JPH08187289A - Supplying system of gas for respiration - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a supplying system of gas for respiration capable of easily securing the working precision of a demand valve and positioning a gas generation means for respiration main body apart from a user, by setting the demand valve and an attached control means, etc., at the side of the user and the main body of the system apart from the user. CONSTITUTION: Oxygen from an oxygen generation means 1 stored in a pressure- fluctuating absorption type oxygen concentrating device 19 is switched by a continuous flow or flow pass switching means 2 controlled by a flow pass switching control means 3 of a continuous flow or a demand flow based on the detection result by a flow quantity detection means 4, and reaches an extended tube 6 as a duct means via a pass 5a or 5b, and is supplied to a user via a demand valve 7 based on the detection result of a respiration phase detection means 9 mounted on an at-hand-operator 12. As an automatic operation switching means provided to the operator 12, one built in a demand controller 8 in the at-hand-controller 12 is exemplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a breathing gas supply apparatus having an automatic opening / closing valve which can be operated according to a breathing cycle.

It is particularly preferable that the oxygen-concentrated gas supply device is provided with an automatic opening / closing valve capable of operating in accordance with a breathing cycle, and automatically detects the continuous flow and the demant flow and further automatically detects the flow rate. The present invention relates to a control for controlling switching between decrease and increase.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Up to now, in the oxygen therapy for assisting respiration with oxygen gas, which is performed for patients with respiratory diseases,
An automatic on-off valve is installed in the conduit to open and close according to the breathing cycle to intermittently supply the desired flow rate of oxygen, and the automatic on-off valve is not installed when intermittent supply is not required. It is known to have a means for switching the flow rate of a different set value to a continuous supply conduit (JP-A-1-221170 and JP-A-3-27254).

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a breathing assistance apparatus having a demand valve for intermittently supplying breathing gas in response to a user's breathing cycle, as in the prior art. By allowing the demand valve and its associated control means, etc. to be placed near the user, and making it possible to place the device body, which is a means for generating breathing gas, such as a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator, etc., away from the user. , It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for facilitating the operation accuracy of a demand valve and for facilitating the placement of a breathing gas generating means.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have conducted extensive studies to achieve the above object, and as a result, the main body is provided with a means for generating a gas for breathing, and the hand operation device is provided with a breathing phase detecting means and a demand valve. The inventors of the present invention have found that an apparatus provided with the control means is effective and arrived at the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, a conduit means having a breathing gas generating means and an open type supply means for communicating the breathing gas at one end with the open type supplying means for the breathing gas at the other end is provided. And a breathing phase detecting means having a function of detecting at least a part of a predetermined phase in the breathing of the user, and for controlling opening / closing of the automatic opening / closing valve means based on the detection result of the breathing phase detecting means. In a breathing gas supply device having an automatic on-off valve control means, a hand-operated device in which the automatic on-off valve means, the breathing phase detection means, and the automatic on-off valve control means can be used separately from the breathing gas generation means. And a breathing gas supply device.

With this device, the user can easily carry and move the hand-held operating device equipped with the demand valve, and the accuracy of the demand valve can be ensured even when the user moves.

Further, in the apparatus of the present invention, a flow rate detecting means for breathing gas is provided in the middle of the conduit means, and when the flow rate detecting means detects a continuous flow, a discontinuous flow is generated. Those including flow rate control means for automatically lowering the flow rate of the breathing gas as compared with the case where it is detected are included. With this device, the user can easily move together with the demand valve, and the operation can be automatically switched between the demand flow mode and the continuous flow mode. Here, it is desirable that the flow rate detecting means and the flow rate controlling means are not provided on the handheld device side, but are preferably provided on the main body side including the breathing gas generating means. In this case, it is possible to switch the operation between the demand flow and the continuous flow on the distant main body side, and the problem of noise generated on the main body side can be reduced.

The demand flow referred to in the present invention means the flow of breathing gas which is intermittently supplied substantially corresponding to the inspiratory action in the user's spontaneous breathing cycle. Further, the continuous flow means a flow of the breathing gas which is continuously supplied.

Further, in the operation of the present invention, when the flow rate control means detects the continuous flow, the flow rate detection means detects the discontinuous flow in the path for the continuous flow. In this case, the respiratory gas supply device includes an automatic flow path switching control means for allowing the respiratory gas to flow in the path for demand flow.

Further, in the above-mentioned apparatus of the present invention, in the hand-operated device, both the demand flow operation and the continuous flow operation are automatically selected in accordance with the breathing condition of the user. The breathing gas supply device provided with the automatic operation switching means is included. This device allows the user's breathing conditions to be adapted to facilitate switching between both demand and continuous flow.

Further, the above-mentioned device of the present invention is provided with a supply amount setting means for setting the supply amount of the breathing gas in the hand-operated device during the operation in the demant flow. A gas supply device is included. This device ensures that a prescribed amount of breathing gas is supplied which is adapted to the breathing conditions of the user. Particularly, the excellent effect that the supply amount can be set in the demand flow at the user's hand is obtained.

Further, the above-mentioned device of the present invention is provided with a manual switching means for manually and forcibly switching the operation in the continuous flow and the operation in the demant flow in the hand-operated device. A breathing gas delivery device is included. This device facilitates reliable switching to continuous flow only operation.

As described above, in the apparatus of the present invention, the demand valve and the like are provided on the hand-operated device, and the flow rate detecting means separated from the demand valve is provided on the apparatus main body side, so that the demand flow and the continuous flow can be switched. It is designed so that it can be performed on the device body side. It should be noted that it is inconvenient if the operating device is equipped with a means for switching between demand flow and continuous flow because the operating device becomes too large, and if a demand valve or the like is provided in the main body of the device, the nasal cannula is located at a remote position. It is difficult to maintain the operating accuracy of the demand valve when using the.

The breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings as necessary.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably one in which the breathing gas is oxygen or an oxygen enriched gas, and the generating means thereof is an oxygen concentrator, an oxygen cylinder, or a liquid oxygen storage tank. Examples of the oxygen concentrator include a membrane type oxygen concentrator and an adsorption type oxygen concentrator. As the adsorption type oxygen concentrator, there is a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator using an adsorption tower filled with a nitrogen adsorbent, a compressor and the like (for example, JP-A-5-220224).

The open-type supply means in the present invention supplies breathing gas in a state where it is not sealed to the nostrils and mouth of the patient, that is, in a state where it is open to the atmosphere, and a nasal cannula is taken as an example. .

As the automatic on-off valve means, a direct current excitation type solenoid valve, an alternating current excitation type solenoid valve, an air operated automatic valve, a pilot operated solenoid valve, etc. have a soft iron core and have a long life and are in operation. It is more preferable in terms of low noise and low noise, and a DC excitation solenoid valve is particularly practical.

Any breathing phase detecting means may be used as long as it can detect breathing and a breathing cycle during breathing. Specific examples thereof include means for detecting values that change based on respiration, such as pressure, temperature, and humidity related to airflow in the passages for exhalation and inspiration. Other examples include those based on gas flow characteristics such as fluid logic elements.

As the pressure-based detection means, there are one that detects a pressure fluctuation and one that measures the pressure itself.
The former is practically preferable, and in particular, the one that detects the rate of change of pressure is effective in increasing the sensitivity. Examples of means for detecting pressure fluctuation include pressure fluctuation detecting means using a diaphragm or the like in a conduit having an opening in a nostril, which is a passage through which expiratory air and inhalation pass.

The diaphragm type minute pressure fluctuation detecting means includes
There is one using a metal material such as stainless steel. In addition, a polymer film surface-treated with a conductive material for measuring pressure or differential pressure by change in electrostatic capacity is used as a diaphragm (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-21).
No. 330). In particular, the detection means using such a polymer film as a diaphragm is suitable for detecting a slight pressure / a slight differential pressure fluctuation of about several mmH ₂ O.
The conduit communicating with the space on one surface side of the diaphragm and having the other end opened at the nostril or the like may be provided separately from the conduit means for supplying the breathing gas to the nostril or the like. May be provided on a single conduit means.

As a means for detecting the temperature fluctuation, a means such as a thermocouple is provided for placing a temperature sensing member in the passages of exhaled air and inhalation, that is, in the respiratory airflow. As an example of the means for detecting the change in humidity, there is a hygrometer applied.

Of these, the pressure fluctuation detecting means is convenient because it can detect the fluctuation at a position distant from the respiratory gas such as a nostril, and in particular, the conduit means for detecting the pressure fluctuation supplies the breathing gas. There is an advantage that can be shared with the conduit means for doing.

The at least a part of the predetermined phase in the respiration detected by the respiration phase detecting means may be at the start of inspiration or at the start of exhalation. In particular, a device in which the start time of inspiration is detected as a predetermined phase is practically advantageous because the breathing gas can be stably supplied corresponding to inspiration.

In a normal operation, the breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention opens and closes the automatic opening / closing means provided in the middle of the breathing gas supply conduit based on the detection result by the breathing phase detecting means. The breathing gas is intermittently supplied at least in a part of the inspiration phase.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

In FIG. 1, a pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentrator 1 is shown.
Oxygen from the oxygen generating means 1 serving as the oxygen concentrating means stored in 9 continuously flows based on the detection result of the flow rate detecting means 4, or
A continuous flow consisting of a three-way valve controlled by the demand flow flow path switching control means 3 or a flow path 5a for continuous flow having a flow rate setting means 16 switched by the demand flow flow path switching means 2 or a throttle. It passes through a flow path 5b for demand flow with means 17 to an extension tube 6 which is a conduit means. Further, the demand valve 7 controlled by the demand valve controller 8 based on the detection result of the respiratory phase detection means 9 provided in the hand-held controller 12.
It is supplied to the user from the open-type supply means of the nasal cannula 11 via. In addition, A in FIG. 1 is a flow path switching means 2
For the sake of convenience, the flow rate control means and the flow rate detection means 4 including the above are shown as a set.

FIG. 2 shows another specific example of the set A in FIG. Instead of the continuous flow or demand flow path switching unit 2 shown in FIG. 1, the flow is controlled by the continuous flow or demand flow path switching control unit 23 based on the detection result of the flow rate detection unit 24. 2-way valve 2
2a and 22b are a flow path 2a for a continuous flow having a flow rate setting means 26 and a flow path 2 for a demand flow having a throttle means 27.
5b, respectively.

The flow rate detecting means for breathing gas provided in the middle of the conduit means in the apparatus of the present invention can distinguish whether the flow of breathing gas is a continuous flow or a discontinuous flow of demand flow. It may be anything as long as it is. A specific example of such a flow rate detecting means is the flow rate detecting means 4 shown in FIG. That is, as the flow rate detecting means 4, a flow rate detecting means such as an area flow meter, a surface flow meter, an impeller flow meter, a thermal flow meter, an electromagnetic flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, a mass flow meter, an eddy flow meter, etc. Can be used.

The flow rate control means in the apparatus of the present invention corresponds to the detection result of the above flow rate detection means,
Any material may be used as long as it can automatically reduce the flow rate of the breathing gas when the flow of the breathing gas is continuous as compared with the case of the discontinuous flow. As a specific example of the flow rate control means, there is a flow path switching control means 3, a flow path switching means 2, a flow path 5a for each continuous flow and a flow path 5b for a demand flow shown in FIG. To be As another specific example, the flow path 25a for continuous flow, the flow path 25b for demand flow, the respective automatic opening / closing valves 22a and 22b, and their opening / closing control means 2 shown in FIG.
There are three items.

The variable throttle means 17, 27 provided in the flow paths 5b, 25b for demand flow shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have their throttles adjusted in advance so as to have the maximum flow rate in the demand flow, for example. It was done. Examples of the specific structure include a valve device such as a needle valve and a ball valve for adjusting the opening degree, and a thin tube for adjusting the length and inner diameter.

Further, the flow paths 5a for continuous flow in FIGS.
The flow rate setting means provided in 25b is a range less than or equal to the maximum flow rate of the breathing gas generating means when used in a continuous flow, for example, a flow rate range of 0.025 to 2 liters per minute, and the prescribed flow rate value of the patient. It can be set manually according to. As a specific structure, there is a thin plate member having a plurality of openings, and the flow rate is set by selecting the openings (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-140026). .

Further, in the apparatus of the present invention, the switching operation between the continuous flow and the demand flow may be automatically performed as described above, or alternatively, the operation may be manually performed. .

The operation automatic switching means provided in the hand-held operation device in the apparatus of the present invention automatically performs both the demand flow operation and the continuous flow operation according to the breathing state of the user. Anything may be used as long as it can be selected and performed. As a specific example of such automatic operation switching means, the hand controller 1 in FIG.
The one built in the demand valve controller 8 in 2 is mentioned.

As a specific function thereof, for example, when the breathing phase detecting means 9 does not detect the next predetermined phase until a predetermined time T ₁ elapses after the detection of the predetermined phase of breathing, the automatic opening / closing valve ( The demand valve controller 8 causes the automatic opening / closing valve (demand valve) 7 to continuously open the demand valve 7 after the lapse of the predetermined time to make a continuous flow, and thereafter when the respiratory phase detecting means 9 detects the predetermined phase. The demand flow can be switched to the demand flow by opening / closing control of the demand valve 7 based on the detection result.

As a further specific example, when the detection means does not detect the next predetermined phase until the predetermined time T _{1 has} elapsed after the detection of the predetermined phase, the control means causes the automatic opening / closing valve to operate for the predetermined time T. After ₁ elapses continuously, the automatic opening / closing valve is closed for a predetermined time T ₂ and then the automatic opening / closing valve is closed based on the detection result of the detection means if the detection means detects a predetermined phase during the predetermined time T _3. The automatic opening / closing valve is continuously opened for a predetermined time T ₄ after the predetermined time T _{3 has} elapsed if the predetermined phase is not detected for the predetermined time T ₃ (special feature: (See Kaihei 1-221170).

Further, as the supply amount setting means provided in the hand-operated device of the device of the present invention, any device can be set as long as it can set the supply amount of the breathing gas during the operation in the demand flow. It may be. A specific example of the supply amount setting means is the valve opening time setting means 10 shown in FIG.

That is, the flow path 5 for demand flow in the main body 19
Regarding the breathing gas supplied at a predetermined flow rate set in advance by the variable throttle means 17 in b, in the hand operation unit 12, the breathing gas is used by the user in a predetermined amount per breathing cycle according to the prescription value of the doctor. As described above, the valve opening time setting means 10 sets the opening time of the demand valve 7 per operation.

FIG. 1 shows a concrete example of the manual switching means provided in the hand-operated device of the apparatus of the present invention for manually and forcibly switching between continuous flow operation and demant flow operation. An example is the manual switching means 13 shown. That is, as the manual switching means 13, in order to manually switch to the demand flow when using the continuous flow, an electric signal is sent to the demand controller 8 so as to operate the opening and closing of the demand valve 7, and the manual flow is switched to the continuous flow when using the demand flow. In order to switch with, the changeover switch that sends an electric signal to the demand valve controller 8 is used to stop the opening and closing of the demand valve 7.

Further, in this apparatus, it is possible to install a humidifier in the gas flow path in the hand-held controller 12. In that case, for example, a bypass is provided on the upstream side of the demand valve 7 via a three-way valve, a humidifier is provided in the bypass, and the humidifier can be used by switching the three-way valve as necessary. I can give you what I did.

FIG. 3 is a more specific illustration of the respiratory gas system of the present invention. In FIG. 3, A1 is the apparatus main body,
B1 is a hand operation device. Further, in FIG. 3, 31 is a compressor, 32 is a safety valve, 33 is a fan, 34 is a four-way valve, 35 is an adsorption bed, 36 is an automatic opening / closing valve, 37 is a buffer tank, and these are pressure fluctuation adsorption type oxygen concentration means. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-220224). See also FIG.
Among them, 38 is an automatic opening / closing valve, 39 is a pressure regulating valve, and 4
0 is a flow path switching means, 41 is a flow rate setting means for continuous flow, 42 is a flow path switching control means, 4
3 is a humidifier, 44 is a pressure loss amount (ΔP) detecting means as a flow rate detecting means, and 45 is a throttle means for demand flow. Here, when ΔP is continuously larger than 0, the flow passage switching means is adjusted so that a continuous flow passage can be selected, and when ΔP is 0 within 2 seconds, a demand flow passage is selected. It can be so. When ΔP is 0 and exceeds 2 seconds, an alarm is issued by an alarm means (not shown). Further, 47 is a demand valve, and 48
Is a breathing phase detecting means, 49 is a demand valve controller, and 50 is a nasal cannula.

FIG. 4 shows another specific example of the breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention, in which A2 represents the main body of the apparatus and B2 represents the hand-operated device. In FIG. 4, 31-36 and 47-
Each of 50 represents the same content as in FIG. Further, in FIG. 4, 51 is a buffer tank, 52 is an automatic opening / closing valve in the flow path for continuous flow, 53 is a pressure regulating valve, 54 is a flow rate setter, 56 is a humidifier, and 58 is in the flow path for demand flow. An automatic opening / closing valve, 59 is a pressure regulating valve, 60 is a throttle means, 55 is a flow path switching means, and 57 is a flow rate detecting means.

[0044]

According to the breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention, it becomes easy for a user to carry and move a hand-operated device including a demand valve, and even in that case, the demand valve can operate with good reproducibility. Excellent effect can be obtained.

In some cases, the breathing gas supply apparatus of the present invention is provided with an automatic opening / closing valve means that can be operated according to a breathing cycle, and automatically supplies the continuous flow and the demand flow of the breathing gas. Detection, and when the demand flow supply is switched to the continuous flow supply, it is automatically switched to a means for decreasing the flow rate, and when the continuous flow supply is switched to the demand flow supply, it is automatically switched to a means for increasing the flow rate. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a portion of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a specific illustration of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows another specific example of the device of the present invention.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Use of breathing gas generating means, and conduit means having one end communicating with the generating means, the other end having the open type supplying means for breathing gas, and an automatic opening / closing valve means on the way. Breathing phase detecting means having a function of detecting at least a part of a predetermined phase in a person's breath, and an automatic opening / closing valve for controlling opening / closing of the automatic opening / closing valve means based on a detection result of the breathing phase detecting means In a breathing gas supply apparatus including a control means, the automatic opening / closing valve means, the breathing phase detecting means and the automatic opening / closing valve control means are provided in a hand-operated device which can be used separately from the breathing gas generating means. A breathing gas supply device characterized in that 2. A breathing gas flow rate detecting means is provided in the middle of the conduit means, and when the flow rate detecting means detects a continuous flow, it detects a continuous flow more than when a discontinuous flow is detected. The breathing gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a flow rate control means for automatically reducing the flow rate of the breathing gas. 3. A flow path for the continuous flow when the flow rate control means detects a continuous flow, and a path for the demand flow when the flow rate detection means detects a discontinuous flow. The breathing gas supply apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a flow path automatic switching control means for allowing the breathing gas to flow. 4. The hand-operated device is provided with automatic operation switching means for automatically selecting and operating both a demand flow operation and a continuous flow operation in accordance with the breathing state of the user. The breathing gas supply device according to claim 1. 5. The breathing gas supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hand-held operating device is provided with a supply amount setting means for setting a supply amount of the breathing gas when operating in a demant flow. 6. The breathing gas supply device according to claim 1, wherein the hand-operated device is provided with a manual switching means for manually and compulsorily switching between a continuous flow operation and a demant flow operation. .