WO2004105881A1 - Procede et appareil pour la protection contre l'hypoxie des passagers d'un aeronef - Google Patents

Procede et appareil pour la protection contre l'hypoxie des passagers d'un aeronef Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2004105881A1
WO2004105881A1 PCT/EP2004/006065 EP2004006065W WO2004105881A1 WO 2004105881 A1 WO2004105881 A1 WO 2004105881A1 EP 2004006065 W EP2004006065 W EP 2004006065W WO 2004105881 A1 WO2004105881 A1 WO 2004105881A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bag
reinhalation
inhalation device
economizer
inhalation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2004/006065
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michel Bardel
Nicholas Bloch
Henri Marotte
Original Assignee
Intertechnique
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Intertechnique filed Critical Intertechnique
Publication of WO2004105881A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004105881A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B18/00—Breathing masks or helmets, e.g. affording protection against chemical agents or for use at high altitudes or incorporating a pump or compressor for reducing the inhalation effort
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
    • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
    • A62B7/00—Respiratory apparatus
    • A62B7/14—Respiratory apparatus for high-altitude aircraft

Definitions

  • the invention relates to systems for protecting airplane passengers against the effects of cabin depressurization at high altitude by providing them with the oxygen they need for survival.
  • the airplane In order to supply such oxygen, the airplane carries an onboard source of oxygen (an oxygen cylinder or a chemical generator known as an "oxygen candle", or else • an on-board generator for generating air under pressure that is highly enriched in oxygen) , which source serves to feed one or more general distribution pipes.
  • an onboard source of oxygen an oxygen cylinder or a chemical generator known as an "oxygen candle", or else • an on-board generator for generating air under pressure that is highly enriched in oxygen
  • Each location that is to be occupied by a passenger can be provided with at least one inhalation device such as a face mask and/or a flexible bag to be put over the head, with oxygen or oxygen-enriched gas being inhaled through a mouthpiece. Under all circumstances, the inhalation device is connected to the general distribution pipe.
  • Masks are already known, in particular from patent document FR 83/20941, which use not only an economizer bag, but also a reinhalation bag.
  • the purpose of adding this flexible reinhalation or "rebreathing" bag is to use cause the wearer to inhale a mixture having an increased content of carbon dioxide so as to increase pulmonary ventilation, thus making it possible to use a passenger mask at increased cabin altitude, higher than 12,700 meters (m) , without pressurizing the oxygen.
  • the reinhalation bag stores the breathed-out gas that is enriched with carbon dioxide and returns it to the mask during the following intake of breath.
  • the economizer bag remains conventional concerning its characteristics, and oxygen flow rate remains unchanged up to an altitude of 12,000 m. It has been found that the concentration for C0 2 needed to excite breathing rate sufficiently, also leads to physiological disorders.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a method of protecting passengers that enables the content of the economizer bag to be taken before taking the content of the reinhalation bag, while also taking account of the ventilation behavior of each passenger.
  • the invention provides a method of protecting airplane passengers against the effects of depressurization of the cabin at high altitude, in which method:
  • the passengers are provided with breathing gas inhalation devices adapted so that each of the passengers can perform at least a breathing cycle comprising an inhalation and an exhalation;
  • each inhalation device is fed with breathing gas via a flow rate limiting constriction and an economizer bag connected to the breathing gas inhalation device by means of a feed duct;
  • an initial fraction only of the breathed-out gas is collected in a reinhalation bag in communication with the breathing gas inhalation device, the volume in the inflated state of the reinhalation bag being not less than the dead volume comprising the combined volume of the inhalation device plus the airways of a passenger;
  • alveolar volume is used to designate that fraction of the volume of gas breathed in which actually reaches alveolar gas exchange zones, in contrast to "dead volume” which is the volume that remains in the anatomical airways and in the gas ducts external to the subject and which, by definition, does not contribute to gas exchange.
  • the invention thus makes it possible to reduce the flow rate of oxygen delivered by the source compared with the usual values, e.g. by acting on the feed pressure supplied by the source and/or on the right section of the constriction which constitutes a sonic throat causing the flow that passes through it to take on a value that depends only on the flow section and/or the upstream pressure.
  • This disposition which makes it possible to avoid taking the content of the reinhalation bag until the economizer bag is empty, is particularly well suited to low levels of ventilation, where a residue in the economizer bag after inhalation automatically prevents operation of the reinhalation bag.
  • This disposition makes it possible to adapt to the ventilation behavior of each passenger, and in particular to that of children, given that children breath small volumes .
  • the method of the invention may include one, and/or the other of the following dispositions:
  • the breathing gas is oxygen coming from a chemical generator designed, starting from the instant at which it is put into operation, to deliver a flow that decreases as a function of time in application of a relationship that is determined as a function of the nominal descent profile of the airplane from its nominal cruising altitude, and which is a fraction only of the flow rate that would be necessary in the absence of the reinhalation bag.
  • the capacity of the economizer bag and the optimum volume for the reinhalation bag need to be reduced and the flow rate which feeds the inhalation device needs to be increased accordingly.
  • the term "practically pure oxygen” is used to mean gas in which the volume content of oxygen is that supplied by the source. In order to comply with FAR regulations, a flow of oxygen that is not diluted (except by water vapor) corresponding to the entire needs of the passengers must be supplied from 40,000 feet, i.e. 12,200 meters.
  • the invention provides an installation for protecting airplane passengers against the effects of cabin depressurization at high altitude, the installation comprising:
  • a supply unit delivering, in operation, an adjustable continuous flow to a general distribution pipe from a source under pressure of pure oxygen or of highly enriched air;
  • each of the economizer bags being connected firstly to the general distribution pipe and secondly to an inhalation device via a supply duct;
  • each reinhalation bag communicating with an inhalation device and being of a volume such that it stores only an initial fraction of the gas breathed out on each exhalation into the inhalation device, said initial fraction corresponding substantially to the dead volume comprising the combined volume of the inhalation device plus the airways of a passenger; and • check valve means enabling the initial fraction of the breathed-out gas to entire freely into the reinhalation bags; the installation being characterized by the fact that each reinhalation bag communicates with the feed duct, and that control means enable the content of each reinhalation bag to be sucked via the feed duct and the inhalation device, without allowing the content of the economizer bag to pass into the reinhalation bag.
  • the supply unit optionally includes regulator means for operating as a function of the ambient pressure to which the wearers of inhalation devices are subjected so as to limit the flow rate of additional oxygen that is conveyed to the inhalation devices to a fraction only of the flow rate that would- be necessary in the absence of reinhalation.
  • the invention provides a device for protecting airplane passengers against effects of cabin depressurization at high altitude, the device comprising: • an inhalation device;
  • an economizer bag connected to the inhalation device via a feed duct;- and • a reinhalation bag communicating with the inhalation device and having a volume such that it stores only an initial fraction of the gas breathed out on each exhalation into the inhalation device, said initial fraction corresponding substantially to the dead volume comprising the combined volume of the inhalation device plus the airways of a passenger; the device being characterized by the fact that the' reinhalation bag communicates with the feed duct, and that control means enable the content of each reinhalation bag to be sucked via the feed duct and the inhalation device, without allowing the content of ' the economizer bag to pass to the reinhalation bag.
  • This device may include one or more of the following dispositions:
  • the inhalation device is a breathing face mask or a mouthpiece
  • control means are constituted by a control valve adapted to enable the content of each reinhalation bag to be sucked via the feed duct and the inhalation device, without allowing the content of the economizer bag to pass to the reinhalation bag, and the reinhalation bag communicates with the inhalation device via a check valve distinct from said control valve and adapted to enable the initial fraction to flow without resistance into the reinhalation bag; and • the economizer bag opens out into the inhalation device via a check valve, and it includes a breathe-out valve leading to the atmosphere and provided with resilient return means adapted to retard exhaust to the atmosphere .
  • Figure 1 is a diagram of an installation in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a diagrammatic section view of a first embodiment of a protection device in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a protection device- in accordance with the invention.
  • the invention makes use of the result of an analysis of the breathing cycle which has shown that the gas breathed out presents a partial pressure of carbon dioxide that varies.
  • the airways of the human being comprise pulmonary alveoli, alveolar ducts, bronchi, the trachea, and the anatomical airways. Only the alveoli and the end portions of the alveolar ducts contribute to exchanging gases.
  • breathing out comprises in succession expelling the "dead" volume that has no C0 2 , a transient stage, and then a stage of breathing out the alveolar volume.
  • the invention makes use of the existence of the volume VD to enable a fraction of the previously breathed-out volume to be reinhaled since it has been enriched with little or no C0 2 .
  • hypercapnia remains at an acceptably low level.
  • the amount of oxygen that needs to be delivered to a wearer of an inhalation device in accordance with the invention can be reduced to substantially three-eighths the quantity that is needed in the absence of reinhalation.
  • the invention also takes account of the fact that the wearer of the inhalation device might be a child or an anxious person.
  • other work has made it possible to determine the conditions that need to be satisfied in the event of a subject who is very anxious or is a child; with a child, the value VT for the breathing cycle is much smaller than that for a normal adult subject (400 cubic centimeters (cm 3 ) ) . This constraint is nevertheless attenuated if means are provided for delaying reinhalation until the content of the economizer bag has been used up.
  • the installation 1 comprises a supply system 2 that delivers, in operation, a continuous adjustable flow to a general distribution pipe 3 taken from a source 4 under pressure of pure oxygen or of air that is highly enriched.
  • the installation 1 also includes inhalation devices, in this case breathing masks 5. These breathing masks are connected firstly to the general distribution pipe 3 via economizer bags 6, and secondly to reinhalation bags 7.
  • each breathing mask 5 is illustrated in Figure 2.
  • the two bags i.e. the economizer bag 6 and the reinhalation bag 7, are interconnected, thereby providing the advantage, amongst others, of making them easier to store.
  • the two bags 6 and 7 are defined in a ⁇ common inextensible outer envelope 8 and by a flexible separation diaphragm 9.
  • the envelope 8 may be rigid, but for storage purposes, it is generally flexible.
  • the economizer bag ⁇ opens out into the breathing mask 5 via a feed duct 10 provided with a check valve 11 that provides practically no resistance to breathing in.
  • the breathing mask 5 has a breathe-in valve 12a which is adapted, if the volume of the economizer bag 6 and of the reinhalation bag 7 is less than the instantaneous breathe-in demand of the subject, to inhale an additional quantity of outside air, thereby avoiding suffocation.
  • the breathe-in mask 5 further includes a breathe-out valve 12 leading to the atmosphere and provided with resilient return means for retarding exhaust to the atmosphere, so as to allow the reinhalation bag 7 to be filled before excess breathed-out air is exhausted to the atmosphere, which excess corresponds essentially to the alveolar volume VA.
  • the reinhalation bag 7 communicates with the breathing mask 5, firstly via a valve 13 enabling the initial fraction of the breathed-out gas to enter freely into the reinhalation bag 7, which fraction corresponds essentially to the dead volume VD, and secondly via the feed duct 10. Between the reinhalation bag 7 and the feed duct 10, control means 14 enable the content of the reinhalation bag 7 to be sucked in via the feed duct 10, without allowing the content of the economizer bag 6 to pass into the reinhalation bag 7.
  • the reinhalation bag 7 can be filled only if the economizer bag 6 was emptied during the preceding stage of breathing in. This disposition makes it possible to adapt operation automatically to small volumes being ventilated, and specifically to protecting children. Because of their small total volume VT, they will breathe essentially oxygen coming via the economizer bag 6.
  • the volume of the reinhalation bag 7 when full should lie in the range 400 cm 3 to 600 cm 3 .
  • the volume of the economizer bag 6 can be small.
  • an economizer bag 6 and a reinhalation bag 7 should be used such that the sum of their volumes in the inflated state is of the same order of magnitude as twice the volume of a present day economizer bag, i.e. about 1000 cm 3 to 1600 cm 3 .
  • the inhalation devices are mouthpieces 15.
  • Each mouthpiece 15 replaces the mask 5 in the embodiment of the protection device described with reference to Figure 2.
  • Each mouthpiece 15 is connected to the feed duct 10.
  • Breathe-out valves 12 and breathe-in valves 12b can be mounted in the feed duct 10 and/or the mouthpiece 15.
  • Each mouthpiece 15 is optionally provided with a nose clip 16 and/or a • protective head cover 17 of transparent plastics material.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pulmonology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)

Abstract

Afin de protéger les passagers d'un aéronef contre les effets de la dépressurisation de cabine, les étapes suivantes sont menées à bien : équipement des passagers en dispositifs d'inhalation de mélange respiratoire (5) ; alimentation de chaque dispositif d'inhalation (5) en mélange respiratoire au moyen d'un sac économiseur (6) raccordé au dispositif d'inhalation de mélange respiratoire (5) par un conduit d'alimentation (10) ; au début de l'expiration, collecte d'une fraction initiale seulement du gaz expiré dans un sac de réinhalation (7) en communication avec le dispositif d'inhalation de mélange gazeux (5) ; évacuation du gaz expiré excédentaire de chaque sac économiseur (6) et sac de réinhalation (7), ledit excédent correspondant sensiblement au volume alvéolaire ; et induction de la réinhalation du contenu du sac de réinhalation (7) à l'aide du conduit d'alimentation (10) seulement après que sensiblement tout le contenu du sac économiseur (6) a été inhalé.
PCT/EP2004/006065 2003-05-28 2004-05-24 Procede et appareil pour la protection contre l'hypoxie des passagers d'un aeronef WO2004105881A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0306499 2003-05-28
FR0306499A FR2855417B1 (fr) 2003-05-28 2003-05-28 Procede et dispositif de protection des passagers d'un aeronef contre l'hypoxie

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004105881A1 true WO2004105881A1 (fr) 2004-12-09

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PCT/EP2004/006065 WO2004105881A1 (fr) 2003-05-28 2004-05-24 Procede et appareil pour la protection contre l'hypoxie des passagers d'un aeronef

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FR (1) FR2855417B1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004105881A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004063698A1 (de) * 2004-12-28 2006-07-13 DRäGER AEROSPACE GMBH Notsauerstoffsystem für Flugzeugpassagiere
WO2008097569A1 (fr) * 2007-02-06 2008-08-14 Avox Systems, Inc. Masque à oxygène pourvu d'une poche de réinhalation destiné à être utilisé avec une administration pulsée d'oxygène

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7588032B2 (en) 2004-12-08 2009-09-15 Be Intellectual Proeprty, Inc. Oxygen conservation system for commercial aircraft

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2094183A1 (fr) 1970-06-11 1972-02-04 Fisons Ltd
US4016876A (en) * 1973-11-06 1977-04-12 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Breathing apparatus
FR2557463A1 (fr) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-05 Intertechnique Sa Masque respiratoire de protection en atmosphere rarefiee, notamment pour passer d'avion volant a haute altitude
FR2614207A2 (fr) * 1983-12-28 1988-10-28 Intertechnique Sa Masque respiratoire de protection, notamment pour les passagers d'aeronefs.
US4926855A (en) * 1984-09-21 1990-05-22 Interspiro Ab Respirator

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2094183A1 (fr) 1970-06-11 1972-02-04 Fisons Ltd
US4016876A (en) * 1973-11-06 1977-04-12 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Breathing apparatus
FR2557463A1 (fr) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-05 Intertechnique Sa Masque respiratoire de protection en atmosphere rarefiee, notamment pour passer d'avion volant a haute altitude
FR2614207A2 (fr) * 1983-12-28 1988-10-28 Intertechnique Sa Masque respiratoire de protection, notamment pour les passagers d'aeronefs.
US4926855A (en) * 1984-09-21 1990-05-22 Interspiro Ab Respirator

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004063698A1 (de) * 2004-12-28 2006-07-13 DRäGER AEROSPACE GMBH Notsauerstoffsystem für Flugzeugpassagiere
US7481216B1 (en) 2004-12-28 2009-01-27 Dae Systems Gmbh Emergency oxygen system for aircraft passengers
DE102004063698B4 (de) * 2004-12-28 2010-02-04 Dae Systems Gmbh Notsauerstoffsystem für Flugzeugpassagiere
WO2008097569A1 (fr) * 2007-02-06 2008-08-14 Avox Systems, Inc. Masque à oxygène pourvu d'une poche de réinhalation destiné à être utilisé avec une administration pulsée d'oxygène

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2855417B1 (fr) 2005-09-09
FR2855417A1 (fr) 2004-12-03

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