GB2564647A

GB2564647A - Filling device, system and method for decentralised filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a medical facility

Info

Publication number: GB2564647A
Application number: GB1711419.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Drott Kenth; Franz Helmut
Original assignee: Linde GmbH
Current assignee: Linde GmbH
Priority date: 2017-07-17
Filing date: 2017-07-17
Publication date: 2019-01-23
Also published as: GB201711419D0; WO2019015804A1

Abstract

A filling device (1) for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder (10) with a medical gas in a medical facility (100), comprises a connection unit (2) for connection to a wall outlet (134) of a centralized gas supply system (130) of the medical facility (100). A receiving unit (3) for receiving the gas cylinder (10) to be filled, and a filling unit (4) for filling the received gascylinder (10) with the gas supplied by the wall outlet (134) and a corresponding system and method. The filling device may have a communication arrangement for receiving an ID associated with the cylinder. The device may be portable.

Description

Filling device, system and method for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a medical facility

Technical Field

The invention relates to a device, a system and a method for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a medical facility, preferably for decentralized filling of a plurality of gas cylinders with a medical gas in a ward of a hospital or a clinic.

Technological Background

In hospitals, medical gases are inter alia supplied by a centralized gas supply system, wherein a centralized gas tank and/or a centralized cylinder set are connected to a pipeline system which is integrated in the one or more buildings of the hospital. The centralized gas tank and/or the centralized cylinder set are usually provided and/or refilled by a supplier, for example via a gas tank truck. The pipeline system is connected to a plurality of wall outlets which are located on different wards of the hospital as well as in specialized rooms such as operating theatres or also in regular patient rooms. Thus, gas can be supplied by the centralized gas supply system from the centralized gas tank via the pipelines to the respective wall outlets. For finally supplying medical gas to medical devices and patients located in a ward, for example via a nasal cannula, a face mask, an oxygen mask, a medical ventilator or a breathing tube, the patients and the devices, respectively, merely have to be connected to the respective wall outlet.

When a patient is directly supplied with medical gas, for instance medical oxygen, via a connection to a wall outlet, the patient’s mobility is reduced to a certain area next to the respective wall outlet. The patient is more or less bound to his or her hospital bed. To overcome this drawback, it is known to provide a mobile gas cylinder, equipped with a pressure regulator or a medical valve integrated pressure regulator and a nasal cannula or an oxygen mask, to the patient. The main use of the mobile gas cylinders is for patients who need oxygen treatment during transport to/from the hospital or within the hospital, for instance for x-ray, MRI, surgery or other treatment etc. In modern hospitals, for instance in the intensive care unit, patients are for such reasons transported several times every day.

Generally, a hospital purchases a plurality of mobile gas cylinders filled with a medical gas, for instance oxygen, from a supplier’s factory. The cylinders are filled in the factory and transported to the hospital. The hospital stores the filled cylinders typically first in a central warehouse location and then in a plurality of locations in the wards throughout the facility. From these ward storage points, the mobile cylinders are then delivered to the patients or medical personnel when needed. Empty cylinders in the wards are returned to the central storage location and are then sent back to the supplier to be filled again. This causes a lot of effort and thus costs for transportation and logistics to and from the gas supplier as well as within the hospital. In addition, due to the frequent transportation between factory and hospital, the cylinders are exposed to additional wear and tear of the cylinder equipment, which, in turn, increases the need for maintenance and reduces the product lifetime of each cylinder.

Summary of the invention

In view of the technological background laid out above, it is one objective of the present invention to provide a device, a system and a method for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a medical facility.

This objective is achieved by the device, the system and the method according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims, the description, and the embodiments and examples explained in connection with the figures.

Accordingly, a filling device for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility is provided, comprising a connection unit for connection to a wall outlet of a centralized gas supply system of the medical facility, a receiving unit for receiving the gas cylinder to be filled, and a filling unit for filling the received gas cylinder with the gas supplied by the wall outlet.

By means of the provision of the aforementioned features it is possible to provide an effective decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a medical facility such as for example a hospital, clinic or a skilled nursing facility. The device can be attached to any wall outlet in connection with a centralized gas supply system at any location of the medical facility. Filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas becomes possible at substantially any location of the medical facility, especially at any ward which comprises a wall outlet. Thus, a transport of empty cylinders to a refill station outside the medical facility is not necessary any more. Furthermore, nearly empty cylinders do not have to be exchanged for safety reasons but can simply be refilled in due time in the ward, such that the total number of cylinders needed for maintaining a proper gas supply for mobile patients or mobile medical devices is reduced.

In addition, it becomes possible for patients who have already been released from the medical facility and further on need supply of a medical gas, for example oxygen in pharmaceutical grade, and, for instance, are equipped with mobile breathing device such as a mobile gas cylinder, to have their gas cylinder being refilled at a filling device inside the medical facility. Preferably, a filling device is positioned at a location which is intended for this purpose, such that the hospital routine is not influenced.

Furthermore, it is thereby possible to monitor the gas consumption of the patient and to ensure, with minimal effort, that the patient only gets the correct medical gas in proper quality and the proper amount thereof.

Moreover, a completely closed system from the gas supplier via the centralized gas supply system to the gas cylinders can be provided, wherein the system can be supervised by the medical facility’s staff. Thus, it is ensured that the medical gas is not contaminated and a medical or pharmaceutical grade of the stored medical gas is preserved.

The filling device is particularly preferably configured for filling oxygen, air, preferably in medical or pharmaceutical quality.

According to a preferred embodiment, a communication arrangement for communicating with a communication unit of a cylinder to be filled and/or for communicating with a central database arrangement is provided. Thus, a safety system can be provided to ensure that the gas cylinder is filled with the predetermined gas. In particular, prior to filling a gas cylinder, the communication arrangement can communicate with the communication unit and/or with the central database arrangement to make sure that the medical gas supplied by the filling unit is intended for the received cylinder. Hence, filling of a cylinder with the wrong gas can be prevented.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the communication arrangement is configured to receive at least an ID associated with the gas cylinder from the communication unit, and/or is configured to at least receive information about the gas supplied at the wall outlet from the central database arrangement. Preferably the communication arrangement is furthermore configured to transmit data to the communication unit and/or the central database arrangement. When receiving the ID associated with a certain gas cylinder, clear identification of the gas cylinder by the filling device is possible. The filling device can then transmit a query comprising the cylinder’s ID to the central database arrangement and in turn retrieve additional information on the cylinder to be filled, for instance which medical gas is to be filled to the cylinder. Thus, filling of the cylinder with a wrong gas can be prevented. Furthermore, the filling device can receive information on the medical gas from the central database arrangement, for instance its origin or quality. During or after filing, the filling device may moreover be able to transmit and/or program information of the filling process to the communication unit and/or to the central database arrangement. In this manner, particularly safe filling of a gas cylinder is ensured since the filling device knows both all necessary information of the supplied gas and the identity of the gas cylinder and, hence, may analyze the retrieved information prior to staring the filling process.

Preferably, the communication arrangement is able to read and write on an RFID-chip or similar, inbuilt or attached package memory of the communication unit and/or scan a barcode provided by the communication unit. The communication arrangement is preferably furthermore configured to communicate with the communication unit and/or the central database arrangement via radio waves, preferably Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and/or via a cable connection, preferably a LAN-connection, or by any other known type of communication.

The centralized gas supply system usually provides the medical gas with a certain gas pressure at the wall outlets, for example 3 to 6 bar, for instance 4,5 bar in European countries or 50 psi in the USA. According to another preferred embodiment, a compressor unit increases the pressure from the wall-outlet to a set minimum pressure or the regular filling pressure for the respective connected cylinder/package type, for instance at a maximum pressure inside the cylinder of 150 to 200 bar. The compressor unit for compressing medical gas provided by the gas supply to a predetermined pressure level may be provided in form of a booster or booster pump. The compressor unit is preferably arranged between the connection unit and the filling unit. The compressor unit is preferably configured to compress or pressurize the medical gas provided by the wall outlet to a high pressure level, preferably to a pressure level from 100 to 250 bar, particularly preferably from 150 to 200 bar.

In yet another preferred embodiment, a sensor arrangement is provided for monitoring a filling level, preferably a pressure level, of the cylinder, accurate reception of the cylinder by the receiving unit and/or accurate connection of the filling unit with the cylinder to be filled. The sensor arrangement hence can verify reliable filling of the gas cylinder.

To prevent that a gas cylinder is filled with the wrong kind of gas, according to another preferred embodiment, the filling unit comprises connection means for establishing safe connection to the cylinder, wherein the connection means are preferably configured to enable only connection with the filling unit in association with a predetermined gas to be filled, wherein preferably the connection means comprise a unique form such that only a connector having a corresponding form can be plugged into the connection means. In a further aspect, the filling unit may comprise a unique valve type which is solely provided for certain type of medical gas, preferably oxygen, wherein the filling unit preferably comprises a pin-index yoke-type valve.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the filling device it is a movable entity. In other words, the filling device is configured to be portable or mobile. With the terms movable, portable and mobile, any configuration is meant that allows the device to be displaced, moved, transported or carried to any other location or at least wherein the filling device is not fixed or bound to a single location. Preferably, the filling device may be configured to be manually moved, i.e. the device may be configured as, for example, a trolley, a stand with rollers, a case, or any other device. The configuration as a portable device at least has the advantage of increasing the flexibility of the decentralized filling by enabling filling of a container at any location of the hospital. That is, the filling device can be moved to any location where it can be connected to a wall outlet. Thus, several wards can be supplied with one or more filling devices since at least one filling device can be scheduled for filling containers in different wards at different times and can be moved between the wards. In addition, if the location where the filling device is stationed is needed for other purposes, the filling device can easily be displaced. Preferably, the filling device further comprises a parking brake such that undesired movement of the filling device can be prevented.

To enable easy interaction between an operator and the filling device, the filling device may comprise an interface, preferably a display, an input unit, preferably a keyboard, a touchpad, and/or a touchscreen.

To also provide at least some of the above described information and/or data gathered by the filling device directly at the mobile gas cylinder, in another preferred embodiment, the filling device, preferably the communication arrangement of the filling device, is configured to write, store and/or program information and/or data on the communication unit of the gas cylinder. Preferably, at least information about the filling process including an identification and/or location of the filling device, the date of filling, the type of gas, a batch number of the gas, the amount of gas, and/or a medical degree of the gas filled in the cylinder.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the communication unit of at least one gas cylinder is provided as an RFID-chip, inbuilt memory or a comparable storage solution and the communication arrangement of at least one on-site filling device comprises a reader/writer, preferably an RFID-reader/writer, or memory-reader/writer or a comparable storage read/write solution which is configured to also write on RFID-chips, inbuilt memory or a comparable storage solution. Thus, the reader/writer can store at least the minimum needed information, which is depending on legal and/or regulatory requirements and the further on safe handling and application, of the above mentioned information on the cylinder’s RFID-chip or memory or comparable storage solution. If information about the gas inside the gas cylinder is needed, for instance personnel may use a mobile reader/writerfor reading the stored information and, hence, is able to directly read the information from the gas cylinder.

The above mentioned objective is also achieved by the system according to independent claim 8.

Accordingly, a system for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility is provided, comprising a centralized gas supply system which is in fluidic connection with at least one wall outlet, preferably via a pipeline system. Furthermore, at least a filling device according to any one of the above mentioned embodiments is connected to at least one wall outlet.

By means of the provision of the filling device in connection to at least one wall outlet, it becomes possible to provide an effective decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility. Thus, transportation of gas cylinders to and from facilities outside the medical facility can be waived. In addition, filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas can be provided at substantially any location of the medical facility, especially at any ward which comprises a wall outlet. Also, the logistics within the medical facility with respect to the provision of gas cylinders filled with medical gas to all areas where a mobile gas supply is required, become reduced.

Preferably, the centralized gas supply system comprises at least one gas tank, at least one storage cylinder and/or a centralized gas cylinder set.

In order to store and/or provide information about each gas cylinder, wall outlet, and/or filling device and to keep track of medical gas distribution from the centralized gas supply system, according to a preferred embodiment, a central database arrangement for storing data with respect to at least a medical gas may be provided.

According to another embodiment, at least one gas cylinder comprises a communication unit, preferably a RFID-chip or a read/writeable memory or a comparable data storage solution, wherein the communication arrangement of the filling device is configured to communicate with the communication unit of the at least one gas cylinder and/or with a central database arrangement.

To also provide at least some of the above described information and/or data gathered by the filling device, preferably an identification and/or location of the filling device, the date of filling, the type of gas, a batch number of the gas, the amount of gas, and/or a medical degree of the gas filled in the cylinder, at the mobile gas cylinder, according to another preferred embodiment, the communication unit is configured to store information and/or data transmitted from the communication arrangement. Particularly preferably, the communication unit comprises an RFID-chip on which information and/or data can be written by the communication arrangement.

In order to provide a particularly effective decentralized filling, in yet another preferred embodiment, a plurality of filling devices is provided, wherein preferably at least two filling devices are associated with different wards of the medical facility.

The above mentioned objective is furthermore achieved by the method according to independent claim 12. Accordingly, a method for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility is provided, comprising the steps of providing a system according any one of the aforementioned embodiments, receiving a gas cylinder to be filled in the receiving unit of a filling device, connecting the filling unit of the filling device to the received cylinder, and filling the received cylinder with gas supplied by the wall outlet.

By means of the method the advantages with respect to the devices and the systems are likewise achieved.

Preferably, the medical gas is compressed via a compressor unit, preferably a booster pump, for filling the gas cylinder, wherein the medical gas supplied by the wall outlet is preferably compressed to a pressure of 150 to 200 bar.

According to a preferred aspect, the steps of verifying proper reception of the cylinder to be filled in the receiving unit and/or verifying proper connection between the filling unit and the cylinder are carried out prior to filling the cylinder.

According to another preferred aspect, a communication arrangement of the filling device communicates with a communication unit of the cylinder and/or a central database arrangement prior to filling the cylinder for ensuring that the gas cylinder is filled with the predetermined gas.

According to yet another preferred aspect, the communication arrangement receives information about the cylinder to be filled, preferably an ID of the cylinder, from the communication unit and/or the central database arrangement and/or sends information about the filling process to the communication unit and/or sends information about the filling process and/or the ID of the cylinder to the central database arrangement.

According to yet another preferred aspect, the steps of identifying the cylinder to be filled by communication of the communication arrangement and the communication unit, preferably by querying and/or reading the cylinder ID from the communication unit by the communication arrangement, transmitting a query comprising information about the cylinder to be filled from the communication arrangement to the central database arrangement, preferably by adding the cylinder ID to the query, retrieving information on the cylinder to be filled and/or on the medical gas, which is stored in the central database arrangement by communication of the communication arrangement and the central database arrangement, and transmitting information of the filling process from the filling device to the communication unit and/or to the central database arrangement are carried out.

Brief description of the drawings

The present disclosure will be more readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when being considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a filling device for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility according to a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of a filling device according to a second embodiment;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a filling device according to a third embodiment; and

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a medical facility comprising a system for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a plurality of wards.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the Figures, like elements are denoted by identical reference numerals and repeated description thereof may be omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a filling device 1 for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder 10 with a medical gas according to a first embodiment. The device 1 comprises a connection unit 2 for connection to a wall outlet (not shown) of a centralized gas supply system of the medical facility. The filling device 1 further comprises a receiving unit 3 for receiving the gas cylinder 10 to be filled and a filling unit 4 for filling the received gas cylinder 10 with the gas supplied by the wall outlet. For safe connection with the gas cylinder 10, the filling unit 4 contains connection means 40 which can be connected to a corresponding valve of the gas cylinder 10 when the gas cylinder 10 is properly positioned in the receiving unit 3.

To ensure that only gas cylinders 10 which are intended to store the medical gas provided by the filling device 1 via the wall outlet are filled, the connection means 4 comprise a unique form such that only a connector of gas cylinders having a corresponding form can be connected to the connection means 40. In this embodiment, the filling unit 4 comprises a pin-index yoke-type valve. Of course, the filling unit 4 can also comprise also other types of valves and connectors.

The filling device 1 moreover comprises a communication arrangement 5. The communication arrangement 5 is able to communicate with a central database arrangement of a medical facility via its antenna 5 using radio waves, preferably Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or a comparable wireless communication. In this regard, the communication arrangement 5 is configured to be connected to a wireless local area network (WLAN) of the medical facility which, in turn, is connected to the central database arrangement. In addition, the communication arrangement 5 is configured to communicate with a communication unit 12 of the gas cylinder 10 received in the receiving unit 3. The communication unit 12 according to the first embodiment is a RFID-chip. Alternatively, the communication unit 12 may comprise a package inbuilt memory or a comparable data storage solution. Thus, the communication arrangement 5 comprises a reader/writer 56 for reading/writing RFD chips. Alternatively the communication arrangement 5 may comprise a reader/writer 56 which is configured to read/write on the respective inbuilt memory or other comparable storage solution. The reader/writer 56 is opposing the cylinder’s RFID-chip, or alternatively the respective memory, when the gas cylinder 10 is properly positioned in the receiving unit 3.

Thus, by means of the read/write function of the aforementioned on-site fill system, the reader/writer 56 can store at least some of the above mentioned information on the cylinder’s memory, hence the RFID-chip, or alternatively the inbuilt memory or comparable data storage solution. If information about the gas inside the gas cylinder is needed, for instance personnel may use a mobile reader for reading the data stored on the RFID-chip or inbuilt memory or comparable data storage solution, and, hence, is able to directly read the information from the gas cylinder 10.

For enabling ergonomic user-friendly operation of the filling device 1, an interface 54 in form of a touchscreen or another similar read/input device is provided on the filling device 1. A user operating the filling device 1 can read all necessary information for the filling process from the touchscreen and enter required commands.

On the lower side of the filling device 1, a power supply 9 is provided, which can be connected to a facility power supply via a common wall socket.

The filling device 1 is configured as a movable entity. That allows staff of the medical facility to carry the filling device 1 to any other location. In this regard, a pair of handlebars 86 is arranged on opposing sides of the filling device 1.

Figure 2 shows a schematic sectional view of a filling device 1 for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder 10 with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility according to a second embodiment, which is substantially similar to the filling device according to the first embodiment. Supplementary to the antenna 50, the communication arrangement 5 of the filling device 1 according to the second embodiment comprises a cable connector 52 for a wired connection with a medical facility’s LAN. For this purpose, a LAN-cable can be connected to the cable connector 52 and a LAN socket 144 arranged in a wall 120 of the medical facility.

Furthermore, the filling device 1 is connected to a wall outlet 134 supplying a medical gas via a connection tube 20. Between the connection unit 2 and the filling unit 4, a compressor unit 6 in form of a booster pump is interposed. The compressor unit 6 compresses or pressurizes the medical gas coming from the connection unit 2 to a high pressure level which corresponds to the filling pressure of the gas cylinder 10, in this case 200 bar. Thus, the compressor unit 6, that is the booster pump, compresses the gas from a value of 4.5 bar to a pressure of 200 bar.

The value of the maximum filling pressure may be stored in the communication unit 12, that is, in the RFID-chip, and be read out by the communication arrangement 5. Alternatively, the value of the maximum filling pressure may be obtained by sending a corresponding query from the communication arrangement 5 to the central database arrangement including the cylinder’s ID. Alternatively and/or additionally, the value of the maximum filling pressure may be entered or changed manually by a staff member of the medical facility.

A sensor arrangement 7 is provided for monitoring a filling level of the gas cylinder 10, accurate reception of the gas cylinder 10 and accurate connection of the filling unit 4 with the gas cylinder 10 to be filled. The filling level is monitored by measuring a pressure level of the gas cylinder 10, wherein a pressure gauge 70 is integrated into the filling unit 4. The sensor arrangement 7 further comprises a connection sensor 72 arranged at the connection means 40 and a further sensor 72 arranged at the receiving unit 3.

The receiving unit 3 can be rotated about a central axis 30 and, in addition, be moved longitudinal and transverse to the central axis 30. Thus, an automatic filling of the gas cylinder becomes possible. An operator of the filling device 1 merely has to place a gas cylinder 10 to be filled on the receiving unit 3. For this purpose, the receiving unit 3 preferably comprises a receiving position in which it is extended away from the filling device 1. After reception of the gas cylinder 10, the receiving unit 3 can rotate and move to bring the gas cylinder 10 into a position in which proper connection to the connection means 40 and a communication between the communication unit 12 and the communication arrangement 5 can be established. For this purpose, the receiving unit 3 preferably moves inwards and upwards and rotates until the cylinder 10 is in a proper connecting position. In this embodiment, the senor arrangement 7 interacts with a control of the receiving unit 3 such that a safe connection can be established prior to filling.

The filling device 1 comprises a CPU for controlling all actions of the filling device 1 and its components.

A stand 8 with wheels 80 is arranged at the bottom side of the filling device 1. A staff member of the medical facility, hence, is able to move the filling device 1 to any location. The filling device 1 is further equipped with a parking brake 82 which can block the movement of the wheels 80, such that undesired movement of the filling device 1 is prevented.

In Figure 3, a schematic side view of a filling device 1 for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder 10 with a medical gas in a ward of a medical facility according to a third embodiment is shown. In this embodiment, the receiving unit 3 is formed integral with the connection means 40 of the filling unit 4 at the end of an extendable connection tube 42. The receiving unit 3 is formed as a lock coupling as perse known.

The communication arrangement 5 in this embodiment comprises a barcode scanner 58, which is configured to scan a barcode located at the gas cylinder to be filled and functions as the communication unit 12 of the gas cylinder.

The structure of the filling device 1 according to the third embodiment bears the advantage that proper connection becomes possible without placing the gas cylinder 10 into a predetermined position. The gas cylinder 10 to be filled merely has to be positioned near the filling device 1 or vice versa. Dismounting of a gas cylinder from a mobile medical device, a breathing device, or from a mobile medical ventilator unit may be waived. Thus, filling the cylinder in a state in which it remains mounted to the medical device becomes possible.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a medical facility 100 comprising a system for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in a plurality of wards 110. The medical facility 100 in this embodiment is a hospital having four wards 110, wherein two wards 110 are located in the first floor of the hospital, one ward 110 is located in the second floor and one ward 110 is located in the third floor.

The medical facility 100 comprises a centralized gas supply system 130. For this purpose, a gas tank 134 for storing a medical gas, in this case oxygen in a pharmaceutical degree, is located next to the hospital building. The gas tank 134 is connected to a pipeline system 132, which is integrated in the medical facility 100. Accordingly, the pipeline system 132 extends through the basement and further through several walls 120 and floors 122 of the hospital. In the basement, a central gas cylinder set 138 filled with the medical gas is arranged which is in fluidic connection to the pipeline system 132. The central gas cylinder set 138 functions as a second gas tank to ensure, together with gas tank 134, reliable supply of the medical gas in the pipeline system 132. Gas tank 134 can be refilled via a tank truck (not shown), wherein the bottles of the gas cylinder set 138 are delivered from an external gas supplier.

The pipeline system 132 is connected to a central database arrangement 140 which is also located in the basement. The database arrangement 140 comprises information in digital form about the gas stored in the gas tank 134 and in each bottle of the gas cylinder set 138. A processor unit of the central database arrangement 140 is able to send commands to the centralized gas supply system 130 in order to control supply of the medical gas in the hospital.

The pipeline system 132 is connected to several wall outlets 134 located in several walls 120 of the hospital. As a result, direct provision of the medical gas to each ward 110 by means of a closed system is enabled.

Furthermore, a plurality of filling devices 1 according to any one of the above described embodiments is provided in the hospital, wherein each filling device 1 is connected to a wall outlet 134. In this case, each ward 110 is equipped with a filling device 1. Thus, decentralized filling of a gas cylinder with a medical gas in each ward 110 becomes possible.

The filling devices 1 are in communication with the central database arrangement 140 via their communication arrangements 5, wherein each communication arrangement 5 and the central database arrangement 140 are connected to a WLAN of the hospital via antennas 50 and 142, respectively. For improved quality of the connection, the hospital comprises several WLAN routers 146 and WLAN repeaters (not shown).

In the following, a method for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder 10 with a medical gas in a ward

110 is described with reference to Figures 2 and 4.

For filling a gas cylinder 10 in the filling device 1, an operator has to place the gas cylinder 10 on the receiving unit 3. The sensor arrangement 7 monitors via further sensor 74 correct reception of the gas cylinder 10 in the receiving unit 3 and generates a warning signal if an incorrect reception is monitored. Elsewise, the receiving unit 3 lifts the gas cylinder 10 longitudinal to central axis 30 and rotates, until the communication unit 12 of the cylinder 10 is opposite to the RFID reader/writer 56 of the communication arrangement 5, such that a communication between the communication unit 12 and the communication arrangement 5 can be established. By reading the RFID-chip, the communication arrangement 5 receives information about the gas cylinder 10 to be filled including an ID of the cylinder 10, information of the type of gas the cylinder 10 should be filled with and the maximum filling pressure predetermined for this type of cylinder 10.

Furthermore, the communication arrangement 5 transmits a query to the central database arrangement 140 including the cylinder’s ID. In turn, it retrieves additional information on the cylinder 10 to be filled and information on the medical gas including its origin or quality degree from the central database arrangement 140.

If the type of gas indicated by the commination unit 12 matches the medical gas provided by the wall outlet 134 to which the filling device 1 is connected, the receiving unit 3 moves transverse to the central axis 30 such that a connection of the cylinder 10 and the connection means 40 is established.

When the connection sensor 72 monitors correct connection between cylinder 10 and connection means 40, filling unit 4 starts filling the cylinder 10, wherein compressor unit 6 compresses the medical gas supplied by the wall outlet 134 until the predetermined maximum filling pressure in the cylinder 10 is reached.

During and/or after filling the cylinder 10, the filling device 1 transmits information concerning the filling process to the central database arrangement 140 and writes relevant information on the RFID-chip. Thus, the communication unit 12 then comprises information on the medical gas filled into the cylinder 10, i.e. its source or origin and its medical degree. If this information is needed at a later time, it can directly be read from the RFID-chip. Accordingly, establishing connection to the central database arrangement 140 or a further database merely for the sake of obtaining the aforementioned information can be waived.

The filling device 1 also determines the amount of gas filled in the cylinder using the pressure levels in the cylinder 10 prior and after the filling process. Thus, a gas consumption of a patient associated with the cylinder 10, a mobile medical device or the respective ward 110 can be determined and stored in the central database arrangement 140.

On the grounds of sensible data protection, preferably, the gas consumption associated to a gas cylinder 10 is stored only in association with the cylinder’s ID. Correlation between a patient and the cylinder 10, i.e. its ID, may be stored in another section, preferably a secured section, of the central database arrangement 140 or in a further database arrangement and be queried only when generating an invoice for the patient.

According to another preferred embodiment of the method, reference is made to the filling device according to the third embodiment, i.e. Figures 3 and 4.

As the commination unit 12 of the cylinder 10 is provided in form of a barcode, the communication arrangement 5 merely receives the ID of the cylinder when a hospital staff member is manually scanning the barcode with the barcode scanner 58. All further information on the cylinder 10 is stored in the central database arrangement 140 and can be queried via communication between the communication arrangement 5 and the central database arrangement 140.

It will be obvious for a person skilled in the art that these embodiments and items only depict examples of a plurality of possibilities. Hence, the embodiments shown here should not be understood to form a limitation of these features and configurations. Any possible combination and configuration of the described features can be chosen according to the scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals filling device connection unit connection tube receiving unit filling unit connection means connection tube communication arrangement antenna cable connector interface reader/writer barcode scanner compressor unit sensor arrangement pressure gauge connection sensor further sensor stand wheel parking brake handlebar power supply gas cylinder communication unit connection valve

100 medical facility

110 ward

120 wall

125 facility power supply

130 system

132 pipeline system

134 wall outlet

136 tank

138 gas cylinder set

140	central database arrangement
5 142	antenna
144	socket
146	router

Claims

1. Filling device (1) for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder (10) with a medical gas in a medical facility (100), comprising a connection unit (2) for connection to a wall outlet (134) of a centralized gas supply system (130) of the medical facility (100), a receiving unit (3) for receiving the gas cylinder (10) to be filled, and a filling unit (4) for filling the received gas cylinder (10) with the gas supplied by the wall outlet (134).

2. Filling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a communication arrangement (5) for communicating with a communication unit (12) of a gas cylinder (10) to be filled and/or for communicating with a central database arrangement (140) is provided, such that a safety system is provided to ensure that the gas cylinder (10) is filled with the predetermined gas.

3. Filling device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the communication arrangement (5) is configured to receive at least an ID associated with the gas cylinder (10) from the communication unit (12) and/or is configured to at least receive information about the gas supplied at the wall outlet (134) by the central database arrangement (140) and/or in that that the communication arrangement (5) is configured to transmit data to the communication unit (12) and/or the central database arrangement (140).

4. Filling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compressor unit (6), preferably a booster or a booster pump, for compressing medical gas provided by the gas supply to a predetermined pressure level is provided, wherein the compressor unit (6) is preferably arranged between the connection unit (2) and the filling unit (4).

5. Filling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor arrangement (7) is provided for monitoring a filling level of the gas cylinder (10), accurate reception of the gas cylinder (10) and/or accurate connection of the filling unit (4) with the gas cylinder (10) to be filled.

6. Filling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filling unit (4) comprises connection means (40) for establishing safe connection to the gas cylinder (10), wherein the filling unit (4) preferably comprises a unique valve type which is solely provided to fill a certain medical gas, preferably oxygen, wherein the filling unit (4) preferably comprises a pin-index yoke-type valve.

7. Filling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a movable entity.

8. System for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder (10) with a medical gas in a medical facility (100), comprising a centralized gas supply system (130) which is in fluidic connection with at least one wall outlet (134), preferably via a pipeline system (132), characterized in that at least a filling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is connected to at least one wall outlet (134).

9. System according to claim 8, characterized by further comprising a central database arrangement (140) for storing data with respect to at least a medical gas.

10. System according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one gas cylinder (10) comprises a communication unit (12), preferably an RFID-chip, inbuilt memory or a comparable storage solution, wherein the communication arrangement (5) of the filling device (1) is configured to communicate with the communication unit (12) of the at least one gas cylinder (10) and/or with a central database arrangement (140).

11. System according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that a plurality of filling devices (1) is provided, wherein preferably at least two filling devices (1) are associated to different wards (110) of the medical facility (100).

12. Method for decentralized filling of a gas cylinder (10) with a medical gas in a medical facility (100), comprising the following steps:

providing a system according to claims 8 to 11;

receiving a gas cylinder (10) to be filled in the receiving unit (3) of a filling device (1); connecting the filling unit (4) to the received gas cylinder (10); and filling the received gas cylinder (10) with gas supplied by the wall outlet (134).

13. Method according to claim 12 characterized in verifying proper reception of the gas cylinder (10) to be filled in the receiving unit (3) and/or verifying proper connection between the filling unit (4) and the gas cylinder (10) prior to filling the cylinder (10).

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a communication arrangement (5) of the filling device (1) communicates with a communication unit (12) of the gas cylinder (10) and/or a central database arrangement (140) prior to filling the gas cylinder (10) for ensuring that the gas cylinder (10) is filled with the predetermined gas.

15. Method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the communication arrangement (5) receives information about the cylinder (10) to be filled, preferably an ID of the cylinder (10), from the communication unit (12) and/or the central database arrangement (140) and/or sends information about the filling process to the communication unit (12) and/or sends information about the filling process and/or the ID of the cylinder (10) to the central database arrangement (140).

16. Method according to any of the claim 12 to 15, characterized by the following steps: identifying the cylinder (10) to be filled by communication of the communication arrangement (5) and the communication unit (12), preferably by querying and/or reading the cylinder ID from the communication unit (12) by the communication arrangement (5); transmitting a query comprising information about the cylinder (10) to be filled from the communication arrangement (5) to the central database arrangement (140), preferably by adding the cylinder ID to the query, retrieving information on the cylinder (10) to be filled and/or on the medical gas, which is stored in the central database arrangement (140) by communication of the communication arrangement (5) and the central database arrangement (140); and transmitting information of the filling process from the filling device (1) to the communication unit (12) and/or to the central database arrangement (140).