JP2003000714A - Air supply device for breathing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized lightweight air supply device for breathing reduced in power consumption when a positive pressure type artificial breathing aid and an oxygen concentration device are used together. SOLUTION: The air supply device for breathing is equipped with a positive pressure air generation means for generating positive pressure air for breathing, a breathing interface for supplying positive pressure air to a patient, a positive pressure air supplying means for connecting the positive pressure air generation means and the breathing interface and the oxygen concentration means for generating oxygen high in concentration. The oxygen concentration means uses the positive pressure air as raw material air to generate oxygen high in concentration.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a respiratory gas supply device for supplying medical gas. More specifically,
The present invention relates to a breathing gas supply apparatus having a medical oxygen concentration function for separating and supplying oxygen from the air and a medical positive pressure artificial respiration assisting function for supplying pressurized air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of patients suffering from respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis has been increasing,
Oxygen inhalation therapy is one of the most effective treatment methods, and an oxygen concentrator that directly separates oxygen-enriched gas from the air has been developed. Oxygen inhalation therapy has been developed because of its convenience in use and ease of maintenance. Is gradually becoming popular as a medical treatment device.

As such a medical oxygen concentrator, a membrane separation type oxygen concentrator using an oxygen selective permeable membrane and an adsorption type oxygen concentrator using an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing nitrogen or oxygen are known. ing. Further, there is an apparatus for electrochemically generating oxygen using a ceramic solid electrolyte or polymer electrolyte that selectively permeates ions, and among them, a method for selectively permeating oxygen ions is common.

On the other hand, the positive pressure artificial respiration assistance device for medical treatment supports the respiration of the patients with ventilation failure who cannot obtain sufficient ventilation only by spontaneous respiration such as pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema. The intermittent positive pressure artificial respirator assist device used for continuous breathing and the continuous positive pressure artificial respirator assist device that keeps the airway at a positive pressure at all times have become popular for patients with airway obstruction during sleep such as sleep apnea syndrome. It's starting.

Among the intermittent positive pressure artificial respiration assistance devices, the most common type using a nasal mask will be described with reference to FIG. The main body 1 intermittently generates positive pressure air of about 2 to 30 cmH2O and sends it to the conduit 2. Above all, there are two levels of pressure according to the inspiration and expiration of the user 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, positive pressure during inspiration (IPAP: Inspiration Positive Airway).
Pressure): 12 to 15 cmH2O, positive pressure during exhalation (EPAP: Exp
iration Positive Airway Pressure): The type that supplies positive pressure air to users at a set pressure of 2-4 cmH2O is the mainstream.

The conduit 2 is connected to the mask frame 5 for fixing the mask cushion 6, and through the mask cushion 6, positive pressure air is sent to the nasal cavity of the user 7. The expiratory air discharge hole 3 is provided to expel the exhaled air of the user 7 out of the breathing circuit, and the therapeutic gas mixing port 4 is used for patients who need to mix therapeutic gas such as oxygen in addition to positive pressure air. On the other hand, it is used as an inlet for therapeutic gas.

Further, the continuous positive pressure type artificial respiration assist device has almost the same structure as the intermittent positive pressure type artificial respiration assist device,
It always supplies a constant positive pressure air to the airway regardless of the user's inspiration and expiration.

[0008]

A non-invasive type positive pressure artificial respiration assist device using a nasal mask is relatively easy to be managed by a doctor, and the number of cases in which treatment is performed at home is rapidly increasing. . In addition, most of such patients need to mix oxygen gas, and the patient has not only a positive pressure type artificial respiration assist device but also an oxygen concentrator, and connects both devices with a tube etc. Inhaling compressed air.

In such a case, the patient has two devices, but since both devices are bulky and occupy space in the room, downsizing of the device is desired.
Further, each device is heavy, and when it is necessary to move the device, it is difficult for the patient to move it by himself, and it is desired to reduce the weight of the device.

In these devices, an air supply source such as a fan or a compressor, which uses electricity as a power source, is used inside the device. However, the power consumption required for driving these air supply sources is large and the device is For patients who use two at the same time, it is a heavy burden as an electric bill.

An object of the present invention is to provide a breathing gas supply device of small size, light weight and low power consumption for a patient who uses a positive pressure type artificial respiration assisting device in which high concentration oxygen is mixed.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present inventor has made diligent studies, and as a result, has provided an oxygen concentration function and a positive pressure type artificial respiration assist function, and supplies a breathing gas using one air supply means. It has been found that the problem can be solved by providing a device.

That is, according to the present invention, a positive pressure air generating means for generating positive pressure air for breathing, a breathing interface for supplying the positive pressure air to a user, and the positive pressure air generating means and the breathing interface are connected. Respiratory characterized by comprising positive pressure air supply conduit means and oxygen concentration means for generating high concentration oxygen, wherein the oxygen concentration means is means for generating high concentration oxygen using the positive pressure air as raw material air A gas supply device is provided.

The present invention is also characterized in that the positive pressure air supply conduit means is provided with a branching means in the middle thereof and a switching function for sending the positive pressure air to the breathing interface and / or the oxygen concentrating means. Breathing gas supply device,
There is provided a breathing gas supply device comprising high-concentration oxygen supply conduit means for supplying the high-concentration oxygen generated by the oxygen concentrating means to the breathing interface or the positive pressure air supply conduit means. It is a thing.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the oxygen concentrating means is a means for electrochemically generating a high concentration of oxygen, and in particular, it has a solid electrolyte which selectively permeates oxygen ions. A breathing gas supply device characterized by being a concentration oxygen generating means, and a breathing gas supply device characterized in that the oxygen concentrating means is a membrane separation type oxygen concentrating means provided with an oxygen selective permeable membrane. It is provided.

Further, the present invention is intermittently equipped with a control means which responds to the breathing of the user and which supplies positive pressure air at the set pressure at the time of inspiration at the time of inspiration and at the set pressure at the time of expiration lower than the pressure at the time of inspiration at the time of expiration. It is intended to provide a breathing gas supply device characterized by having a positive pressure type artificial respiration assisting function.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention comprises:
Positive pressure air generating means for generating positive pressure air for breathing, breathing interface for supplying the positive pressure air to a user, positive pressure air supply conduit connecting the positive pressure air generating means and the breathing interface It is a device having a positive pressure type artificial ventilation assisting function equipped with a means and an oxygen supply function equipped with an oxygen concentrating means for generating high concentration oxygen, and is common for achieving the positive pressure type artificial ventilation function and the oxygen generating function. It is composed of one positive pressure air generating means used for the above.

The positive pressure air generating means is provided with means for pressurizing air to generate positive pressure air as an air supply means, and a fan is used. The control of positive pressure air supply is to supply two types of positive pressure air, positive pressure during inspiration (IPAP) during inspiration and positive pressure during expiration (EPAP) during inspiration, according to the prescription pressure of the user's doctor. It is an intermittent positive pressure type artificial respiration assisting means for controlling the generation of the positive pressure air generating means, and a pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, etc. are provided between the positive pressure air generating means and the breathing interface to start the inspiration of the patient, A device that detects the exhalation start point and switches the supply pressure of the positive pressure air generation means accordingly, and presets the inspiration time and expiration time, and switches the supply pressure of the positive pressure air generation means accordingly. It is used to control and let the user breathe into it. Further, a continuous positive pressure type artificial respiration assisting means may be used in which the positive pressure at the time of inspiration and the positive pressure at the time of exhalation are equal to each other and always generate a constant positive pressure air.

As the breathing interface, a breathing mask such as a nasal mask for supplying positive pressure air to the user's nose or a face mask for covering the nose and mouth is used. These are provided with an exhalation discharge hole for discharging the exhalation of the user out of the mask.

On the other hand, as the oxygen concentrating means, there are a membrane separation type and an adsorption type using an oxygen selective permeable membrane, and an electrochemical type oxygen concentrating means for electrochemically generating oxygen. Due to the nature of the oxygen enrichment process, it is desirable to use an electrochemical or membrane separation type oxygen enrichment means to use a fan to provide a common air supply with the breathing assistance means.

The electrochemical-type oxygen concentrating means means that oxygen is electrochemically generated by applying a voltage difference between electrodes arranged on both surfaces of an electrolyte membrane thin layer which selectively allows ions to permeate, and causing a current to flow. It is a thing. For example, by passing an electric current through a solid electrolyte that selectively permeates oxygen ions, oxygen ions are transported through such a membrane, and high concentration oxygen can be generated. Generally, a solid electrolyte does not generate oxygen unless it is at a high temperature of 600 ° C. or higher, so it is necessary to heat it and a heater is used. Further, the membrane separation type oxygen concentrating means uses a membrane which selectively permeates oxygen by utilizing the difference in molecular size.

In the respiratory gas supply system of the present invention, a portion of the positive pressure air generated by the fan is delivered to the respiratory interface through the positive pressure air supply conduit means. The other part of the positive pressure air is branched from the middle of the positive pressure air supply conduit means and used as an air supply source for the oxygen concentrating means. The branched positive pressure air needs to be adjusted to an appropriate pressure and flow rate as an air supply source of the oxygen concentrating means, and a pressure regulating valve or a flow rate regulating valve is used.

In the branch portion of the positive pressure air, means for switching the supply destination of the positive pressure air is provided, and the positive pressure air is supplied to the breathing interface, the oxygen concentrating means, or both the breathing interface and the oxygen concentrating means. Switch to do so. For example, in order to supply positive pressure air only to the breathing interface, the flow path on the oxygen concentrating means side may be closed by the valve means. As a result, the air supply to the oxygen concentrating means is cut off, oxygen is not generated, and the positive pressure type artificial respiration device can be used alone. Conversely, by blocking the flow path to the breathing interface, the oxygen concentrator can be used alone and switched depending on the patient's treatment. Further, if positive pressure air is supplied to both the breathing interface and the oxygen concentrating means, it can be used as a positive pressure type artificial respiration device mixed with high concentration oxygen. A manual switching valve or a solenoid valve, for example, a butterfly valve type solenoid valve can be used as the switching means.

The high oxygen concentration generated by the oxygen concentrating means is supplied into the respiratory interface via the high oxygen concentration supplying conduit means. A soft tube or the like is used as the high-concentration oxygen supply conduit means, and may be connected to an oxygen supply port provided in the breathing interface. Also, by arranging the tip of the tube in the breathing interface through the inside of the positive pressure air supply conduit means by a tube thinner than the positive pressure air supply conduit means,
The positive pressure air supply means and the high-concentration oxygen supply conduit means are 1
It is easy to handle for users.

Further, when the breathing gas supply device is used as a single oxygen concentrating device by switching the switching means, high concentration oxygen may be inhaled via the breathing interface or the like. When used alone as a concentrator, it may be inhaled using an interface for oxygen inhalation such as a nasal cannula.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. The positive pressure air generated by the fan is partially supplied to the positive pressure air supply conduit means 10 through the switching means and the flow meter and the pressure gauge. The flow meter is provided to detect the inspiration / expiration start point of the patient and sends an inspiration / expiration start signal to the control means. The control means controls the rotation speed of the fan so as to supply a preset pressure in accordance with the intake air and the exhalation air.

The pressure gauge measures the pressure in the positive pressure air conduit means 10 and sends a pressure value signal to the control means. The control means keeps the determined pressure,
The rotation speed of the fan is finely adjusted based on the sent pressure value signal.

The positive pressure air conduit means 10 is also connected to the mask frame 5 and sends positive pressure air to the user through the mask cushion 4. The mask frame 5 is provided with an exhalation hole 3 to expel the user's exhalation out of the mask.

On the other hand, a part of the positive pressure air generated by the fan is sent to the pressure regulating valve and the flow rate regulating valve via the switching means to regulate the pressure and the flow rate, and is blown onto the surface of the solid electrolyte. A current flows through the solid electrolyte through the control means, and oxygen ions are selectively permeated from the blown air to generate high-concentration oxygen, which is sent to the cooling device. In the cooling device, the generated high-concentration oxygen is sent to the product tank, and the high-concentration oxygen having a preset flow rate is sent to the high-concentration oxygen supply conduit means 11 via the flow rate adjusting valve controlled by the control means. . High-concentration oxygen supply conduit means 1
1 passes through the inside of the positive pressure air supply conduit means 10 to supply high concentration oxygen into the respiratory mask. Further, the air that has not permeated the solid electrolyte is discharged to the outside of the device as exhaust air. Further, the heater is controlled by the control means in order to heat the solid electrolyte to a temperature suitable for generating high concentration oxygen.

[0030]

According to the present invention, by driving the positive pressure type artificial respiration assisting means and the oxygen concentrating means by one air supply source, it is possible to provide a breathing gas supply device which is small in size and light in power consumption.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an intermittent positive pressure artificial respiration assistance device of the nasal mask type.

FIG. 2 is a supply pressure pattern in a general intermittent positive pressure artificial respiration assist device.

FIG. 3 is a preferred breathing gas supply device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Positive pressure air generation means 2. conduit 3. Exhalation hole 4. Treatment gas mixing port 5. Mask frame 6. Nose mask 7. User 8. Oxygen concentration means 9. Positive pressure artificial respiration assistance 10. Conduit means for positive pressure air supply 11. High-concentration oxygen supply conduit means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4D006 GA41 JA52A JA55A JA65A                       JA66A JA67A JA70A KA16                       KE01P KE02Q KE06P KE07Q                       KE24Q MB19 PA03 PB17                       PB62 PC41 PC71                 4G042 BA29 BB02 BC04

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A positive pressure air generating means for generating positive pressure air for breathing, a breathing interface for supplying the positive pressure air to a user, and a positive pressure air connecting the positive pressure air generating means and the breathing interface. Respiratory gas supply device comprising supply conduit means and oxygen concentrating means for generating high-concentration oxygen, the oxygen concentrating means being means for generating high-concentration oxygen using the positive pressure air as raw material air. . 2. A branching means is provided in the middle of said positive pressure air supply conduit means, and a switching function for sending said positive pressure air to said breathing interface and / or said oxygen concentrating means is provided. 1. The respiratory gas supply device according to 1. 3. The high-concentration oxygen supply conduit means for supplying the high-concentration oxygen generated by the oxygen concentrating means to the breathing interface or the positive pressure air supply conduit means. The breathing gas supply device described. 4. The oxygen concentrating means is means for electrochemically generating a high concentration of oxygen, which is characterized in that
3. The respiratory gas supply device according to item 3. 5. The breathing gas supply apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the oxygen concentrating means is a high-concentration oxygen generating means provided with a solid electrolyte that selectively permeates oxygen ions. 6. The respiratory gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen concentrating means is a membrane separation type oxygen concentrating means provided with an oxygen selective permeable membrane. 7. A control means for supplying positive pressure air at a set pressure at the time of inspiration at the time of inspiration and at a set pressure at the time of exhalation lower than the pressure at the time of inhalation at the time of exhalation, which corresponds to the breathing of the user. The breathing gas supply device according to claim 1.