), characterized in that it comprises: a first elongate conduit (62) for supplying water from the reservoir (16) to the humidifier (14), - a second elongate conduit (68) disposed along the first conduit (62) for passing air from the humidifier (14) to the reservoir (16), - means (92-100-56-58) for connecting an upstream end (64-70) of the first and second conduits (62-68) to the reservoir (16) to provide fluid communication and - means (74) for connecting the conduits (62-68) to the humidifier (14). ), the downstream end (66 + 72) of the first and second conduits (62-68) being located inside the humidifier (14), the downstream end (66) of the first conduit (62) being located near the downstream end (72) of the second conduit (68), and that downstream end (72) of the second conduit (68) being severed, across the second conduit (68);

  duct (68) so as to make a single angle with respect to the longitudinal axis

tudinal of this second conduit (68).

  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in

  the angle is approximately 45.

  3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the downstream end (66) of the first conduit (62) is located upstream

  at least a portion of the second conduit (68).

  4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the lowest part of the downstream part (66) of the second duct

  (68) is located near the first conduit (62).

  5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in

  the angle is less than 60.

  6. Feed device for connecting a humi-

  refiner (14) to a reservoir (16), characterized in that it comprises: a first elongate conduit (62) for supplying water from the reservoir (16) to the humidifier (14), - a second elongate conduit (68) disposed along the first conduit (62) for passing air from the humidifier (14) to the reservoir (16), - means (92-100-56-50 for connecting an upstream end ( 64-70) of the first and second conduits (62-68) to the reservoir (16) of

- 11 -

  way to ensure the--. no-age fluid, and - means (74) for connecting the conduits (62-68) to the humidifier (14), the downstream end (66-72) of the first and second conduits (62-68) being located inside the humidifier (14), the downstream end (66) of the first conduit (62) being disposed near the downstream end (72) of the second conduit (68), and at least one part of this downstream end (72) of the second conduit (68) being located on one side

  and below the downstream end (66) of the first conduit (62).

  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the downstream end (72) of the second conduit (68) is shaped at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the second conduit (68), while a lower part of this second duct (68)

  is located near the first conduit (62).

  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first conduit (62) is shaped to make an angle of approximately 90 relative to the longitudinal axis of this first

led (62).

  9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the downstream end (66) of the first conduit (62) is located in an intermediate position between the upper and lower parts of the

  shaped portion of the second conduit (68).

  10. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first duct (62) is shaped so as to make an angle of

  at 90 relative to the longitudinal axis of this first conduit (62).

  11. Supply device for connecting a humidifier (14) to a tank (16), characterized in that it comprises: - a first elongate conduit (62) for supplying water from the tank (16) to the humidifier (14); - a second elongate conduit (68) disposed along the first conduit (62) for passing air from the humidifier (14) to the reservoir (16); 100-56- 58) for connecting an upstream end (64-70) of the first and second conduits (62-68) to the reservoir (16) to provide fluid passage, and - an elbow (74) connected to the first and second conduits (62-68) and including a first hollow portion (76) surrounding, with a certain spacing, said first and second conduits (62-68) and a second hollow portion (78) forming the fluid passage with the first

- 12 -

  part (76) and extending at an angle to the longitudinal axes

  of the first and second conduits (62-68), a downstream end portion (66-72) of these first and second conduits (62-68) extending through the bend (74) and from there to a location within the humidifier (14), while the outer diameter of the first conduit (62) is substantially smaller than the outer diameter of the second

led (68).

  Device according to claim 11, characterized

  in that the inside diameter of the first duct (62) is approximately

  2 mm and the inside diameter of the second duct (68) is approxi-

6.6 mim.

  Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the inside diameter of the first part (76) of the elbow (74)

is approximately 18.5 mm.