JP2016168383A - Breathing gas heating humidifier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a breathing gas heating humidifier with a higher humidification efficiency of a breathing gas, the heating humidifier being capable of operating continuously with a humidification capability kept stably even when supplying the breathing gas at high flow rate.SOLUTION: A chamber 3 of a water breathing gas heating humidifier 100 includes an inlet 41 for taking in a breathing gas in the chamber 3, an outlet 51 for guiding the breathing gas humidified in the chamber 3 to the outside, a water supply port 61 for supplying water in the chamber 3, a heating plate 81 disposed vertically and to be heated by the heater 22, and a first sheet-like humidification member 11A soaked in the water in the chamber 3 to be kept in humid condition. The first sheet-like humidification member 11A is disposed so as to come in surface contact with the heating plate 81 and to allow the breathing gas to circulate along a surface of the heating plate. The water supply port 61 is disposed so as to supply the water toward an upper part of the heating plate 81.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a warming humidifier for maintaining a breathing gas used in a ventilator, oxygen inhalation therapy, or the like at an appropriate temperature and humidity.

  2. Description of the Related Art There are known a ventilator for sending a breathing gas containing a predetermined amount of oxygen to a patient's respiratory tract and a device for oxygen inhalation therapy. In such a device, when the patient is supplied with dry breathing gas, the patient's throat, nasal cavity and mucous membranes are dried over time, causing not only discomfort to the patient, but also airway damage. There is a fear. For this reason, a warming humidifier for taking water vapor into a breathing gas and maintaining it at an appropriate temperature and humidity has been used.

As such a breathing gas heating humidifier, for example, a breathing gas is passed through a chamber in which water is stored as disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, and humidified with evaporated water. Etc. are known.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a heating element is provided in a chamber in which water is stored. By heating the water in the chamber, the evaporation rate is increased and taken into a breathing gas (breathing gas) passing through the chamber. A warming humidifier (humidifier) with an increased amount of water vapor has been proposed.
In Patent Document 2, a heat transfer plate is provided at the bottom of the chamber, and the water stored in the chamber is heated by the heat transfer plate to be heated.
Further, Patent Document 3 proposes an apparatus having a surrounding body that forms a passage through which a breathing gas flows by a hollow fiber membrane and surrounds the hollow fiber membrane. Then, water is supplied to the hollow fiber membrane, and passes through the space between the outer surface of the hollow fiber membrane and the enclosure, so that water vapor flows inside the hollow fiber membrane. It is designed to supply gas.

Special table 2011-512889 JP 2012-185825 A Special Table 2007-530157

However, in cases where the patient is forced to supply breathing gas to the human body when the patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest, or in high flow therapy (which supplies breathing gas at a higher flow rate than the patient's inspiration), which has been attracting attention in recent years The breathing gas is supplied to the human body at a higher flow rate than usual.
In this respect, in the humidifying humidifier described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, since the water accumulated in the chamber is heated, it takes time for heating until water vapor is generated from the water surface, and the respirator to be supplied is supplied. Since the contact area between the gas and water is limited to the surface of the water stored in the chamber, it becomes difficult to perform sufficient humidification when the flow rate of the breathing gas is increased.
Moreover, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the humidification capability is increased by increasing the contact area between water and the breathing gas. However, the humidification capability by this apparatus is not sufficient, and the humidification capability is further increased. Improvement is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can improve the humidification efficiency of the breathing gas. Even when the breathing gas is supplied at a high flow rate, the present invention maintains a stable humidification capability and continuously. An object of the present invention is to provide a respirating gas humidifier capable of performing a simple operation.

  The present invention relates to a respirating gas humidifier that circulates a respirating gas in a chamber in which water is stored and heats and humidifies the respirated gas, wherein the respirator incorporates a respirating gas into the chamber. An air outlet that guides the breathing gas humidified in the chamber to the outside, a water supply port that supplies water into the chamber, a heating plate that is heated by a heater and arranged in the vertical direction, and the chamber A first sheet-like humidifying member that is kept wet by immersing the lower part in the water therein, and the first sheet-like humidifying member is in surface contact with the heating plate and along the surface thereof. It arrange | positions so that the gas for respiration may be distribute | circulated, and the said water supply port is arrange | positioned so that water may be supplied toward the upper part of the said heating plate.

Rather than heating the entire water in the chamber, the first sheet-like humidifying member that is wet by dipping the lower part in the water is heated, so that the water can be reliably evaporated with less energy. In addition, by allowing the breathing gas to pass through the surface of the first sheet-like humidifying member, the water evaporation rate can be increased and the amount of water vaporized can be increased. It can be made easy to take in.
By the way, when the breathing gas is sent out at a high flow rate such as high flow, the amount of vaporization in the first sheet-like humidifying member increases, so that if the absorption amount for sucking water from the lower part of the first sheet-like humidifying member is exceeded The upper portion of the first sheet-like humidifying member may be dried, and the humidification function may be reduced. Therefore, in the breathing gas heating humidifier of the present invention, a water supply port for supplying water into the chamber is provided so as to supply water toward the upper part of the heating plate, thereby providing surface contact with the heating plate. The first sheet-like humidifying member is moistened with water supplied from the water supply port at the upper part of the first sheet-like humidifying member, and stored in the chamber at the lower part of the first sheet-like humidifying member. It is supposed to be dampened by soaking in water and sucking water from the bottom. Thereby, even when the breathing gas is supplied at a high flow rate, the drying of the first sheet-shaped humidifying member can be prevented, and the stable humidification capability of the entire first sheet-shaped humidifying member is maintained and the heating humidifier is maintained. Continuous operation can be performed.

In the warming / humidifier for breathing gas according to the present invention, the water supply from the water supply port may be intermittently performed while repeating the water supply and the stop.
By supplying water intermittently by repeating the water supply and stopping and adjusting the supply amount and supply timing of the water, rapid fluctuations in the water temperature of the water in the chamber and the temperature of the heating plate can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to humidify the breathing gas while maintaining a stable humidification capability.

  In the humidifying humidifier for a breathing gas according to the present invention, the chamber is disposed at a distance from the first sheet-shaped humidifying member, and is humidified in which the first sheet-shaped humidifying member is disposed in the internal space of the chamber. A partition plate that divides into a space and a preheating space adjacent to the humidification space is provided, the suction port is provided in the preheating space, the air outlet is provided in the humidification space, and the preheating space and the humidification space are provided. The space may be configured to circulate the breathing gas from the preheating space to the humidification space by a communication portion provided in the partition plate.

By partitioning the internal space of the chamber with the partition plate, a passage through which the breathing gas flows from the preheating space arranged away from the heating plate to the humidification space is formed. For this reason, the breathing gas taken into the chamber is preliminarily heated when it first passes through the preheating space, and is preliminarily humidified by the water vapor evaporated in the preheating space. It is moved to the humidification space through the communication part of the partition plate. And in humidification space, heating humidification will be further accelerated | stimulated because the gas for respiration contacts the surface of the wet 1st sheet-like humidification member warmed by the heating plate.
In this way, preliminary warming and humidification is performed in the preheating space, full-scale warming and humidification is performed in the humidification space, and the breathing gas is heated and humidified in stages in the preheating space and the humidification space. Therefore, even when the breathing gas is supplied at a high flow rate, it can be quickly heated and humidified.

In the humidifying humidifier for breathing gas according to the present invention, the heating plate is provided in a cylindrical shape and disposed at the center of the chamber, and the first sheet-like humidifying member is a cylinder along the circumferential surface of the heating plate. It is preferable that the partition plate is provided in a cylindrical shape that divides the preheating space and the humidification space of the internal space of the chamber into a double ring-shaped space.
By providing a heating plate in the shape of a cylinder and placing it in the center of the chamber, the internal space of the chamber can be sequentially heated in the circumferential direction from the center, and preheating at a relatively low temperature from a humid space with a relatively high temperature. The space can be configured almost equally in the circumferential direction in each region. Similarly, the contact surface of the sheet-like humidifying member with the breathing gas can be evenly arranged in the circumferential direction, and the breathing gas can be evenly heated and humidified.

In the breathing gas heating humidifier according to the present invention, a pair of second sheet-like humidifying members are attached to the front and back surfaces of the partition plate, and the pair of second sheet-like humidifying members are disposed in the chamber. It is preferable that the lower part is immersed in water and kept in a wet state.
A second sheet-like humidifying member is also attached to the front and back surfaces of the partition plate that partitions the internal space of the chamber, so that when the breathing gas flows through the passage partitioned by the partition plate, the second sheet-like shape is wet. It can be made to contact the surface of a humidification member. Therefore, in addition to the 1st sheet-like humidification member arrange | positioned in surface contact with a heating plate, a humidification function can be improved also by the 2nd sheet-like humidification member attached to the partition plate.

The breathing gas heating humidifier of the present invention is provided with a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the chamber, and the supply of water from the water supply port depends on the water level detected by the water level sensor. It is good to manage by the water supply mode of the multistep which changed the amount of water supply and the water supply timing.
By changing the amount of water supplied from the water supply port and the water supply timing according to the water level in the chamber, a constant water level can be secured and stable humidification can be performed, and fluctuations in the temperature and humidity of the breathing gas can be suppressed. be able to. In addition, when it is detected that the water level in the chamber has decreased to the lower limit position, an alarm is issued so that the user can be notified of the replacement of the water supply bag before the water in the chamber is completely exhausted. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of the air blowing phenomenon.

  According to the present invention, rather than heating the entire water in the chamber, the humidified first sheet-like humidifying member is heated, so the humidifying efficiency of the breathing gas can be increased. In addition, the first sheet-like humidifying member provided in surface contact with the heating plate is moistened by supplying water from both the upper and lower parts of the first sheet-like humidifying member, so that the breathing gas can be supplied at a high flow rate. Even in the case of supplying, the drying of the first sheet-like humidifying member can be prevented, and the heating and humidifier can be continuously operated while maintaining a stable humidifying ability throughout the first sheet-like humidifying member.

It is a perspective view which shows embodiment of the heating humidifier of the breathing gas of this invention. It is a perspective view of the main-body part of the heating humidifier shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the chamber part of the heating humidifier shown in FIG. It is a cross-sectional perspective view of the heating humidifier which shows the state which removed the chamber from the state shown in FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing of the chamber part of the heating humidifier shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining the structure of a chamber. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of a tower unit. It is a perspective view of a water pump. It is sectional drawing of the water pump shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the chamber part of the heating humidifier in the direction orthogonal to an up-down direction. It is a figure explaining the structure of a water level sensor, (a) is a perspective view of the light emission board | substrate which mounts three light emission parts, (b) is a perspective view of the light reception board | substrate which mounts three light reception parts.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a breathing gas heating humidifier according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The breathing gas heating humidifier 100 according to this embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is used by being connected to, for example, a CPAP device for assisting spontaneous breathing to treat a respiratory disorder. A CPAP device is a device that treats a patient using an auxiliary stimulation method called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), via a patient interface such as a nasal prong, tracheal intubation tube, or nasal mask. A breathing gas composed of a predetermined amount of a mixture of oxygen and air is supplied to the patient. The warming humidifier 100 is provided to maintain the breathing gas supplied to the patient at an appropriate temperature and humidity, and the breathing gas sent from the CPAP device is heated by the warming humidifier 100. It is humidified and supplied to the patient.

As shown in FIG. 1, the warming humidifier 100 includes a main body 1 with a built-in control unit, a base 2 provided integrally with the main body 1, and a chamber 3 provided detachably on the base 2. A supply hose 4 for sending a breathing gas into the chamber 3, an interface connection hose 5 for sending the heated and humidified breathing gas from the chamber 3 to the patient interface, and a water supply unit 6 for supplying water into the chamber 3 With.
The base 2 of the warming humidifier 100 is provided with a water level sensor 20 (see FIG. 10) for detecting the water level of the water stored in the chamber 3, and the operation of the warming humidifier 100 is performed. Sometimes, water is supplied from the water supply unit 6 according to the water level in the chamber 3. Details thereof will be described later.
As shown in FIG. 1, the heating / humidifying device 100 is placed on a gantry 7 that is movable by a caster 71, and is movable together with the gantry 7. Although not shown, the warming humidifier 100 is connected to a gas supply device (for example, a CPAP device) for sending a breathing gas into the chamber 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the base 2 is formed with a recess 21 into which the chamber 3 can be mounted by fitting a side surface portion and a lower portion of the chamber 3. A columnar heater 22 is erected vertically. The surface of the heater 22 is airtightly covered with a heat sink 23 made of a metal having high thermal conductivity (for example, aluminum).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the chamber 3 includes a container portion 8 that stores water and a lid portion 9 that is attached to the upper portion of the container portion 8. The chamber portion 8 includes the container portion 8 and the lid portion 9. The breathing gas can be heated and humidified by passing the breathing gas through the internal space of the chamber 3.
Moreover, the container part 8 and the cover part 9 are formed of transparent resin, such as acrylic resin, such as polycarbonate resin (PC) and PMMA, and polysulfone resin (PSU), for example.

  In the chamber 3 of the present embodiment, the container 8 and the lid 9 are used in a bonded state. The chamber 3 is detachably provided on the hinge mechanism portion 24 provided on the base 2. In the heating / humidifier 100, the chamber 3 is connected to the hinge mechanism portion 24 so that the chamber 3 It is designed to detect that it is mounted at a regular position.

  Further, the lid 8 has an inlet 41 for taking in the breathing gas into the internal space of the chamber 3, an air outlet 51 for leading the breathing gas humidified in the chamber 3 to the outside, and a humidifier in the chamber 3. A water supply port 61 for supplying water is provided. The inlet 41 is connected to the supply hose 4, the outlet 51 is connected to the interface connection hose 5, and the water inlet 61 is connected to the water supply unit 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the container portion 8 is provided with a heating plate 81 made of a metal having high thermal conductivity (for example, aluminum) along the vertical direction at the center of the bottom portion. The heating plate 81 is formed in a shape in which the upper end of the substantially cylindrical sleeve-shaped body portion is integrally closed with the top plate portion. The outer peripheral surface of the heating plate 81 constitutes a part of the internal space of the chamber 3, and the internal space is formed in a ring-shaped space. A heat sink 23 is inserted inside the body portion of the heating plate 81 when the container portion 8 is mounted on the base 2.

In this case, the heat sink 23 and the heating plate 81 are formed in a slight taper shape so that the diameter gradually decreases toward the upper side, and the outer peripheral surface 23a of the heat sink 23 and the inner peripheral surface of the heating plate 81 have substantially the same inclination. By being formed at an angle, when the heating plate 81 is fitted to the heat sink 23, the inner peripheral surface of the heating plate 81 and the outer peripheral surface of the heat sink 23 come into surface contact, and the heat of the heater 22 passes through the heat sink 23. Thus, it can be smoothly transmitted to the heating plate 81.
A cylindrical first sheet-shaped humidifying member 11A is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the heating plate 81 in surface contact, and a pair of second sheets is spaced around the first sheet-shaped humidifying member 11A. A tower unit 10 having sheet-like humidifying members 11B and 11C is attached.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tower unit 10 includes a cylindrical frame 12 that supports the second sheet-like humidifying member 11B on the inner peripheral side, and a partition plate 13 that supports the second sheet-like humidifying member 11C on the outer peripheral side. The two parts are combined. The frame body 12 and the partition plate 13 are formed of a resin such as polypropylene.
As shown in FIG. 7, the frame body 12 has a shape in which circular portions arranged at both ends in the length direction of the tower unit 10 are connected by a plurality of plate-like portions, and between the plate-like portions. By attaching the second sheet-like humidifying member 11B so as to close it, the second sheet-like humidifying member 11B is held in a substantially cylindrical shape. Moreover, the partition plate 13 is formed in the cylindrical shape which covers the outer side of the frame 12, The 2nd sheet-like humidification member 11C is attached to the outer peripheral surface, and is hold | maintained at the cylindrical shape. Then, by combining the frame body 12 and the partition plate 13, the second sheet-shaped humidifying member 11B is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the partition plate 13, and the second sheet-shaped humidifying member 11C is disposed on the outer peripheral surface. A tower unit 10 is formed.

  In a state where the tower unit 10 is mounted on the container portion 8, the internal space of the chamber 3 is partitioned into a double ring-shaped space between the inside and the outside by the tower unit 10 (partition plate 13). The tower unit 10 is mounted on the container portion 8 after the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A is attached to the heating plate 81. At this time, the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A faces the outer peripheral surface of the heating plate 81. Since it arrange | positions so that it may contact, the 2nd sheet-like humidification member 11B is provided in the inner peripheral surface of the partition plate 13, and the 2nd sheet-like humidification member 11C is provided in an outer peripheral surface, Therefore The internal space of the chamber 3 is As shown in FIG. 5, an inner humidifying space 31 in which the first sheet-like humidifying member 11 </ b> A and the second sheet-like humidifying member 11 </ b> B are disposed, and the second sheet-like humidifying member 11 </ b> C adjacent to the humidifying space 31. Will be partitioned into a preheating space 32 in which is disposed.

In this case, similarly to the heating plate 81, the frame body 12 and the partition plate 13 of the tower unit 10 are formed in a slightly tapered shape with an inclination so as to gradually decrease in diameter toward the upper side, The humidification space 31 inside the chamber 3 is formed at a certain interval from the outer peripheral surface of the heating plate 81.

  In addition, a communication portion 33 that communicates the preheating space 32 and the humidification space 31 is provided at the lower portion of the tower unit 10, and the communication portion 33 opens on the water surface w as shown in FIG. 5. The water in the chamber 3 can be circulated between the preheating space 32 and the humidifying space 31 by the communication portion 33, and water is stored in the preheating space 32 and the humidifying space 31 at the same water level. In addition, the communication part 33 of the tower unit 10 is formed through the frame body 12, the partition plate 13, and the pair of second sheet-like humidifying members 11B and 11C.

In this case, the lower end portion of the tower unit 10 is immersed in water, and the lower end portion of the heating plate 81 is also immersed in water so that the lower portions of the sheet-like humidifying members 11A to 11C attached thereto are also submerged in water. It is provided by dipping. On the other hand, most of the tower unit 10 and the heating plate 81 are provided exposed on the water surface, so that the water in the chamber 3 can be heated by the heating plate 81 and the space in the chamber 3 can be warmed. The humidity of the internal space of the chamber 3 can be increased.
At this time, the heating plate 81 is disposed on the humidifying space 31 side and is configured to directly heat the water stored in the humidifying space 31. However, as described above, the communication unit 33 is provided in the tower unit 10. Therefore, the water in the chamber 3 can be circulated between the humidification space 31 and the preheating space 32 via the communication portion 33. Therefore, the water in the preheating space 32 can be heated smoothly, and the preheating space 32 can be humidified smoothly.

  In addition, the internal space of the chamber 3 is sequentially heated in the circumferential direction from the central portion by the heating plate 81 disposed in the central portion of the container portion 8, and the humidification space 31 to the preheating space 32 are respectively The region is heated almost uniformly in the circumferential direction. Similarly, the first sheet-shaped humidifying member 11A and the second sheet-shaped members 11B and 11C that are equally disposed in the center of the chamber 3 in the circumferential direction convert the breathing gas that passes through the internal space of the chamber 3 into the humidified space. In each region of 31 and the preheating space 32, it is possible to uniformly heat and humidify in the circumferential direction.

  Further, the suction port 41 provided in the lid portion 9 of the chamber 3 is connected to the preheating space 32, the blower port 51 is connected to the humidification space 31, and the breathing gas taken in from the suction port 41 is as shown in FIG. As shown by the white arrow, the preheating space 32 moves from the preheating space 32 to the humidification space 31 via the communication portion 33 and is taken out from the blowout port 51. Therefore, the breathing gas flows from the top to the bottom along the surface of the second sheet-shaped humidifying member 11C in the preheating space 32, and in the humidifying space 31, the first sheet-shaped humidifying member 11A and the second sheet-shaped humidified air. It flows from bottom to top along the surface of the member 11B.

  Moreover, as these sheet-like humidification members 11A-11C, the material excellent in water absorption and air permeability, such as a nonwoven fabric formed with natural materials, such as rayon, polyester, and cotton, is used, for example. In addition, in each sheet-like humidification member 11A-11C of this embodiment, the sheet-like humidification member is comprised by overlapping several sheet | seat material, respectively. And sheet-like humidification member 11A-11C is made into the state which the lower end part immersed in the water in the container part 8 as mentioned above. As a result, the sheet-like humidifying members 11A to 11C suck up water by capillary action and the water penetrates over the entire area of the sheet, so that a wet state containing water is maintained.

And the water supply part 6 which supplies water in the chamber 3 is, as shown in FIG. 1, a water supply bag 62 in which water is stored, a water supply hose 63 connecting the water supply bag 62 and the chamber 3, A water supply pump 64 for supplying water in the water supply bag 62 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 1, the water supply hose 63 has one end connected to a water supply port 61 provided in the lid 9 of the chamber 3 and the other end connected to a water supply bag 62. In response to the detection result of the sensor 20, the water supply bag 6 is selected according to the water level of the water stored in the chamber 3.
Water is supplied from 2 into the chamber 3.
3 and 5, the water supply port 61 is provided so as to open at the top of the heating plate 81 and to supply water toward the top of the heating plate 81. Since the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A is provided in surface contact with the heating plate 81, the water supplied from the water supply port 61 penetrates the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A through the heating plate 81, The first sheet-shaped humidifying member 11A is supplied from the upper side.

  In the present embodiment, the water pump 64 is constituted by the roller-type water pump shown in FIGS. The water supply pump 64 includes a case main body 91 and a door 93 that is swingably supported by the case main body 91 via a hinge portion 92, and is configured to open and close the front surface of the case main body 91. The case main body 91 is provided with a rotor 95 including a plurality of rollers 94, and the rotor 95 is rotated by a motor 96 so that the roller 95 rotates with the rotor 95 and the outer cylinder 97. By moving from the upstream side (water supply bag 62 side) to the downstream side (chamber 3 side) while sandwiching a part of the water supply hose 63 in order, the water in the water supply hose 63 is sent out toward the downstream side. It has become.

  A clamp mechanism 98 that is linked to the opening and closing of the door 93 is provided on the water supply bag 62 side of the water pump 64, and when the door 93 is opened, the clamp mechanism 98 clamps the water supply hose 63. Water supply is prevented. On the other hand, when the door 93 is closed, the clamp mechanism 98 opens the water supply hose 63 so that water can be supplied. Therefore, even if the door 93 is opened, the water in the water supply hose 63 can be prevented from flowing backward.

As shown in FIG. 10, the water level sensor 20 is composed of a unit including a pair of light emitting units 26 and a light receiving unit 27, and is irradiated from the light emitting unit 26 in the horizontal direction (parallel to the water surface w of the chamber 3). The irradiation light L is received by a pair of light receiving parts 27 arranged at the same height as the light emitting part 26, thereby detecting the water level of the water accumulated in the chamber 3.
For the light emitting unit 26, for example, an LED light source that emits light having a wavelength in the infrared region is used. Note that the wavelength range of the light source is not limited to this, and light sources in other regions can be used. For the light receiving unit 27, various photodiodes having sensitivity corresponding to the wavelength range of the light source of the light emitting unit 26 are used.

In the warming humidifier 100 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, it is set as the structure provided with three units which consist of a pair of light emission part 26 and the light-receiving part 27, and the light emission part 26 which comprises each unit. And the light receiving portion 27 are arranged outside the container portion 8 of the chamber 3 so as to sandwich the container portion 8.
And as shown in FIG. 11, each light emission part 26 is equally arrange | positioned at intervals in the height direction on the board | substrate 26B. The light receiving portions 27 are also arranged on the substrate 27B at equal intervals in the height direction at the same intervals as the light emitting portions 26, and the light emitting portions 26 and the light receiving portions 27 have the same height for each unit. Are arranged as follows. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the light receiving unit 27 travels in a direction refracted by passing through water stored in the chamber 3 with respect to the irradiation direction of the irradiation light L irradiated from the light emitting unit 26 of each unit. The irradiation light L1 is provided at a position where it can receive light.

That is, when the water level stored in the chamber 3 is higher than the mounting height of the water level sensor 20, the irradiation light L emitted from the light emitting unit 26 is refracted by passing through the water in the chamber 3. Thus, since the traveling direction is bent, the light receiving unit 27 is provided at a position where the refracted irradiation light L1 can be received. Therefore, when the water level in the chamber 3 is lower than the mounting height of the water level sensor 20, the irradiation light L travels substantially straight through the space without water in the chamber 3, and the irradiation light L2 traveling substantially straight. Cannot be detected by the light receiving unit 27.
Thus, the water level sensor 20 determines whether the water level in the chamber 3 is higher or lower than the mounting height of the water level sensor 20 depending on whether or not the light receiving unit 27 can detect the irradiation light L emitted from the light emitting unit 26. It can be detected.

Moreover, since the water level sensor 20 is provided with the light-receiving part 26 and the light emission part 27 which consist of several units, it can detect a different water level for every unit. Therefore, the level of the water level in the chamber 3 can be finely detected based on the detection result of each unit.
For example, the unit consisting of the light receiving part 26a and the light emitting part 27a arranged at the lowermost side detects the irradiation light L, but the unit consisting of the light emitting part 26b and the light receiving part 27b arranged at the center is irradiated light If L cannot be detected, it can be seen that the water level in the chamber 3 is at a height between the lower unit and the central unit. If the lower unit and the central unit detect the irradiation light L, but the upper unit composed of the light emitting unit 26c and the light receiving unit 27c cannot detect the irradiation light L, the inside of the chamber 3 It can be seen that the water level is at a height between the central unit and the upper unit. Therefore, the water level in the chamber 3 can be finely detected based on the detection results of the units arranged at these three levels.
And if the water level in the chamber 3 is determined based on the detection result of the water level sensor 20 (detection results of the light receiving units 26a to 26c), and it is determined that the water level in the chamber 3 is below the standard position, Water is automatically supplied from the water supply unit 6.

  The water level sensor 20 is configured to irradiate the irradiation light L by shifting the irradiation timing of the light emitting units 26a to 26c of each unit, and the adjacent light receiving units 27a to 27c have different heights of the irradiation light L. It is possible to prevent misrecognition by picking up. For this reason, stable detection can be performed for each unit, and the water level in the chamber 3 can be accurately grasped.

  Further, the water supply from the water supply unit 6 is intermittently performed while repeating the water supply and the stop, and the water supply amount and the supply timing are adjusted to adjust the water supply in the chamber 3. Fluctuations in the water temperature and the temperature of the heating plate 81 are suppressed. Furthermore, the water supply from the water supply unit 6 is managed in a multi-stage water supply mode in which the water supply amount and the water supply timing are changed according to the water level detected by the water level sensor 20.

  Specifically, when the water level sensor 20 detects that the water level in the chamber 3 has decreased to the standard position, the water supply in the chamber 3 is performed in the first water supply mode in which water supply for 1 second and stop for 7 seconds are repeated. . If the water level does not rise to the standard position even after repeating the water supply in the first water supply mode several times, the water supply amount is increased by switching to the second water supply mode that repeats the water supply for 2 seconds and the stop for 6 seconds. Let Thereafter, if the water level does not rise even after several minutes have passed, a notification is made to prompt the user to replace the water supply bag 62. Further, when the water level sensor 20 detects that the water level in the chamber 3 has decreased to the lower limit position, in order to ensure safety, an alarm is given before the water in the chamber 3 is completely exhausted, and the heater The power supply of 22 is cut off to prevent the occurrence of the emptying phenomenon.

Next, the operation of the warming humidifier 100 will be described.
Before supplying the breathing gas into the chamber 3, water is supplied from the water supply bag 62 into the chamber 3. Thereby, the lower end part of sheet-like humidification member 11A-11C is immersed under the water surface, and sheet-like humidification member 11A-11C sucks up water and will be in a moist state. In this state, the gas supply device is driven to supply the breathing gas into the chamber 3 from the suction port 41.

  The breathing gas is first introduced into the preheating space 32, and the breathing gas taken into the preheating space 32 flows downward toward the communication portion 33 of the tower unit 10 (partition plate 13). When passing through the preheating space 32, the breathing gas is preliminarily heated and preheated from the water surface w in the chamber 3 and the second sheet-like humidifying member 11C attached to the outer peripheral surface of the tower unit 10. Preliminarily humidified with water vapor evaporated in the space 32. And when passing through the communication part 33 of the tower unit 10 and moving to the humidification space 31, the breathing gas comes close to the water surface w, so that the water surface w comes into contact with and humidification is promoted.

  The breathing gas taken into the humidification space 31 changes the flow direction upward and flows toward the upper outlet 51. At this time, the breathing gas flows between the surface of the wet first sheet-like humidifying member 11A heated by the heating plate 81 and the surface of the second sheet-like humidifying member 11B attached to the inner peripheral surface of the tower unit 10. By flowing along these surfaces as if tracing, the moisture contained in the sheet-like humidifying members 11A and 11B is vaporized, and the moisture is humidified by taking in the water vapor. Then, the humidified breathing gas is taken out from the air outlet 51 to the outside.

  In addition, although the sheet-like humidifying members 11A to 11C are in a form in which moisture is taken away by humidifying the breathing gas, the lower ends of the sheet-like humidifying members 11A to 11C are immersed under the water surface. At the same time as the gas is humidified, water is sucked up to maintain the wet state.

  Then, the water level decreases as the water in the chamber 3 is consumed. In the warming humidifier 100, the water level in the chamber 3 is based on the output result of the water level sensor 20 (the detection result of the light receiving unit 27). When the water level in the chamber 3 is determined to be lower than the standard position, water is automatically supplied from the water supply unit 6.

  At this time, the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A disposed in surface contact with the heating plate 81 is heated by the heating plate 81, so that moisture evaporates as compared with the pair of second sheet-like humidifying members 11B and 11C. However, in the warming humidifier 100 of the present embodiment, the water supply port 61 is provided on the upper side of the heating plate 81, and water is supplied toward the upper portion of the heating plate 81. The upper part of the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A is moistened by the water supplied from the water supply port 61 flowing along the heating plate 81, and the lower part is moistened by sucking up the water accumulated in the chamber 3, Water can be absorbed from both the upper part and the lower part to maintain a wet state. Thereby, even when the breathing gas is supplied at a high flow rate, the drying of the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A can be prevented, and the warming and humidification of the breathing gas can be performed smoothly.

  Moreover, in the heating humidifier 100, the supply of water from the water supply unit 6 (water supply port 61) is intermittently performed by repeatedly supplying and stopping water, and adjusting the supply amount of water and the supply timing. Therefore, rapid fluctuations in the water temperature of the water in the chamber 3 and the temperature of the heating plate 81 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the water supply from the water supply unit 6 is managed in a multi-stage water supply mode in which the water supply amount and the water supply timing are changed according to the water level detected by the water level sensor 20.

  Specifically, when the irradiation light L is not detected in the central unit (light emitting unit 26b and light receiving unit 27b) of the water level sensor 20, that is, when it is detected that the water level in the chamber 3 has decreased to the standard position, Water supply in the chamber 3 is performed in a first water supply mode in which water supply for 1 second and stop for 7 seconds are repeated. Then, when water is supplied into the chamber 3 and the irradiation light L is detected in the central unit (the light emitting unit 26b and the light receiving unit 27b), the supply of water is stopped.

  On the other hand, if the water level does not rise to the standard position after repeating the water supply in the first water supply mode several times, switch to the second water supply mode to repeat the water supply for 2 seconds and stop for 6 seconds to increase the amount of water supply Let Thereafter, if the water level does not rise even after several minutes have passed, a notification is made to prompt the user to replace the water supply bag 62. When no signal is output from the lowermost unit (light emitting unit 26a and light receiving unit 27a) of the water level sensor 20 and it is detected that the water level in the chamber 3 has decreased to the lower limit position, An alarm is given before water is completely consumed, and the power supply to the heater 22 is cut off. Therefore, it is possible to improve the safety and save the user's management effort.

Since water supply from the water supply bag 62 to the chamber 3 is forcibly performed by the water supply pump 64, water can be reliably supplied into the chamber 3 regardless of the mounting position of the water supply bag 62. . Therefore, it is possible to maintain a stable humidification capability, prevent the occurrence of the airing phenomenon, and ensure the continuous operation of the warming humidifier 100.
Further, by using the water supply pump 64, water is supplied while always holding a part of the water supply hose 63 by any of the rollers 94, so that the water in the water supply hose 63 flows backward regardless of the internal pressure in the chamber. Can be prevented.

  Thus, according to the warming / humidifying device 100 of the present embodiment, the first sheet-like humidifying member that is in a wet state by immersing the lower part in the water rather than heating the entire water in the chamber 3. Since 11A is heated, water can be reliably evaporated with less energy. Further, by allowing the breathing gas to pass through the surface of the first sheet-shaped humidifying member 11A while being in contact therewith, it is possible to increase the evaporation rate of water and increase the amount of water vaporized. Can be easily taken in.

Furthermore, since the water supply port 61 for supplying water into the chamber 3 is provided so as to supply water toward the upper portion of the heating plate 81, the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A provided in surface contact with the heating plate 81 is provided. Can be moistened by the water supplied from the water supply port 61 at the upper part thereof, and can be moistened by immersing it in the water stored in the chamber 3 and sucking up the water at the lower part. Accordingly, even when the breathing gas is supplied at a high flow rate, the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A can be prevented from drying, and the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A as a whole maintains a stable humidification capacity and is heated and humidified. The device 100 can be operated continuously.
In the warming humidifier 100, since a part of the heating plate 81 is immersed in the water in the chamber 3, the water in the chamber 3 can also be heated by the heating plate 81. The humidity in 3 can be increased. Moreover, humidification of the breathing gas is promoted by the breathing gas coming into contact with the water surface w of the heated water.

  Moreover, a passage through which the breathing gas flows from the preheating space 32 to the humidification space 31 is formed by partitioning the internal space of the chamber 3 by the tower unit 10 (partition plate 13). For this reason, the breathing gas taken into the chamber 3 is preliminarily heated and humidified when first passing through the preheating space 32, and is fully heated and humidified in the humidifying space 31. As described above, since the breathing gas is heated and humidified stepwise in the preheating space 32 and the humidifying space 31, even when the breathing gas is supplied at a high flow rate, the breathing gas is quickly heated. Humidification can be performed.

Furthermore, since the second sheet-like humidifying members 11B and 11C are attached to the front and back surfaces of the partition plate 13 (tower unit 10) that partitions the internal space of the chamber 3, the breathing gas is partitioned by the partition plate 13. When flowing through the passage, it can be brought into contact with the surfaces of the wet second sheet-like humidifying members 11B and 11C. Therefore, in addition to the first sheet-like humidifying member 11A arranged in surface contact with the heating plate 81, a pair of second attached to the partition plate 13 is provided.
The humidifying function can also be improved by the sheet-like members 11B and 11C.

  Further, in the humidifying humidifier 100, the supply of water from the water supply unit 6 is intermittently performed by repeatedly supplying and stopping water, and the amount of water supplied and the supply timing are adjusted. Sudden fluctuations in the temperature of the water and the temperature of the heating plate 81 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the water supply from the water supply unit 6 is such that the water supply amount and the water supply timing are changed by monitoring the standard water level detected by the water level sensor 20, so that the water level in the chamber 3 is kept constant. Stable humidification can be performed. Therefore, fluctuations in the temperature and humidity of the breathing gas can be suppressed.

By the way, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure which has arrange | positioned the light-receiving part 27 of the water level sensor 20 in the position which catches the irradiation light L1 which progresses in the direction refracted through the water stored in the chamber 3, 27 may be provided at a position where the irradiation light L2 that travels substantially straight through the space in the chamber 3 can be received.
In this case, when the water level in the chamber 3 is lower than the mounting height of the water level sensor 20, the light receiving unit 27 can detect the irradiation light L, but when the water level is higher than the mounting height of the water level sensor 20, The irradiation light L is refracted when passing through the water in the chamber 3 and the traveling direction is bent, so that the irradiation light L cannot be detected by the light receiving unit 27. Therefore, also in this case, the water level in the chamber 3 is higher than the mounting height of the water level sensor 20 depending on whether or not the irradiation light L can be detected by the light receiving unit 27 as in the heating humidifier 100 of the above embodiment. Can be detected.
In the reflection method, there is a risk of erroneous detection due to scratches and dirt on the chamber 3, but in the refractive transmission method, the risk of erroneous detection is small.

Moreover, the light emitting part 26 and the light receiving part 27 of each unit constituting the water level sensor 20 may be alternately arranged so that the irradiation direction is opposite for each adjacent unit.
Since the irradiation direction of the irradiation light irradiated by the light emitting unit 26 of the adjacent unit is reversed, there is no possibility of erroneously recognizing the irradiation light of the adjacent unit by the light receiving unit 27, and detection of the water level in the chamber 3 is possible. It can be done more accurately.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 2 Base 3 Chamber 4 Supply hose 5 Interface connection hose 6 Water supply part 7 Base 8 Container part 9 Cover part 10 Tower unit 11A 1st sheet-like humidification member 11B, 11C 2nd sheet-like humidification member 12 Frame 13 Partition Plate 20 Water level sensor 21 Recess 22 Heater 23 Heat sink 24 Hinge mechanism part 26, 26a-26c Light emitting part 26B, 27B Substrate 27, 27a-27c Light receiving part 31 Humidity space 32 Preheating space 33 Communication part 41 Inlet 51 Outlet 61 Water supply inlet 62 Water supply bag 63 Water supply hose 64 Water supply pump 71 Caster 81 Heating plate 91 Case main body 92 Hinge 93 Door 94 Roller 95 Rotor 96 Motor 97 Outer cylinder 98 Clamp mechanism

The present invention is a by heating humidifier breathing gas to the breathing gas is passed through heated humidified in a chamber formed by a lid attached to the top of its container portion container section Ru reservoir water The chamber has an inlet for taking in the breathing gas into the chamber, a blowout port for introducing the breathing gas humidified in the chamber to the outside, a water supply port for supplying water into the chamber, There is provided a heating plate heated by a heater and arranged in the vertical direction, and a first sheet-like humidifying member that is kept in a wet state by immersing the lower part in the water in the chamber. The member is arranged so as to be in surface contact with the heating plate and to circulate the breathing gas along the surface thereof, and the heating plate is arranged in a cylindrical shape along the vertical direction at the center of the chamber. And said The one-sheet humidifying member is mounted in a cylindrical shape in surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the heating plate, the suction port is provided in the lid portion, and is used for feeding the breathing gas into the suction port A hose is connected along a direction parallel to a tangent to the inner peripheral surface of the container portion .

In the humidifying humidifier for a breathing gas according to the present invention, the chamber is disposed at a distance from the first sheet-shaped humidifying member, and is humidified in which the first sheet-shaped humidifying member is disposed in the internal space of the chamber. A cylindrical partition plate that is divided into a double ring-shaped space of a space and a preheating space adjacent to the humidification space is provided, the suction port is provided in the preheating space, and the air outlet is provided in the humidification space The preheating space and the humidification space are configured to circulate the breathing gas from the preheating space to the humidification space through a communication portion provided in the partition plate ,
The communication part is provided to avoid a position opposite to the suction port in the circumferential direction of the partition plate.

In this case, the heating plate is provided in a cylindrical shape and disposed in the center of the chamber, so that the internal space of the chamber can be sequentially heated from the central portion in the circumferential direction. Up to a low preheating space can be configured substantially uniformly in the circumferential direction in each region. Similarly, the contact surface of the sheet-like humidifying member with the breathing gas can be evenly arranged in the circumferential direction, and the breathing gas can be evenly heated and humidified.

Claims (6)

A respirating gas humidifier that circulates a respiration gas in a chamber in which water is accumulated and heats and humidifies the respirated gas,
The chamber includes
An inlet for taking a breathing gas into the chamber;
A blowout port for leading the breathing gas humidified in the chamber to the outside;
A water supply port for supplying water into the chamber;
A heating plate heated by a heater and disposed along the vertical direction;
A first sheet-like humidifying member that is kept wet by immersing the lower part in the water in the chamber;
The first sheet-like humidifying member is disposed so as to be in surface contact with the heating plate and circulate the breathing gas along the surface thereof.
The water supply port is a breathing gas heating humidifier arranged to supply water toward an upper portion of the heating plate.   The breathing gas heating humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the supply of water from the water supply port is intermittently performed while repeating water supply and stoppages. The chamber is spaced from the first sheet-like humidifying member, and the internal space of the chamber is divided into a humidification space where the first sheet-like humidifying member is arranged and a preheating space adjacent to the humidification space. Partition plate is provided,
The suction port is provided in the preheating space, and the air outlet is provided in the humidification space;
The said preheating space and the said humidification space are set as the structure which distribute | circulates the said breathing gas from the said preheating space to the said humidification space by the communication part provided in the said partition plate. A warm humidifier. The heating plate is provided in a cylindrical shape and disposed in the center of the chamber,
The first sheet-like humidifying member is provided in a cylindrical shape along the circumferential surface of the heating plate,
The respirating gas humidifier according to claim 3, wherein the partition plate is provided in a cylindrical shape that divides the preheating space and the humidification space of the internal space of the chamber into a double ring-shaped space. A pair of second sheet-like humidifying members are attached to the front and back surfaces of the partition plate,
The respirating gas humidifier according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pair of second sheet-shaped humidifying members is configured to be kept wet by immersing a lower part in water in the chamber. A water level sensor for detecting the water level in the chamber is provided;
The supply of water from the water supply port is managed in a multi-stage water supply mode in which a water supply amount and a water supply timing are changed according to a water level detected by the water level sensor. A respirating gas heating humidifier.

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