WO2003004938A1

WO2003004938A1 - Humidifier and liquid feed unit

Info

Publication number: WO2003004938A1
Application number: PCT/JP2001/010155
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toshiharu Katahira
Original assignee: Pacific Medico Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-07-02
Filing date: 2001-11-21
Publication date: 2003-01-16
Also published as: JP2003010333A

Abstract

A humidifier capable of always maintaining the amount of water stored in the chamber thereof at a proper level without requiring labor, keeping the degree of humidification for inhalation generally at a constant and being installed, for example, in the inhalation route of an artificial respiration device, comprising a chamber having an inhaled air inlet and an inhaled air outlet and storing water, a heating part for heating the chamber, a water feed path for feeding water into the chamber by opening a water feed port, and a float rising in a tube body according to the rise of water level in the chamber until coming into contact with the water feed port to bring the water feed port into closed state by the contact and lowering in the tube body according to the lowering of the water level in the chamber to release the contact so as to bring the water feed port into open state.

Description

Description Humidifier and liquid supply unit Technical field

The present invention relates to a humidifier that mainly humidifies intake air supplied by a ventilator, and more particularly to a humidifier and a liquid supply unit that can adjust the amount of water supplied into a chamber. Background art

It is important that the inhalation supplied to the patient by the artificial respirator be moderately high in humidity. Therefore, it is known to install a humidifier in the inhalation path of the artificial respirator. In the ventilator shown in Fig. 3, the ventilator 1 and the humidifier 2 are connected by an intake pipe 4a, and the humidifier 2 and the water trap 3 for storing dewed water are connected to the intake pipe 4a. b, and an inspiratory pipe 4c derived from the water trap 3 is guided to the patient's mouth to form an inspiratory path.For example, an expiratory path omitted from the drawing in which the patient's mouth is guided to the ventilator 1 Are separately formed. The intake air supplied by the respirator 1 is humidified by a humidifier 2 introduced through an intake pipe 4a, and the humidified intake air guided from the humidifier 2 is supplied by an intake pipe 4b and a water trap. 3. Guided to the patient's mouth or airway via the inspiratory tube 4c.

As shown in FIG. 3, the humidifier 2 has a chamber 2a provided with an intake inlet 2b and an intake outlet 2c protruding from an upper surface, and a predetermined maximum water volume in the chamber 2a. Is heated by the heating unit 2d to humidify the intake air that is introduced from the intake inlet 2b and passes over the surface of the stored water, and the humidified intake air is absorbed. It is derived from outlet 2c. The tip of the tube 5 of the supply bag 5a storing water is connected to the water supply hole 2e on the upper surface of the chamber 1a, and the water flows into the tube 5b in the open state and the water flow in the closed state. Stopper 5c is provided in the middle of the path of tube 5b.

In addition, for the replenishment of the reduced amount of water stored in the chamber 2a due to humidification, the amount of water stored in the chamber 2a is constantly or intermittently monitored by humans. When the water level has decreased, the stopper 5c is manually opened to supply water, and after the reduced amount of water is supplied, the stopper 15c is closed manually again to stop water supply. ing.

However, when supplying water to the chamber 2a of the humidifier 2, the amount of water stored in the chamber 2a is constantly or intermittently monitored by a human. Because it is a configuration that replenishes water, the work of rehydrating requires much labor and is inefficient. In addition, it is difficult to maintain the amount of water stored in the chamber 2a at an appropriate level at all times.For example, the water temperature in the chamber 2a changes due to a sudden increase in the amount of water stored during hydration. There was a problem that the humidification of the intake varied.

The present invention proposes to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can efficiently supply water into the chamber without requiring labor, and always maintains an appropriate amount of water stored in the humidifier chamber. It is another object of the present invention to provide a humidifier having a high degree of humidification stability that can make the humidification degree of gas discharged from a humidifier such as intake air almost constant.

Another object of the present invention is to automatically supply and stop liquid or water in response to a change in the liquid level or water level of the container, and to efficiently enter the container without requiring labor. An object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier and a liquid supply unit that can supply a liquid and maintain an appropriate amount of liquid or water in a container. Disclosure of the invention

A humidifier according to the present invention includes a chamber provided with an intake inlet and an intake outlet for storing moisture, a heating unit for heating the chamber, and a chamber for supplying moisture to the chamber by opening and closing a moisture supply port. And a water supply passage for supplying water to the inside of the chamber in accordance with the rise of the water level in the chamber until the water supply port comes into contact with the water supply port. A float that moves down the cylinder body in response to a drop in water level to release the relevant contact, and opens the water supply port by opening the relevant contact. Features.

In addition, the humidifier of the present invention is used for opening and closing the moisture supply port in a chamber for storing moisture. A water supply passage for supplying water is provided in the chamber, and the water supply passage rises in the cylinder according to the rise in the water level in the chamber until it comes into contact with the water supply port, and the water supply passage is closed by the contact. In addition, there is provided a port for moving down the cylinder in accordance with a drop in the water level in the chamber to release the relevant contact, and opening the water supply port by releasing the relevant contact. It is characterized by the following.

Furthermore, the humidifier of the present invention is characterized in that the water supply port of the water supply path is an orifice hole. By making the water supply port an orifice hole, it is possible to prevent a large amount of water from being supplied into the chamber in a short time when the water supply port is open, and to prevent the water storage amount from becoming excessive. By supplying water, the amount of water stored in the chamber can be constantly maintained at an appropriate level, and in addition, the temperature of the water stored in the chamber can be maintained more constant. It is also possible to obtain the same effect by making the water supply path a tapered tube that tapers toward the water supply port at the tip.

Further, the liquid supply unit of the present invention opens a liquid supply port for supplying a liquid into the cylinder, and floats in the cylinder so as to be movable up and down in accordance with a change in the liquid level of the container to which the liquid is supplied. The supply of liquid is stopped by the port rising up the cylinder and coming into contact with the liquid supply port, and the float is lowered down the cylinder to release the connection. The liquid is supplied by the following method. The liquid is, for example, water, and the liquid supply port may be an orifice hole as described above, or the liquid supply path may be a tapered tube tapering toward the liquid supply port at the tip. The same advantages as the humidifier of the present invention can be obtained when used in a vessel.

By using the humidifier of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently supply water into the chamber without requiring labor, and it is possible to always maintain an appropriate amount of water stored in the chamber of the humidifier. Thus, the degree of humidification of the gas discharged from the humidifier such as the intake air can be made substantially constant, and the effect of increasing or improving the stability of the humidification can be obtained.

Further, the humidifier or the liquid supply unit of the present invention can automatically supply and stop the liquid or water in response to a change in the liquid level or the water level of the container. This has the effect that the liquid can be supplied to the container in a targeted manner, and the amount of liquid or water stored in the container can be maintained at an appropriate amount. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an intake path of an artificial respirator using a humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a chamber portion in the embodiment of the humidifier of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an intake path of a conventional artificial respiration apparatus using a humidifier. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a water supply unit which is an example of the humidifier and the liquid supply unit of the present invention will be described based on a specific embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an intake path of an artificial respiration apparatus using a humidifier of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partially longitudinal front view showing a chamber part in the embodiment of the humidifier.

As a premise, the artificial respirator in which the humidifier 20 of the present embodiment is installed is, as shown in FIG. 1, connected to the artificial respirator 10 and the humidifier 20 via an intake pipe 40a, 0 and the water trap 30 are connected by an intake pipe 40b, and the intake pipe 40c derived from the water trap 30 is guided to the patient's mouth to form an intake path, An expiratory path, which is omitted in the figure that is guided from the mouth to the ventilator 10, is separately formed. Note that the present invention is also applicable to an artificial respiration apparatus in which an expiration path is not formed.

The intake air supplied by the ventilator 10 is humidified by the humidifier 20 introduced through the intake pipe 40a, and the humidified intake air derived from the humidifier 20 is the intake pipe 40b. The water that is guided to the patient's mouth or airway via the inhalation tube 40c via the inhalation tube 40c and condensed in the inhalation tube 40b, 40c It is stored at

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the humidifier 20 is provided with a chamber 21 that is a container for storing moisture and a heating unit 26. The chamber 21 has a substantially horizontal bottom surface 21a, a substantially circular peripheral side surface 21b, and a substantially spherical upper surface 21c. A substantially cylindrical intake port 22 connected to the intake pipe 40a is provided upward, and the front face of the upper surface 21c is provided. A substantially cylindrical intake outlet 23 is provided upward on the viewing side, and portions other than the intake inlet 22 and the intake outlet 23 are sealed. The humidifier 20 performs humidification by, for example, placing the bottom surface 21 a of the chamber 21 storing moisture on the upper surface of the heating unit 26 and heating it to a required temperature in the heating unit 26. .

Further, the humidifier 20 is provided with a water supply unit 24. The water supply unit 24 has a short L-shaped connecting pipe 241, and one end of a vertical portion 241a of the connecting pipe 241 is fitted to the outside of the intake outlet 23. The other end of the horizontal part 24 1 b of the connecting pipe 24 1 is connected to the suction pipe 40 b. A through hole 2 41 c is formed at the upper surface of the connecting pipe 24 1 at a position intersecting with the center line of the vertical portion 2 41 a, and a water supply pipe 25 described later is provided in the through hole 24 1 c. The fitting part 25 3 formed substantially at the top of the fitting is fitted, and the water supply pipe 25 is attached to the connecting pipe 24 1.

The water supply pipe 25 has a substantially rod shape, and has a water supply path 251, which extends in the longitudinal direction from the upper end to the substantially middle part. The lower part of the water supply path 251 is tapered, Micropores 252 having a diameter of about 0.5 mm are provided. A fitting part 25 3 having substantially the same shape and diameter as the inner surface of the through hole 24 1 c is formed substantially at the upper part of the water supply pipe 25, and a substantially cylindrical pipe is formed at the lower part thereof. A body 255 is formed, and a ring 255 having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body is fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical body 25 4. The outer diameter of the part between 5 and 4 is formed smaller than the inner diameter of the vertical part 2 41 a of the connecting pipe 24 1 ゃ the inner diameter of the intake outlet 23, and the connecting pipe 24 1 is a water supply pipe 25 The intake air can be conducted in a state in which is attached.

A substantially cylindrical float 2556 having a step formed in the upper portion is provided in the cylindrical body 254. The float 2556 has substantially the same shape as the internal shape of the cylindrical body 254. The length of the base member 256 a is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 254 from the middle part to the lower part. The float 2556 can move up and down inside the cylindrical body 2554, and is configured to float on water by forming the inside of the hollow body or using a material having a specific gravity lower than that of water. . Further, since the base body 256 a of the float 256 has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the ring 255 fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical body 250, the lower end thereof corresponds to the ring 255. It can move downward until it touches, and its upper surface 2 56 b is the water supply path 2 5 1 Can move upward until it comes into contact with the lower end of the pore 25 2. A projecting portion 256c protrudes upward from the periphery of the upper surface 256b of the float 256 along the periphery. When using the humidifier 20 having the chamber 21, water is supplied from the intake inlet 22 or the intake outlet 23 to store a predetermined maximum amount of water in the chamber 21, and the intake air is introduced. Connect the port 22 to the intake pipe 40a, attach the water supply unit 24, and the intake pipe 4Ob to the intake outlet port 23, and attach the humidifier 20 to the intake path of the ventilator as described above. Is installed. If a predetermined maximum amount of water is stored in the chamber 21, the attached water supply unit 24 floats 256 to the uppermost position that can be moved within the cylinder 254. Due to the buoyancy of the stored water, it moves upward, and the upper surface 256 b of the port comes into contact with the lower end of the pores 252 and closes the pores 256.

Furthermore, the upper end of the water supply pipe 25 of the water supply unit 24 is connected to one end of a tube 50b provided with a stopper 50c for controlling the flow and stoppage of the water flow by opening and closing, for example. Attach the other end of the tube 50b to the supply bag 50a in which water is stored, keep the stopper 50c open during operation or humidification, and place the tube 5a through the supply bag 50a. The structure is such that moisture is always supplied into the moisture supply channel 251 via Ob. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which moisture is always supplied from the replenishing bag 50a into the moisture supply channel 2 51 without providing the stopper 50c.

Although the water supplied into the water supply passage 25 1 is basically configured not to flow out due to the blockage due to the contact of the float upper surface 2 56 b to the pore 2 52, the pore 2 5 When the upper surface 2 56 b of the float comes into contact with 2, the water supplied into the water supply passage 25 1 may seep out from the fine hole 25 2 into the upper surface 2 56 b of the float. Also in this case, the outflowing water forms a water pool in a concave portion formed by the float upper surface 256 b and the projecting portion 256 c, and at the time of the contact due to the blockage and the surface tension of the water pool. It is complete to stop the outflow of water at the time.

Then, when sending inhalation from the ventilator 10 to the patient, the heated water in the chamber 21 is heated to the required temperature by the heating section 26 and the inhalation pipe 40 is sent from the ventilator 10. The intake air is sent into the space above the water level of the stored water in the chamber 21 through the a and the intake inlet 22. The intake air is humidified by being provided with moisture in the chamber 21, and the humidified intake air is led out through the intake outlet 23 and the connecting pipe 24 1. The derivation The humidified inspired air is sent to the patient via the intake pipe 40b, the water trap 30 and the intake pipe 40c.

By continuously sending the intake air while humidifying, the stored water in the chamber 21 decreases, and the stored water decreases below a predetermined reference water amount, and the water level drops below the reference water level at the time of the reference water amount. Then, the float 25 6 moves slightly or slightly downward in the cylindrical body 25 4, and moves away from the lower end of the pore 25 2 with which the float upper surface 25 6 b is in contact. Is released. Due to the release of the blockage, the water supplied into the water supply channel 25 1 flows out from the lower end of the pore 25 2, and the concave portion formed by the float upper surface 25 6 b and the projecting portion 2 56 c The water that falls into the water pool and overflows from the water pool and exceeds the upper end of the protruding portion 25 6 c passes through the gap between the cylindrical body 25 4 and the float 25 6 and is stored in the chamber 21. Replenished with water.

The water level of the stored water in the chamber 21 rises in response to the hydration of the stored water, and the float 2556 moves upward in the cylindrical body 2454 as the water level rises. When the water level is reached, the float upper surface 256b contacts the lower end of the pores 252 again, and the upward movement of the float 256 stops at the contact position. Due to the contact, the pores 252 are closed again by the float upper surface 256b, and the water supply by the outflow from the pores 252 is stopped. Also in this case, it is necessary to completely stop the outflow of water due to the blockage and the surface tension of the water pool in the recess.

Therefore, if the amount of water stored in the chamber 21 is in the range between the predetermined maximum water amount and the reference water amount or a water amount slightly smaller than the reference water amount, or when the maximum water amount is the same as the reference water amount, An appropriate amount such as the standard water amount, which is in the range between the water amount and the water amount slightly smaller than the standard water amount, can always be maintained. Further, since the reduced amount of the stored water is replenished from time to time without abrupt water replenishment into the chamber 21, the temperature of the stored water is maintained almost constant and stabilized. Therefore, it is possible to humidify the intake air with almost constant stability. The humidifier, the liquid supply unit or the moisture supply unit of the present invention is preferably installed in an intake path of an artificial respiration apparatus and used to humidify intake air, but air is supplied by a normal humidifier. It is also possible to use when humidifying.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A pump for storing moisture provided with an intake inlet and an intake outlet, a heating unit for heating the chamber, and a moisture supply passage for supplying water into the chamber by opening and closing the moisture supply port. As the water level in the chamber rises, it rises in the cylinder until it comes into contact with the water supply port, closes the water supply unit by the contact, and according to the water level fall in the chamber, A humidifier having a float that descends into the body to release the contact and opens the water supply port when the contact is released, and is installed in an intake path of the artificial respiration apparatus.

2. A water supply passage for supplying water into the chamber by opening and closing the water supply port is provided in the chamber for storing the water, and the inside of the cylindrical body is connected to the water supply port according to the rise in the water level in the chamber. It rises until it comes into contact, closes the water supply unit by the contact, lowers the inside of the cylinder in response to the water level drop in the chamber, releases the contact, and releases the water by releasing the contact. A humidifier comprising a float for opening a supply port.

3. The humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the water supply port of the water supply path is an orifice hole.

4. A liquid supply port for supplying the liquid is opened in the cylinder, and a float is disposed so as to be movable up and down in the cylinder according to a change in the liquid level of the container to which the liquid is supplied. The liquid supply is stopped by ascending the body and coming into contact with the liquid supply port, and supplying the liquid by the port descending the cylinder and releasing the contact. Liquid supply unit.