JPH0626894U - Medical oxygen enriched gas supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] In a medical oxygen-concentrated gas supply device by the pressure fluctuation adsorption method (PSA method), even if the humidifier is not installed sufficiently or does not pass through the humidifier, the oxygen-concentrated gas ) Can be taken out from the discharge port. [Configuration] A gas flow passage switching means is provided so that the humidifier can be supplied while bypassing the humidifier, and further, an output of a position detection means for detecting that the humidifier is mounted at a predetermined position. Alternatively, the switching means can be operated by a switch.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an improvement of a medical oxygen enriched gas supply device (hereinafter simply referred to as a supply device) for a pressure fluctuation adsorption method (hereinafter referred to as PSA method) used for home oxygen inhalation therapy or the like for patients with respiratory failure.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, an oxygen-enriched gas (hereinafter simply referred to as a gas), which separates oxygen from air and concentrates it with a PSA-based supply device, is obtained as a gas that is almost completely dried. When used for oxygen inhalation therapy such as chronic respiratory failure, the nasal cavity and trachea become dry and uncomfortable, so it is necessary to use a humidifier to increase the humidity of the gas before inhaling. Has been said.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, while the humidified gas is guided to the patient's nostril by the pipe or cannula tube, the humidified gas is cooled by the cold air in the room, causing dew condensation in the pipe or cannula tube, and In addition, there was a problem that this pipe and the tube of the cannula were blocked and the gas could not pass through, and that condensed water might come out in the nostril.

In order to remove the condensed water accumulated in the pipe or the long tube of the cannula, dry compressed air or the like is blown from one end to push out the condensed water, or the condensed water is dropped vertically. There is a problem that it takes a lot of work and time because it requires work such as leaving it for a long time to dry.

Further, the humidifier needs to be supplemented or replaced with clean water (for example, distilled water) every day. If the container of the humidifier is not cleaned by cleaning, disinfecting or sterilizing it, microorganisms and bacteria will propagate in the container, and these bacteria will be inhaled to the patient together with the gas described above. If this happens, there is also the problem of developing infectious diseases that are inconvenient for this patient.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 As described above, there are many problems in humidifying the gas obtained from the supply device by the PSA method. The present inventor has completed the present invention as a result of research to solve these problems.

That is, in the supply device according to the PSA method, a gas outlet is connected to an inhaler such as a cannula via a humidifier for increasing the humidity of the gas by means of switching the gas flow passage. The flow passage is changed to a flow passage that directly flows to the discharge port without passing through the humidifier, and the gas can be taken out from the discharge port. Further, it is preferable to additionally provide a display showing the switching state.

In carrying out the present invention, in the case where the gas is allowed to flow directly to the discharge port through the flow passage of the gas without passing through the humidifier by the switching means, conventionally, the drying is performed. It has been associated with the discomfort that results from the insufflation of that gas.

[0009] However, recently, data regarding comparison between the case of blowing the dry gas and the case of humidifying and blowing has been published. According to it, for patients who blow a low flow rate of gas of 0 to 4 liters / min through a cannula (the majority of patients belong to this range), those who blow humidified gas and those who blow dry gas Data suggest that there is little difference between patients who complain and those who complain about the dryness of the gas. This is due to the rate of humidification of the nasal mucosa and the inhalation of ambient air.

FIG. 2 is a graph of these data. In this graph, the white graph shows the uncomfortable feeling when the humidified gas is inhaled, and the hatched graph shows the uncomfortable feeling when the dry gas is inhaled. The degree of feeling is expressed in%. From the left, the subjects of these discomforts are dry nose, dry throat, headache, chest pain, and others.

It can be seen that there is almost no difference in the discomfort between inhalation of the humidified gas and inhalation of the dry gas. Also, I feel uncomfortable due to dryness on the first day from the start of use, and as I get used to it on the second and third days, I feel no discomfort from inhaling dry gas. There is data that it will run out. This indicates that personal habituation is likely to occur, except in people who are particularly sensitive to the nasal mucosa.

FIG. 3 is a graph of these data. In this graph, the white graph indicates discomfort due to dry throat, the horizontal line graph indicates discomfort due to dry nose, and no discomfort at all. It is a graph of the average value of 33 patients, which is expressed as a 5-grade evaluation method with 5 being extremely uncomfortable, and the T-shaped graph at the top of each graph shows the maximum value of the evaluation for that graph. It is a thing. (Reference: American Society of Thoracic Diseases, "Chest", February 1988, pages 289-292).

Further, in the respiratory-synchronized insufflation-type concentrated oxygen supply device (patent No. 1425 876) which has been put into practical use in Japan, the insufflation is performed only in synchronism with inspiration, and during exhalation, the humidity in the exhalation is the same as in normal respiration Since the nasal mucosa performs the humidifying action, not only does the humidifier become unnecessary, but the presence of the humidifier lowers the inhalation efficiency of inspiratory-synchronized insufflation. Switch so that the humidifier is bypassed.

[0014]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. However, this embodiment is merely for explanation, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a PSA supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a power supply unit is omitted.

In FIG. 1, 10 to 26 are constituted by a well-known general PSA feeding device. The switching means 28 is a three-way solenoid valve that is a means for switching the gas flow passage, and is configured to be operated by a signal from a controller 30 for controlling the three-way solenoid valve. Then, the controller 30 outputs a control signal so that the switching means 28 operates in the following cases. In the case where the position detecting means 32 for detecting that the humidifier 34 is mounted at the predetermined position cannot detect that the humidifier 34 is mounted at the predetermined position. A case where an operation signal is arbitrarily input to the controller 30 by a manual switch 40 regardless of the presence or absence of the signal detected by the position detecting means 32.

In this embodiment, a micro switch with an arm is used as the position detecting means 32. However, the position detecting means 32 is not limited to the micro switch of this embodiment, and other methods such as, for example, It may be an optical system such as a combination of a light emitting diode and a phototransistor. In addition, the humidifier 34 can be mounted as necessary by arranging the controller 30 to be operated by the manual switch 40 regardless of the presence or absence of the signal detected by the position detecting means 32. It is possible to discharge the dry gas without going through the humidifier 34 even if it is left as it is.

[0017]

[Effect of device]

 The present invention has the following excellent effects. When the humidifier is not completely attached to the feeding device by the PSA method, the discharge of gas has stopped, and if the patient or the surrounding people do not notice this, simply inhale only air. Although the treatment by inhaling the gas of the patient could not be performed, by implementing the present invention, even if the humidifier is not completely installed, the position detecting means detects this and the switching means changes the gas flow passage. Since the discharge of gas is not stopped because it is switched to the direct outlet, effective treatment by inhaling gas can be expected. Regardless of whether the humidifier is installed or not, the three-way solenoid valve that is the means for switching the gas flow path can be controlled with a manual switch, so if the humidifier is not necessary or if it is inconvenient to have the humidifier. In addition, a gas flow path that bypasses the humidifier can be configured to discharge the gas. In addition, when dew condensation water accumulates in the tube while using the humidifier, the flow passage is switched to allow the dry gas to flow, so that the dew condensation water in the pipe continues to be sucked in. It can be removed while being treated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a PSA supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a power supply unit is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a ratio of discomfort between a patient who inhales a humidified gas and a patient who inhales a dry gas.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing indices of dryness of the nose and dryness of the throat of a patient who inhales a dry gas from the first day to the third day.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Inhalation Filter 12 Compressor 14 Five-way Solenoid Valve 16 Silencer 18 Adsorption Cylinder (A) 18 'Adsorption Cylinder (B) 20 Product Tank 22 Filter 24 Pressure Reduction Valve 26 Flowmeter 28 Switching Means 30 Controller 32 Position Detecting Means 34 Humidifier 36 Check valve (A) 36 'Check valve (B) 38 Discharge port 40 Switch

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A medical oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus by a pressure fluctuation adsorption method, comprising a humidifier for increasing the humidity of the oxygen-enriched gas by means of switching the flow path of the oxygen-enriched gas. The oxygen-enriched gas can be taken out from the discharge port by switching between a flow passage that flows to the discharge port that connects an inhalation device such as a cannula and a flow passage that directly flows to the discharge port without passing through the humidifier. A medical oxygen-enriched gas supply device characterized by the above. 2. A medical oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus using a pressure fluctuation adsorption method, further comprising position detecting means for detecting that a humidifier for increasing the humidity of the oxygen-enriched gas is attached at a predetermined position. If the position detecting means detects that the humidifier is mounted at a predetermined position,
A flow passage through which the oxygen-enriched gas passes through the humidifier is automatically opened, and a flow passage through which the oxygen-enriched gas directly flows to the discharge port without passing through the humidifier is automatically closed. Further, when the position detecting means cannot detect that the humidifier is mounted at a predetermined position, the flow passage through which the oxygen-enriched gas passes through the humidifier is automatically closed, and 2. The gas flow passage switching means is controlled so that the flow passage through which the concentrated gas directly flows to the discharge port automatically opens without passing through the humidifier.
The medical oxygen enriched gas supply device described. 3. The medical oxygen-enriched gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching means can be arbitrarily operated and switched by a manual switch. Concentrated gas supply device. 4. The medical oxygen-enriched gas supply device according to claim 2, wherein the switching means can be arbitrarily operated and switched by a manual switch, and a display showing the switching state as a result can be easily performed. A medical oxygen-enriched gas supply device characterized by being configured to be discriminable.