JP5508439B2 - Oxygen concentrator and humidifier - Google Patents
Oxygen concentrator and humidifier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- JP5508439B2 JP5508439B2 JP2011550029A JP2011550029A JP5508439B2 JP 5508439 B2 JP5508439 B2 JP 5508439B2 JP 2011550029 A JP2011550029 A JP 2011550029A JP 2011550029 A JP2011550029 A JP 2011550029A JP 5508439 B2 JP5508439 B2 JP 5508439B2
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- humidifier
- water
- oxygen
- water humidifier
- oxygen concentrator
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/1005—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours with O2 features or with parameter measurement
- A61M16/101—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours with O2 features or with parameter measurement using an oxygen concentrator
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/10—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
- A61M16/14—Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
- A61M16/16—Devices to humidify the respiration air
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/02—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography
- B01D53/04—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography with stationary adsorbents
- B01D53/047—Pressure swing adsorption
- B01D53/053—Pressure swing adsorption with storage or buffer vessel
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/14—Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2205/00—General characteristics of the apparatus
- A61M2205/18—General characteristics of the apparatus with alarm
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2253/00—Adsorbents used in seperation treatment of gases and vapours
- B01D2253/10—Inorganic adsorbents
- B01D2253/106—Silica or silicates
- B01D2253/108—Zeolites
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2256/00—Main component in the product gas stream after treatment
- B01D2256/12—Oxygen
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
- B01D2257/10—Single element gases other than halogens
- B01D2257/102—Nitrogen
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2259/00—Type of treatment
- B01D2259/40—Further details for adsorption processes and devices
- B01D2259/402—Further details for adsorption processes and devices using two beds
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2259/00—Type of treatment
- B01D2259/45—Gas separation or purification devices adapted for specific applications
- B01D2259/4533—Gas separation or purification devices adapted for specific applications for medical purposes
Description
本発明は、酸素濃縮装置および加湿器に関するものであり、特に濃縮酸素を適度に加湿するための加湿器を搭載した、酸素吸入療法に使用する酸素濃縮装置に関するものである。 The present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator and a humidifier, and more particularly to an oxygen concentrator used for oxygen inhalation therapy equipped with a humidifier for appropriately humidifying concentrated oxygen.
近年、喘息、肺気腫症、慢性気管支炎等の呼吸器系器官の疾患に苦しむ患者が増加する傾向にあるが、その治療法として最も効果的なもののひとつに酸素吸入療法がある。かかる酸素吸入療法とは、酸素ガスあるいは酸素濃縮ガスを患者に吸入させるものである。その酸素供給源として、酸素濃縮装置、液体酸素、酸素ガスボンベ等が知られているが、使用時の便利さや保守管理の容易さから、在宅酸素療法には酸素濃縮装置が主流で用いられている。
酸素濃縮装置は、空気中に存在する約２１％の酸素を濃縮して供給する装置であり、それには酸素を選択的に透過する酸素富化膜を用いた膜式酸素濃縮装置と、窒素または酸素を優先的に吸着しうる吸着剤を用いた圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置があるが、高濃度の酸素濃縮ガスが得られる点から圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置が主流になっている。
圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置は、酸素よりも窒素を選択的に吸着する吸着剤として５Ａ型や１３Ｘ型、Ｌｉ−Ｘ型などのモレキュラーシーブゼオライトを充填した吸着筒に、コンプレッサで圧縮された空気を供給することにより加圧条件下で窒素を吸着させ、未吸着の酸素を得る加圧・吸着工程と、前記吸着筒内の圧力を大気圧またはそれ以下に減じて、吸着剤に吸着された窒素をパージすることで吸着剤の再生を行う減圧・脱着工程を交互に繰り返し行うことで、高濃度の酸素濃縮ガスを連続的に生成することができる。
このような酸素濃縮装置では、窒素の吸着剤として用いられるゼオライトは水分も吸着する性質を有するため、生成される酸素濃縮ガスは、湿度をほとんど含まない乾燥した状態で吐出される。そのため患者の鼻腔や口腔の乾燥を防止するために、酸素濃縮装置には酸素濃縮ガスを加湿した状態で供給するための加湿器が搭載されている。このような加湿器には、加湿性能の高さから、特開平７−１６５４０２号公報に開示されているように、酸素濃縮ガスを水中へ導いて気泡化する気泡発生器を通し、水分を付与することによって、乾燥状態にある酸素濃縮ガスを加湿する気泡式加湿器が一般的に使用されている（特許文献１）。
水を加湿源として使用する加湿器を使用する場合には、装置の利用者による定期的な水の補給と加湿器の洗浄が必須となる。酸素濃縮装置から加湿器を取り外して、加湿器内部の洗浄および加湿用水の充填を行い、加湿器を再装着する操作を患者自身が行うことになる。加湿器の取扱方法自体は、健常者にとっては非常に簡便なものであるが、一方で、特に手先が不自由な高齢患者などが、蓋を定位置まで確実に閉めずに加湿器を酸素濃縮装置本体に装着し、また、加湿器の装着が不完全で、接続部から酸素ガス漏れを起こすなどの問題が生じている。
この問題の解決方法として、従来の水平方向に加湿器を装着する横押込み型の加湿器ではなく、装着方向を上下方向とした加湿器とすること、加湿器の蓋の締め付けを定位置とするための接続構造、加湿容器の下部と酸素濃縮装置本体との嵌合構造などが知られている（特許文献２）。
また、加湿器を使用した酸素濃縮装置の接続部にカプラを用いて確実に加湿器を装着させる方法や、加湿器が酸素濃縮装置本体に確実に装着されていることを自動的に確認するために、機械式スイッチや電極、光センサ等を位置確認センサとして用いた加湿器検出装置を使用する方法が知られている（特許文献３）。In recent years, the number of patients suffering from respiratory organ diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis has been increasing. One of the most effective treatment methods is oxygen inhalation therapy. Such oxygen inhalation therapy is to allow a patient to inhale oxygen gas or oxygen-enriched gas. Oxygen concentrators, liquid oxygen, oxygen gas cylinders, and the like are known as oxygen supply sources, but oxygen concentrators are mainly used for home oxygen therapy because of convenience during use and ease of maintenance. .
The oxygen concentrator is a device that concentrates and supplies about 21% oxygen present in the air, and includes a membrane oxygen concentrator using an oxygen-enriched membrane that selectively permeates oxygen, nitrogen or There is a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator using an adsorbent capable of preferentially adsorbing oxygen, but the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator has become the mainstream because a high concentration oxygen enriched gas can be obtained.
The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator is an air compressed by a compressor in an adsorption cylinder filled with molecular sieve zeolite such as 5A type, 13X type, and Li-X type as an adsorbent that selectively adsorbs nitrogen rather than oxygen. By adsorbing nitrogen under pressure under pressure to obtain unadsorbed oxygen, and reducing the pressure in the adsorption cylinder to atmospheric pressure or lower and adsorbing to the adsorbent. By alternately repeating the depressurization / desorption process of regenerating the adsorbent by purging with nitrogen, a high-concentration oxygen-enriched gas can be continuously generated.
In such an oxygen concentrator, the zeolite used as an adsorbent for nitrogen has the property of adsorbing moisture, so that the produced oxygen-enriched gas is discharged in a dry state containing almost no humidity. Therefore, in order to prevent drying of the patient's nasal cavity and oral cavity, the oxygen concentrator is equipped with a humidifier for supplying the oxygen-concentrated gas in a humidified state. Such a humidifier is provided with moisture through a bubble generator that introduces oxygen-enriched gas into water and bubbles it as disclosed in JP-A-7-165402 due to its high humidification performance. Therefore, a bubble humidifier that humidifies the oxygen-enriched gas in a dry state is generally used (Patent Document 1).
When using a humidifier that uses water as a humidification source, regular replenishment of water and cleaning of the humidifier by the user of the apparatus are essential. The humidifier is removed from the oxygen concentrator, the inside of the humidifier is cleaned and the humidifying water is filled, and the patient himself performs the operation of attaching the humidifier again. The handling method of the humidifier itself is very easy for the healthy person, but on the other hand, especially for elderly patients who have difficulty with their hands, the humidifier is oxygen concentrated without closing the lid securely in place. There is a problem that it is attached to the main body of the apparatus and the humidifier is incompletely attached, causing oxygen gas to leak from the connection part.
As a solution to this problem, instead of a horizontal push-in type humidifier in which the humidifier is mounted in the horizontal direction, a humidifier with the mounting direction in the vertical direction is used, and tightening of the humidifier lid is in place. For example, a connection structure for connecting the lower part of the humidifying container and the oxygen concentrator main body is known (Patent Document 2).
In addition, a method of securely attaching a humidifier using a coupler to the connection part of the oxygen concentrator using a humidifier, or automatically confirming that the humidifier is securely attached to the oxygen concentrator main body. In addition, there is known a method of using a humidifier detection device using a mechanical switch, an electrode, an optical sensor or the like as a position confirmation sensor (Patent Document 3).
最近の酸素濃縮装置は、装置の小型化が求められ、更にデザイン的な要望もあることから、酸素濃縮装置の加湿器装着部位には空間的余裕は殆ど設けられていない。そのため、カプラなどを用いた加湿器の装着自体が高齢者には困難な状態となり、加湿器の接続不良のままで酸素濃縮装置を使用し、あるいは加湿器自体の装着を忘れて装置を使用し、異常警報などが発する事態が時々生じている。このような事故の発生を防ぐため、加湿器が確実に接続されたことを患者に知らせるための加湿器位置検出装置が用いられる。
ところが、現状の機械式スイッチや電極などを使用した加湿器検出装置では、加湿器が確実に装着されていないにも拘らず警報が発報しない、逆に確実に装着されているにも拘わらず警報が発報するなどの誤検知、誤報の問題が生じている。これは、装着方式が横押込み型の加湿器は、加湿器上部の蓋部分に加湿用酸素ガスの導入口、加湿済み酸素ガスの排出口を備え、酸素濃縮器側の導入ノズル、導出ノズルとの間で嵌合し接続されことから、加湿器上部で酸素濃縮装置本体に固定される構造をとり、位置検出用のスイッチの設置位置が、構造上、加湿器下方の容器側面となるため、ストロークの関係からスイッチの接触不良を起こすことに起因するものである。
加湿器検出装置を確実に作動させるためには、例えば加湿器容器の取り付けや取り外しの方向を上下方向とし、加湿器容器の下側に検出スイッチを配置することで解決できるが、加湿器容器の外側に付着した水滴が検出スイッチに浸透する可能性があり、機器の故障や誤作動を招く恐れがある。
一方、加湿器に使用される容器は、内部に加湿用の水が入っていることが外部から確認できるように透明素材が使われることが多く、光センサを使用した加湿器検出センサを用いた場合には検出不良の問題が生じるほか、光センサ自体のコスト高が問題になる。Since recent oxygen concentrators are required to be downsized and have design demands, there is almost no space in the humidifier attachment part of the oxygen concentrator. For this reason, it is difficult for elderly people to attach humidifiers using couplers, etc., and use oxygen concentrators with poorly connected humidifiers, or forget to attach humidifiers themselves and use devices. Occasionally, abnormal alarms occur. In order to prevent the occurrence of such an accident, a humidifier position detection device is used to notify the patient that the humidifier is securely connected.
However, in the humidifier detection device using the current mechanical switch, electrode, etc., the alarm is not issued even if the humidifier is not securely attached, but conversely, it is surely attached. There has been a problem of false detection and false alarms such as warnings. This is because the humidifier with a lateral push-in type has a humidifying oxygen gas inlet and a humidified oxygen gas outlet in the lid of the upper part of the humidifier. Since the fitting position is fixed to the oxygen concentrator main body at the top of the humidifier, and the installation position of the position detection switch is structurally the side of the container below the humidifier, This is due to the contact failure of the switch due to the stroke relationship.
In order to operate the humidifier detection device reliably, for example, the installation and removal direction of the humidifier container can be set up and down, and the detection switch can be arranged on the lower side of the humidifier container. There is a possibility that water droplets adhering to the outside may permeate the detection switch, resulting in equipment failure or malfunction.
On the other hand, the container used for the humidifier is often made of a transparent material so that it can be confirmed from the outside that water for humidification is contained inside, and a humidifier detection sensor using an optical sensor is used. In this case, a problem of detection failure occurs, and the high cost of the optical sensor itself becomes a problem.
かかる問題の解決方法として、本発明者は以下の発明を見出した。すなわち、本発明は、空気中の酸素を分離し酸素濃縮ガスを製造すると共に、該酸素濃縮ガスを加湿するための水加湿器を備えた酸素濃縮装置において、該酸素濃縮装置本体に該水加湿器を設置するための水加湿器収容部を備え、該水加湿器収容部に、水加湿器の装着方向に対して水加湿器を支持する弾性部材を備えた加湿器支持部と、該水加湿器を装着方向に押圧することで生じる該弾性部材の圧縮を伴いながらの水加湿器の接続定位置への位置変更を検知するセンサと、該水加湿器を当該接続定位置で固定する固定手段と、を備えることを特徴とする酸素濃縮装置を提供する。
また本発明は、かかる水加湿器収容部の水加湿器の収容口に開閉可能な開閉カバーを備え、該開閉カバーを閉めることにより該水加湿器を接続方向に押圧し、弾性部材に圧縮により水加湿器の接続定位置に位置変更する押圧手段を構成すると共に、該固定手段が、該開閉カバーを加湿器収容部を閉じた状態で維持する固定部であることを特徴とし、特に該水加湿器が、酸素濃縮装置に垂直方向に装着できる接続部を備えた水加湿器であると共に、該弾性部材が、許容量の水を入れた状態で水加湿器をセンサの未検知位置となるように支持し、且つ開閉カバーを閉め、水加湿器を押圧することでセンサの検知位置となる弾性率を有するものであることを特徴とする酸素濃縮装置を提供する。
また本発明は、該加湿器支持部を構成する弾性部材がバネであり、許容量の水を入れた該水加湿器の重量によって接続定位置まで下がらないばね定数を有することを特徴とし、特に、該水加湿器支持部が該水加湿器収容部に該バネで支持された略Ｌ字形の部材であり、該センサが、水加湿器側面側の該Ｌ字形部材の背面にＬ字型部材の移動により水加湿器位置を検知する機械式接点スイッチであることを特徴とする酸素濃縮装置を提供する。
また本発明は、水加湿器の装着方向に対して水加湿器を支持する弾性部材を備えると共に、該水加湿器を装着方向に押圧し、該弾性部材の圧縮により生じる水加湿器の接続定位置への位置変更を検知するセンサ、該水加湿器を定位置で固定する固定手段を備えることを特徴とする加湿装置であり、特に、水加湿器を収納する収容口に開閉カバーを有する加湿器収容部を備えると共に、該開閉カバーを閉めることにより該水加湿器を押圧し、弾性部材に伸縮により水加湿器の接続定位置に位置変更すると共に、該固定手段が、該開閉カバーを閉じた状態で維持する固定部であることを特徴とする加湿装置を提供する。As a solution to this problem, the present inventor has found the following invention. That is, the present invention relates to an oxygen concentrator provided with a water humidifier for separating oxygen in the air to produce an oxygen-enriched gas and humidifying the oxygen-enriched gas. A water humidifier housing part for installing the water humidifier, a humidifier support part comprising an elastic member for supporting the water humidifier in the mounting direction of the water humidifier in the water humidifier housing part, and the water A sensor for detecting a change in position of the water humidifier to the connection home position while compressing the elastic member caused by pressing the humidifier in the mounting direction, and fixing for fixing the water humidifier at the connection home position And an oxygen concentrator.
The present invention also includes an openable / closable cover that can be opened and closed at the water humidifier housing opening of the water humidifier housing. The water humidifier is pressed in the connecting direction by closing the open / close cover, and the elastic member is compressed by compression. The pressing means is configured to change the position of the water humidifier to a fixed connection position of the water humidifier, and the fixing means is a fixing portion that maintains the open / close cover in a state in which the humidifier housing portion is closed. The humidifier is a water humidifier provided with a connection portion that can be mounted in the vertical direction on the oxygen concentrator, and the elastic member becomes an undetected position of the sensor in a state in which an allowable amount of water is added. The oxygen concentrating device is characterized in that it has an elastic modulus that becomes a detection position of the sensor by closing the open / close cover and pressing the water humidifier.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the elastic member constituting the humidifier support part is a spring, and has a spring constant that does not fall to a connection fixed position due to the weight of the water humidifier containing an allowable amount of water. The water humidifier support portion is a substantially L-shaped member supported by the water humidifier housing portion with the spring, and the sensor is an L-shaped member on the back surface of the L-shaped member on the side of the water humidifier. Provided is an oxygen concentrator that is a mechanical contact switch that detects the position of a water humidifier by the movement of.
In addition, the present invention includes an elastic member that supports the water humidifier with respect to the mounting direction of the water humidifier, and presses the water humidifier in the mounting direction so that the connection of the water humidifier generated by the compression of the elastic member is determined. A humidifier comprising a sensor for detecting a position change to a position and a fixing means for fixing the water humidifier at a fixed position, and in particular, a humidifier having an open / close cover at a storage port for housing the water humidifier The water humidifier is pressed by closing the open / close cover, and the elastic member is expanded and contracted to change the position of the water humidifier to the connection fixed position, and the fixing means closes the open / close cover. There is provided a humidifying device characterized by being a fixed portion that is maintained in a wet state.
本発明によると、水加湿器の取り付けが不完全な状態の場合には確実に警報を発することができ、それによって水加湿器の取り付け不良をなくすことが可能になり、より安全に使用できる酸素濃縮装置を提供することができる。 According to the present invention, when the installation of the water humidifier is incomplete, it is possible to reliably issue an alarm, thereby making it possible to eliminate the installation failure of the water humidifier and to use oxygen more safely. A concentrating device can be provided.
図１は本発明の実施態様例である圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置の外観図を、図２は酸素濃縮装置のフロー構成図を示す。図３は、本発明の実施態様例である酸素濃縮装置の水加湿器取り付け部の構成図を、図４は加湿器検出部の模式図を示す。図５、図６、図７は、本発明の実施態様例である、酸素濃縮装置の加湿器収容部の外観図を示す。 FIG. 1 is an external view of a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of the oxygen concentrator. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a water humidifier mounting portion of an oxygen concentrator as an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a humidifier detector. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are external views of a humidifier housing portion of an oxygen concentrator, which is an embodiment of the present invention.
本発明の酸素濃縮装置の実施態様例を、図面を用いて説明する。なお、本発明は図面に記載された実施例に限定されるものではない。また、実施態様例では圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置を例示するが、本発明の酸素濃縮方式を特定するものではなく、酸素濃縮装置であれば、特に限定されるものではない。
図１は、本発明の一実施形態である酸素濃縮装置を例示した外観図を、図２はそのフローを示す概略装置構成図である。かかる酸素濃縮装置１は、空気中の窒素を吸着し未吸着の酸素を分離し、酸素濃縮ガスとして使用者に供給する圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置であり、酸素濃縮ガスを加湿するための水加湿器２を備える。酸素濃縮装置本体の筐体正面中央上部には水加湿器収容部２０３が設けられ、その上面には開閉カバー２０３を備え、加湿器収容部２０２に対して垂直方向から水加湿器２が接続される。
図２において、１は酸素濃縮装置、３は加湿された酸素濃縮ガスを吸入する使用者（患者）を示す。圧力変動吸着型酸素濃縮装置１は、筐体の原料空気取り込み口に備えられたエアーフィルタ６を通り、更に細かな塵埃を取り除くフィルタ１０１、吸気消音器１０２、コンプレッサ１０３、流路切換弁１０４、吸着筒１０５、逆止弁１０７、製品タンク１０８、調圧弁１０９、流量設定手段１１０、パーティクルフィルタ１１１を備える。これにより外部から取り込んだ原料空気から窒素を吸着除去し、未吸着の酸素を分離した酸素濃縮ガスを製造することができる。また、酸素濃縮装置には、生成された酸素濃縮ガスを加湿するための加湿器２を備える。また、流量設定手段１１０の設定値と、酸素濃度センサ３０１、流量センサ３０２の測定値を用いて、コンプレッサ１０３や流路切換弁１０４を制御する制御手段４０１を備える。さらに、コンプレッサ１０３の騒音を防音するためのコンプレッサボックス５０１、コンプレッサ１０３を冷却するための冷却ファン５０２等が酸素濃縮装置に内蔵されている。
まず外部から取り込まれる原料空気は、塵埃などの異物を取り除くための外部空気取り込みフィルタ１０１、吸気消音器１０２を備えた空気取り込み口から取り込まれる。フィルタ１０１としては、ＨＥＰＡフィルタ以上の捕集効率を有するものが好ましい。空気中には、通常、約２１％の酸素ガス、７７％の窒素ガス、０．８％のアルゴンガス、二酸化炭素やその他のガスが１．２％含まれている。かかる酸素濃縮装置は、呼吸用ガスとして必要な、酸素を濃縮して取り出す。
原料空気をコンプレッサ１０３により加圧し、酸素よりも窒素を選択的に吸着するゼオライトからなる吸着剤が充填された吸着筒１０５に対して、流路切換弁１０４により、対象とする吸着筒１０５ａ，１０５ｂを順次切り換えながら供給することで、原料空気中に含まれる約７７％の窒素ガスを選択的に吸着除去し、未吸着の酸素を連続して分離生成することが出来る。
かかる吸着剤としては、５Ａ型、１３Ｘ型、Ｌｉ−Ｘ型、ＭＤ−Ｘ型などのモレキュラーシーブゼオライトが用いられる。これらの吸着剤は、加圧状態で酸素よりも窒素を選択的に吸着する性質を有するが、窒素よりもさらに水を吸着する性質を有している。従って、生成される酸素濃縮ガスは、水分を含まない乾燥状態のガスとなる。
吸着筒は、前記吸着剤を充填した円筒状容器で形成され、１筒式、２筒式や３筒以上の多筒式の装置が用いられるが、連続的かつ効率的に原料空気から酸素濃縮ガスを製造するためには、２筒以上の吸着筒を使用することが好ましい。
また、前記のコンプレッサ１０３としては、揺動型空気圧縮機が用いられるほか、スクリュー式、ロータリー式、スクロール式などの回転型空気圧縮機が用いられる場合もある。また、このコンプレッサ１０３を駆動する電動機の電源は、交流であっても直流であってもよい。
前記吸着筒１０５で吸着されなかった酸素を主成分とする酸素濃縮ガスは、吸着筒へ逆流しないように設けられた逆止弁１０７を介して、製品タンク１０８に流入し、一時貯留される。
一方、新たに導入される原料空気から窒素を吸着するためには、吸着剤に吸着した窒素を脱着させて吸着剤を再生させる必要がある。このために、窒素を吸着し酸素を生成する吸着工程が終了した加圧状態の吸着筒１０５は、流路切換弁１０４によって大気圧あるいはそれ以下の減圧状態に切り換え、窒素を脱着除去する脱着工程を行い、これにより吸着剤を再生させる。このとき、脱着効率を高めるため、２つ吸着筒のうちの一方の吸着工程中の吸着筒の製品端側と、他方の脱着工程中の吸着筒の製品端とを接続する、或いは製品タンクから酸素濃縮ガスの一部をパージガスとして逆流させるようにしてもよい。通常、窒素を脱着排気させるときには、吸着筒から高圧のガスが排気されるのに伴い大きな気流音が発生するため、一般的には、排気消音器５０３が用いられる。
原料空気から生成された酸素濃縮ガスは、製品タンク１０８へ一時的に蓄えられる。この製品タンクに蓄えられた酸素濃縮ガスは、例えば９５％といった高濃度の酸素を含んでおり、調圧弁１０９や流量設定手段１１０などによってその供給流量と圧力とが制御された後、加湿器２へ供給されて適度に加湿され、患者に供給される。かかる加湿器２には、ナフィオンやポリイミドなどの水分透過膜を有する水分透過膜モジュールによって、外部空気から水分を取り込んで乾燥状態の酸素濃縮ガスを加湿する無給水式加湿器や、本発明のように水を用いたバブリング式加湿器、或いは表面蒸発式加湿器を用いることが出来る。
また酸素濃縮装置１には、流量設定手段１１０の設定値を検知し、制御手段４０１によりコンプレッサ１０３の電動機の回転数を制御することで吸着筒への供給風量を制御する手段を備える。これにより、設定流量が低流量の場合には電動機の回転数を落とすことで生成酸素量を抑え、且つ消費電力の低減を図ることができる。
図３に示すとおり、加湿器２は、水加湿器容器２０２に加湿源である水を充填し、加湿器蓋２０３で密閉した後、酸素濃縮装置本体の加湿器収容室内に設けられた酸素導入管２０４及び酸素排出管２０５と、加湿器蓋２０３の導入口２０６及び排出口２０７との接続位置を合わせ、垂直方向に装着する。このとき、加湿器蓋２０３が規定の位置まで閉めていないと、特開２００５−１８５４１５号公報に記載のように、位置検出ボス２０８と水加湿器容器の底面に付けられた窪み２０９とが一致せず、加湿器を収容室内下部まで完全に収納することが出来ず、結果として図１に示す加湿器収容室２０２の開閉カバー２０３が閉じることができない構造になっている。
本発明の酸素濃縮装置においては、容器内に規定量の水を満水にした状態との水加湿器２を収納室２０２に設置しただけでは、加湿器と酸素濃縮装置本体との接続は完了せず、バネ等の弾性体２１３によって、水加湿器２を装着方向に対して支持し、水加湿器を下方に押し付ける押圧力によって弾性体が圧縮されることで、所定位置に固定手段で固定される。加湿器蓋２０３の酸素導入口２０６及び酸素排出口２０７と、これに嵌合する装置本体側の酸素導入管２０４及び酸素排出管２０５とが所定位置にまで達して確実に装着されなければ、弾性体２１３により引き戻され、結果として開閉カバー２０３が閉まらない構造となり、使用者に視覚的に加湿器の装着不良を認識させることが出来る。
かかる固定手段としては、加湿器蓋と酸素導入管または酸素排出管の間に設けられるカプラ接続部材であっても良いが、本実施例である図６に示すように加湿器の開閉カバー２０３の固定手段を用いることが好ましい。これによって、新たな固定部材を設けることなく、患者自身による開閉カバー２０３を閉める動作のみによって加湿器２を所定位置まで押し下げ、加湿器と酸素濃縮装置本体とを所定位置で確実に接続すると共に、開閉カバーのロック機構により加湿器接続を完了させることができる。
図６に示すとおり、開閉カバー２０３の裏面には凸部２１５が設けられており、これにより加湿器蓋の導入口２０６および排出口２０７の上端を押し下げると共に、開閉カバー２０３の取手２１６の付根に設けた爪部２１７が加湿器収容室側のフック部２１８にかかることによって開閉カバーが閉じた状態で固定され、加湿器が所定位置で接続される。一方、取手２１６を手前に引くことでフック部２１８が爪部２１７から外れて開閉カバーの固定は解除される。接続位置が規定位置でなければ、弾性体の圧力により加湿器が押し上げられ、開閉カバー２０３が閉まらずに開いた状態となるため、接続状態を容易に視認することができる。
また、酸素濃縮ガスの供給手段であるカニューラが折れ曲がり、閉塞を起すことで加湿器容器内部の圧力が上昇した場合であっても、開閉カバー２０３は閉じられ、加湿器２を規定の接続位置で固定している為、加湿器容器が上方に浮き上がることを防止し、酸素洩れの発生を防止することができる。
加湿器の装着位置を検出するセンサは、接点スイッチなどの機械式スイッチや、電極、光センサなど種々の位置検出手段を用いることが出来る。接点スイッチが最も安価で確実に検出するセンサとして用いることが出来る。加湿器容器の洗浄や水の補充などの際に、使用者が加湿器容器２０２が濡れたままの状態で本体に装着する可能性を考慮し、装着位置検出のセンサは防水機能を具備するのが好ましい。
センサは加湿器の装着方向への押圧によって接続定位置に達して初めて検知するように装着位置を決定する。加湿器はバネ等の弾性体によって、単に酸素導入管及び酸素排出管に挿入しただけでは浮いた状態で支持される。所定位置に固定されて始めて位置検知が可能となるようにセンサを設置する。
センサ設置位置は加湿器容器下方であっても良いが、防水性の観点から水加湿器を略Ｌ字部材に載せた状態とし、Ｌ字部材をバネで支持すると共に、センサ類を収容室の裏側に設けることで防水対策をより向上させることが出来る。
図４は、Ｌ字部材を用いて酸素濃縮装置の加湿器の装着状態を検知する態様の模式図、図５〜図７は加湿器収容部の外観図である。
図４の（Ａ）は加湿器収容部に水加湿器を装着していない状態を、（Ｂ）は水加湿器を装着した状態、（Ｃ）は加湿器の開閉カバーを閉じて水加湿器を完全に接続した状態を示す。水加湿器の収容室２０２に設けられた略Ｌ字部材２１１は、図４に示すようにその背面においてバネ２１３によって支持されており、所定量の水が充填された状態で収容室２０２に加湿器２が装着されたとしても、センサが位置検知しないように、Ｌ字部材２１１を介して水加湿器２が浮いた状態で支持される。従って、加湿器側面側のＬ字部材２１１の後方に設けられた加湿器検出レバー２１２は、加湿器が載った状態では下方に移動せず、加湿器収容室の開閉カバー２０３を閉じ、開閉カバー２０３が水加湿器２を下方に押さえ込むことで、Ｌ字部材２１１の加湿器検出レバー２１２が下方に移動し、接点スイッチ２１４が加湿器を装着したことを検知する仕組みになっている。
加湿器検出レバー２１２はバネ２１３によって支えられており、このバネ２１３は、水加湿器２に規定の満水量まで水を充填した時の加湿器重量では下方に下がらないようにバネ定数が決められている。そして加湿器収容室２０２の開閉カバー２０３を閉じることで、Ｌ字部材２１１の加湿器検出レバー２１２は下方に移動し、その動きが加湿器検出スイッチである接点スイッチ２１４に伝えられることで、加湿器を正確に設置したことを検出することができる。加湿器検出スイッチは、加湿器の存在を検出できないときは、警報を表示やブザーで使用者に知らせることで、安全に酸素濃縮装置を使用できるようにしている。こうすることで加湿器が定位置で確実に装着していない場合は、バネによって加湿器が押し上げられ、加湿器開閉カバーが開くことで装着異常を視認することができ、更に異常警報が発報することにより、加湿器の開閉カバーの閉め忘れを確実に防止することが出来る。
従来、加湿器検出スイッチは加湿器容器の側面側に取り付けられることが多く、導出入ノズルと加湿器蓋の導出入口との間の横押込み操作の移動距離と、加湿器容器側面と検出スイッチとの間の移動距離の振幅の違いから、誤検知が多かった。これに対して、本発明のように加湿器支持部材としてＬ字部材２１１を用いることで、加湿器２の取り付け方向と加湿器検出レバー２１２の移動方向、距離を同一にすることができ、装着位置の誤検出を防止することができる。また加湿器検出スイッチ２１４を水加湿器容器２０２によって直接作動させるのではなく、Ｌ字部材２１１の加湿器検出レバー２１２を介して間接的に作動させることにより、位置検出スイッチの位置を水濡れのある加湿器容器２０２の底面や側面から離れた位置に設けることができ、加湿水の水漏れ飛散によるセンサ故障を防止することができる。
また、酸素濃縮装置は冷却ファンを備え、コンプレッサや電装部品などの発熱部材を空冷し、冷却排熱を筐体外に排気している。このため、装置内は陰圧になっている。加湿器は水の補充交換が必要となり、酸素濃縮装置の筐体の外側に設けられるため、加湿器検出スイッチを直接筐体に取り付けると、加湿器検出スイッチの隙間から塵埃を伴った冷却風が筐体内に流れ込み、加湿器検出スイッチの誤動作を招く恐れがある。本発明のように、加湿器検出レバーを介することで、筐体内部にセンサ類を設けることができ、塵埃を含んだ冷却風が加湿器検出スイッチを通過することがなくなることから、こうした故障を防止することができる。Embodiment examples of the oxygen concentrator of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the Example described in drawing. Moreover, although the pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator is illustrated in the embodiment, it does not specify the oxygen concentrating method of the present invention, and is not particularly limited as long as it is an oxygen concentrator.
FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating an oxygen concentrating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic apparatus configuration diagram showing the flow thereof. The oxygen concentrator 1 is a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator that adsorbs nitrogen in the air, separates unadsorbed oxygen, and supplies it to the user as an oxygen-enriched gas, and is a water for humidifying the oxygen-enriched gas. A humidifier 2 is provided. A water humidifier housing portion 203 is provided at the upper center of the front surface of the casing of the oxygen concentrator main body, and an open / close cover 203 is provided on the upper surface thereof. The water humidifier 2 is connected to the humidifier housing portion 202 from the vertical direction. The
In FIG. 2, 1 is an oxygen concentrator, and 3 is a user (patient) who inhales a humidified oxygen-enriched gas. The pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator 1 passes through an air filter 6 provided in a raw material air intake port of a housing, and further removes fine dust, a filter 101, an intake silencer 102, a compressor 103, a flow path switching valve 104, An adsorption cylinder 105, a check valve 107, a product tank 108, a pressure regulating valve 109, a flow rate setting means 110, and a particle filter 111 are provided. This makes it possible to produce an oxygen-enriched gas in which nitrogen is adsorbed and removed from the raw material air taken in from the outside and unadsorbed oxygen is separated. Further, the oxygen concentrator includes a humidifier 2 for humidifying the generated oxygen concentrated gas. Further, a control unit 401 that controls the compressor 103 and the flow path switching valve 104 using the set value of the flow rate setting unit 110 and the measured values of the oxygen concentration sensor 301 and the flow rate sensor 302 is provided. Further, a compressor box 501 for preventing noise from the compressor 103, a cooling fan 502 for cooling the compressor 103, and the like are incorporated in the oxygen concentrator.
First, raw material air taken in from the outside is taken in from an air intake port provided with an external air intake filter 101 and an intake silencer 102 for removing foreign matters such as dust. The filter 101 preferably has a collection efficiency higher than that of the HEPA filter. The air usually contains 1.2% of about 21% oxygen gas, 77% nitrogen gas, 0.8% argon gas, carbon dioxide and other gases. Such an oxygen concentrating device concentrates and extracts oxygen necessary as a breathing gas.
The adsorbing cylinder 105a, 105b as a target by the flow path switching valve 104 to the adsorbing cylinder 105 filled with an adsorbent made of zeolite that pressurizes the raw air by the compressor 103 and selectively adsorbs nitrogen rather than oxygen. Are supplied while being sequentially switched, about 77% of nitrogen gas contained in the raw air can be selectively adsorbed and removed, and unadsorbed oxygen can be continuously separated and produced.
As such an adsorbent, molecular sieve zeolite such as 5A type, 13X type, Li-X type and MD-X type is used. These adsorbents have a property of selectively adsorbing nitrogen over oxygen in a pressurized state, but have a property of adsorbing water further than nitrogen. Therefore, the produced oxygen-enriched gas is a dry gas that does not contain moisture.
The adsorption cylinder is formed by a cylindrical container filled with the adsorbent, and a single cylinder type, a two cylinder type, or a multi-cylinder type apparatus having three or more cylinders is used. In order to produce gas, it is preferable to use two or more adsorption cylinders.
Further, as the compressor 103, a swing type air compressor may be used, and a rotary type air compressor such as a screw type, a rotary type, or a scroll type may be used. Further, the power source of the electric motor that drives the compressor 103 may be alternating current or direct current.
The oxygen-enriched gas mainly composed of oxygen that has not been adsorbed by the adsorption cylinder 105 flows into the product tank 108 through a check valve 107 provided so as not to flow back to the adsorption cylinder, and is temporarily stored.
On the other hand, in order to adsorb nitrogen from newly introduced raw material air, it is necessary to regenerate the adsorbent by desorbing nitrogen adsorbed on the adsorbent. For this reason, the adsorption cylinder 105 in the pressurized state after the adsorption process for adsorbing nitrogen and generating oxygen is switched to a reduced pressure state at or below atmospheric pressure by the flow path switching valve 104 to desorb and remove nitrogen. This regenerates the adsorbent. At this time, in order to increase the desorption efficiency, the product end side of the adsorption cylinder in one of the two adsorption cylinders is connected to the product end of the adsorption cylinder in the other desorption process, or from the product tank A part of the oxygen-enriched gas may be made to flow backward as a purge gas. In general, when nitrogen is desorbed and exhausted, an exhaust silencer 503 is generally used because a large air flow noise is generated as high-pressure gas is exhausted from the adsorption cylinder.
The oxygen-enriched gas generated from the raw air is temporarily stored in the product tank 108. The oxygen-enriched gas stored in the product tank contains high-concentration oxygen, for example, 95%. After the supply flow rate and pressure are controlled by the pressure regulating valve 109, the flow rate setting means 110, etc., the humidifier 2 To be moderately humidified and supplied to the patient. The humidifier 2 is a non-water-supply humidifier that takes in moisture from the external air and humidifies the oxygen-enriched gas in a dry state by using a moisture permeable membrane module having a moisture permeable membrane such as Nafion or polyimide, as in the present invention. A bubbling humidifier using water or a surface evaporation humidifier can be used.
The oxygen concentrator 1 also includes means for detecting the set value of the flow rate setting means 110 and controlling the amount of air supplied to the adsorption cylinder by controlling the number of revolutions of the motor of the compressor 103 by the control means 401. Thereby, when the set flow rate is a low flow rate, the amount of generated oxygen can be suppressed and the power consumption can be reduced by reducing the rotation speed of the electric motor.
As shown in FIG. 3, the humidifier 2 fills the water humidifier container 202 with water as a humidification source and seals it with a humidifier lid 203, and then introduces oxygen into the humidifier housing chamber of the oxygen concentrator main body. The connection positions of the pipe 204 and the oxygen discharge pipe 205 and the introduction port 206 and the discharge port 207 of the humidifier lid 203 are aligned and mounted in the vertical direction. At this time, if the humidifier lid 203 is not closed to a specified position, the position detection boss 208 and the recess 209 provided on the bottom surface of the water humidifier container coincide with each other as described in JP-A-2005-185415. Therefore, the humidifier cannot be completely stored in the lower part of the storage chamber, and as a result, the opening / closing cover 203 of the humidifier storage chamber 202 shown in FIG. 1 cannot be closed.
In the oxygen concentrator of the present invention, the connection between the humidifier and the oxygen concentrator main body can be completed only by installing the water humidifier 2 in a state where the specified amount of water is filled in the container in the storage chamber 202. First, the elastic body 213 such as a spring supports the water humidifier 2 with respect to the mounting direction, and the elastic body is compressed by a pressing force that presses the water humidifier downward, so that the elastic body is fixed at a predetermined position by a fixing means. The If the oxygen inlet 206 and the oxygen outlet 207 of the humidifier lid 203 and the oxygen inlet pipe 204 and the oxygen outlet pipe 205 on the apparatus main body side fitted to the humidifier lid 203 reach a predetermined position and are not securely attached, they are elastic. The structure is pulled back by the body 213, and as a result, the opening / closing cover 203 is not closed, and the user can visually recognize the defective mounting of the humidifier.
Such fixing means may be a coupler connecting member provided between the humidifier lid and the oxygen introduction pipe or the oxygen discharge pipe, but as shown in FIG. It is preferable to use fixing means. Thus, without providing a new fixing member, the humidifier 2 is pushed down to a predetermined position only by the operation of closing the opening / closing cover 203 by the patient himself, and the humidifier and the oxygen concentrator main body are securely connected at the predetermined position. The humidifier connection can be completed by the lock mechanism of the opening / closing cover.
As shown in FIG. 6, a convex portion 215 is provided on the back surface of the opening / closing cover 203, thereby pushing down the upper ends of the inlet 206 and the outlet 207 of the humidifier lid, and at the root of the handle 216 of the opening / closing cover 203. When the provided claw portion 217 is engaged with the hook portion 218 on the humidifier housing chamber side, the open / close cover is closed and the humidifier is connected at a predetermined position. On the other hand, by pulling the handle 216 forward, the hook portion 218 is detached from the claw portion 217 and the fixing of the opening / closing cover is released. If the connection position is not the specified position, the humidifier is pushed up by the pressure of the elastic body, and the open / close cover 203 is opened without closing, so that the connection state can be easily visually confirmed.
Further, even when the cannula, which is a means for supplying oxygen-enriched gas, is bent and the pressure inside the humidifier container rises due to the blockage, the open / close cover 203 is closed, and the humidifier 2 is placed at the specified connection position. Since it is fixed, the humidifier container can be prevented from floating upward, and the occurrence of oxygen leakage can be prevented.
As a sensor for detecting the mounting position of the humidifier, various position detection means such as a mechanical switch such as a contact switch, an electrode, and an optical sensor can be used. The contact switch can be used as a sensor that reliably detects the cheapest. In consideration of the possibility that the user may attach the humidifier container 202 to the main body while the humidifier container 202 is wet when cleaning the humidifier container or replenishing water, the sensor for detecting the attachment position has a waterproof function. Is preferred.
The sensor determines the mounting position so that it is detected only after reaching the fixed connection position by pressing the humidifier in the mounting direction. The humidifier is supported by an elastic body such as a spring in a floating state simply by being inserted into the oxygen introduction tube and the oxygen discharge tube. A sensor is installed so that position detection is possible only after being fixed at a predetermined position.
The sensor installation position may be below the humidifier container, but from the viewpoint of waterproofness, the water humidifier is placed on a substantially L-shaped member, the L-shaped member is supported by a spring, and the sensors are placed in the storage chamber. By providing it on the back side, waterproofing measures can be further improved.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a mode of detecting the mounting state of the humidifier of the oxygen concentrator using an L-shaped member, and FIGS. 5 to 7 are external views of the humidifier housing portion.
4A shows a state in which the water humidifier is not attached to the humidifier housing portion, FIG. 4B shows a state in which the water humidifier is attached, and FIG. 4C shows a state in which the open / close cover of the humidifier is closed to close the water humidifier. Shows a fully connected state. The substantially L-shaped member 211 provided in the storage chamber 202 of the water humidifier is supported by a spring 213 on the back surface thereof as shown in FIG. 4, and humidifies the storage chamber 202 in a state filled with a predetermined amount of water. Even when the device 2 is mounted, the water humidifier 2 is supported in a floating state via the L-shaped member 211 so that the position of the sensor is not detected. Therefore, the humidifier detection lever 212 provided behind the L-shaped member 211 on the side surface of the humidifier does not move downward when the humidifier is mounted, and closes the open / close cover 203 of the humidifier housing chamber. When 203 presses the water humidifier 2 downward, the humidifier detection lever 212 of the L-shaped member 211 moves downward, and the contact switch 214 detects that the humidifier is attached.
The humidifier detection lever 212 is supported by a spring 213, and the spring constant of the spring 213 is determined so that it does not fall downward with the weight of the humidifier when the water humidifier 2 is filled with water up to a specified full water amount. ing. Then, by closing the open / close cover 203 of the humidifier housing chamber 202, the humidifier detection lever 212 of the L-shaped member 211 moves downward, and the movement is transmitted to the contact switch 214 which is a humidifier detection switch, so that the humidifier It is possible to detect that the instrument has been installed correctly. When the presence of the humidifier cannot be detected, the humidifier detection switch notifies the user with an alarm or a buzzer so that the oxygen concentrator can be used safely. In this way, when the humidifier is not securely attached at a fixed position, the humidifier is pushed up by the spring, and the humidifier open / close cover is opened so that a mounting abnormality can be visually recognized, and an abnormal alarm is also issued. By doing so, it is possible to reliably prevent forgetting to close the open / close cover of the humidifier.
Conventionally, the humidifier detection switch is often attached to the side surface of the humidifier container, and the moving distance of the lateral pushing operation between the outlet inlet nozzle and the outlet inlet of the humidifier lid, the side surface of the humidifier container, the detection switch, There were many false detections due to the difference in the amplitude of the movement distance between the two. On the other hand, by using the L-shaped member 211 as a humidifier support member as in the present invention, the mounting direction of the humidifier 2 and the moving direction and distance of the humidifier detection lever 212 can be made the same and mounted. It is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the position. Further, the humidifier detection switch 214 is not directly operated by the water humidifier container 202, but is indirectly operated via the humidifier detection lever 212 of the L-shaped member 211, so that the position of the position detection switch is not wetted. It can be provided at a position away from the bottom surface or side surface of a certain humidifier container 202, and sensor failure due to the leakage of humidified water can be prevented.
Further, the oxygen concentrator includes a cooling fan, air-cooling heat generating members such as a compressor and electrical parts, and exhausts cooling exhaust heat out of the casing. For this reason, negative pressure is generated in the apparatus. The humidifier needs to be replenished and replaced with water, and is installed outside the casing of the oxygen concentrator. Therefore, when the humidifier detection switch is attached directly to the casing, cooling air with dust is generated from the gap of the humidifier detection switch. It may flow into the housing and cause a malfunction of the humidifier detection switch. As in the present invention, through the humidifier detection lever, sensors can be provided inside the housing, and cooling air containing dust does not pass through the humidifier detection switch. Can be prevented.
本発明の酸素濃縮装置は医療用酸素濃縮装置として、喘息、肺気腫症、慢性気管支炎等の呼吸器系器官疾患に苦しむ患者に対する酸素吸入療法のための酸素供給源として使用される。また本発明が特徴とする水加湿器の取り付け構造を採用することにより、加湿器の取り付け不備を極力低下させることができ、より安全又は快適に使用できる酸素濃縮装置として利用することが可能である。 The oxygen concentrator of the present invention is used as a medical oxygen concentrator as an oxygen supply source for oxygen inhalation therapy for patients suffering from respiratory organ diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Further, by adopting the water humidifier attachment structure characterized by the present invention, it is possible to reduce the deficiency of the humidifier attachment as much as possible, and it can be used as an oxygen concentrator that can be used more safely or comfortably. .
Claims (4)
該水加湿器が、酸素濃縮装置に上方から垂直方向に装着できる接続部を備えた水加湿器であり、
該酸素濃縮装置本体に該水加湿器を設置するための水加湿器収容部を備え、該水加湿器収容部に、水加湿器の装着方向に対して水加湿器を支持する弾性部材を備えた加湿器支持部と、該水加湿器を装着方向に押圧することで生じる該弾性部材の圧縮を伴いながらの水加湿器の接続定位置への位置変更を検知するセンサと、該水加湿器を当該接続定位置で固定する固定手段と、を備え、
該水加湿器収容部の水加湿器の収容口に開閉可能な開閉カバーを備え、該開閉カバーを閉めることにより該水加湿器を接続方向に押圧し、弾性部材に圧縮により水加湿器の接続定位置に位置変更する押圧手段を構成すると共に、該固定手段が、該開閉カバーを加湿器収容部を閉じた状態で維持する固定部であることを特徴とする酸素濃縮装置。 In an oxygen concentrator equipped with a water humidifier for separating oxygen in the air to produce an oxygen concentrated gas and humidifying the oxygen concentrated gas,
The water humidifier is a water humidifier provided with a connection part that can be attached to the oxygen concentrator vertically from above.
The oxygen concentrator main body includes a water humidifier housing portion for installing the water humidifier, and the water humidifier housing portion includes an elastic member that supports the water humidifier with respect to the mounting direction of the water humidifier. A humidifier support section, a sensor for detecting a change in position of the water humidifier to a connection fixed position while accompanying compression of the elastic member caused by pressing the water humidifier in the mounting direction, and the water humidifier the example Bei and fixing means for fixing in the connection position, and
An opening / closing cover that can be opened and closed is provided in the water humidifier housing opening of the water humidifier housing section, the water humidifier is pressed in the connection direction by closing the open / close cover, and the water humidifier is connected to the elastic member by compression. An oxygen concentrator comprising a pressing means for changing the position to a fixed position, and the fixing means is a fixing portion that maintains the opening / closing cover in a state where the humidifier housing portion is closed .
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2011550029A JP5508439B2 (en) | 2010-01-12 | 2011-01-07 | Oxygen concentrator and humidifier |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2010003912 | 2010-01-12 | ||
| JP2010003912 | 2010-01-12 | ||
| PCT/JP2011/050595 WO2011087113A1 (en) | 2010-01-12 | 2011-01-07 | Oxygen enrichment device and humidifier |
| JP2011550029A JP5508439B2 (en) | 2010-01-12 | 2011-01-07 | Oxygen concentrator and humidifier |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JPWO2011087113A1 JPWO2011087113A1 (en) | 2013-05-20 |
| JP5508439B2 true JP5508439B2 (en) | 2014-05-28 |
Family
ID=44304383
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2011550029A Active JP5508439B2 (en) | 2010-01-12 | 2011-01-07 | Oxygen concentrator and humidifier |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP5508439B2 (en) |
| TW (1) | TW201134509A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2011087113A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TWD174564S (en) | 2014-10-16 | 2016-03-21 | 林信湧 | Generator for hydrogen rich water and humidified gas |
| AU2015365476B2 (en) * | 2014-12-18 | 2020-05-28 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Liquid chamber decoupling system and method |
| US20220288345A1 (en) * | 2019-08-20 | 2022-09-15 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited | Humidification apparatus |
| TWI802507B (en) * | 2022-09-19 | 2023-05-11 | 臺北醫學大學 | Oxygen humidifier for medical use and method of use thereof |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0639008U (en) * | 1992-11-05 | 1994-05-24 | 山陽電子工業株式会社 | Medical oxygen enriched gas supply device |
| JP2005287596A (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-20 | Teijin Pharma Ltd | Respiration gas feeder |
-
2011
- 2011-01-07 JP JP2011550029A patent/JP5508439B2/en active Active
- 2011-01-07 WO PCT/JP2011/050595 patent/WO2011087113A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-01-11 TW TW100100944A patent/TW201134509A/en unknown
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0639008U (en) * | 1992-11-05 | 1994-05-24 | 山陽電子工業株式会社 | Medical oxygen enriched gas supply device |
| JP2005287596A (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-20 | Teijin Pharma Ltd | Respiration gas feeder |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPWO2011087113A1 (en) | 2013-05-20 |
| TW201134509A (en) | 2011-10-16 |
| WO2011087113A1 (en) | 2011-07-21 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| JP5080568B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP5571697B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP5080483B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP5508439B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator and humidifier | |
| CN115916311A (en) | Power management in portable oxygen concentrator | |
| JP5390641B2 (en) | Humidifier and oxygen concentrator using the same | |
| JP4922739B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP5350994B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP4527514B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP6353029B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| US20210154427A1 (en) | Oxygen concentrator with improved sieve bed construction | |
| US20230012016A1 (en) | Oxygen tank with improved oxygen storage | |
| JP5646887B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP2008253902A (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| KR200338487Y1 (en) | Oxygen generating air purifier using membrane | |
| JP4579665B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP2009213686A (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP2006166996A (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP2011024944A (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| WO2021021027A1 (en) | Efficient vacuum pressure swing adsorption systems and methods | |
| JP5955555B2 (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP2002113105A (en) | Oxygen concentrator | |
| JP2006263047A (en) | Oxygen concentrator |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A131 | Notification of reasons for refusal |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131 Effective date: 20131015 |
|
| A521 | Request for written amendment filed |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523 Effective date: 20131209 |
|
| A131 | Notification of reasons for refusal |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A131 Effective date: 20140114 |
|
| A521 | Request for written amendment filed |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A523 Effective date: 20140129 |
|
| TRDD | Decision of grant or rejection written | ||
| A01 | Written decision to grant a patent or to grant a registration (utility model) |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A01 Effective date: 20140225 |
|
| A61 | First payment of annual fees (during grant procedure) |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: A61 Effective date: 20140320 |
|
| R150 | Certificate of patent or registration of utility model |
Ref document number: 5508439 Country of ref document: JP Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R150 |
|
| S111 | Request for change of ownership or part of ownership |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R313113 |
|
| R350 | Written notification of registration of transfer |
Free format text: JAPANESE INTERMEDIATE CODE: R350 |