WO2014082829A1

WO2014082829A1 - Device for inhaling oxygen-enriched air and method for processing breathing air for an inhalation device

Info

Publication number: WO2014082829A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/073246
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexandra Maria HERMS
Original assignee: Power Air GmbH
Priority date: 2012-11-29
Filing date: 2013-11-07
Publication date: 2014-06-05
Also published as: DE102012221839B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for inhaling oxygen-enriched air, comprising a housing (1), into which ambient air (6a) to be processed is introduced through an inlet opening (7); an enriching apparatus (3) for the oxygen enrichment of the air to be processed; an ionizing apparatus (2) for producing anions (8); and a flow line (11) for conducting processed air and air to be processed (6b, 6d), wherein the flow line (11) connects the enriching apparatus (3) to an inhalation attachment. The device is characterized in that a sterilizing apparatus (4) having at least one UV light source (13) is provided, wherein the UV light source (13) irradiates at least one partial region of the flow line (11). Thus, an inhalation device is provided which can be used without reservations even by persons having a weakened immune system without the filling level of the oxygen having to be monitored.

Description

Apparatus for inhaling oxygen-enriched air and

Process for the treatment of aeration air for an inhalation device

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a device for inhaling oxygen-enriched air with a housing in the ambient air to be treated is introduced through an inlet opening, an ionizing means for generating anions, an enrichment device for oxygen enrichment of the air to be treated and a flow line for guiding an air flow from the enrichment device to a inhalation attachments.

The invention also relates to a method for the treatment of breathing air for an inhalation device comprising the following method steps: supplying ambient air into a housing of the device, generating anions in an ionization device and oxygen enrichment of the ambient air supplied into the housing in an enrichment device. A generic inhalation device is known for example from http: // powerair-qmbh .de.

Due to his professional, family and private environment, humans spend about 80% of their lives indoors. However, air in closed rooms is usually heavily loaded. In addition, many people complain of stress, move too little, tend to overweight and in extreme cases already suffer from a weakened immune system. The most common consequences are decreased performance, lack of concentration, prolonged periods of tiredness, respiratory ailments, and so on. due to insufficient oxygen supply to the body. Inhalation devices have therefore been developed with which targeted oxygen-enriched air can be inhaled.

With the device known from http://powerair-gmbh.de as Powerair Station3000, the oxygen content can be increased by 40% compared to the natural oxygen content of the air, whereby the oxygen absorption of the body by increasing the concentration of anions (negative ions) is improved. This device is intended especially for use in practices of naturopaths, homeopaths, gyms and in the wellness and spa area.

Ionizers are devices for generating anions. They preferably operate at high voltages of a few thousand volts and a corona discharge at spikes, which can generate billions of ions per second. When these anion-enriched air is blown onto surfaces, materials can be loaded or unloaded. The resulting free radicals promote chemical degradation processes, which can be used for odor removal and disinfection. In addition, the body's receptiveness to oxygen is enhanced by increasing the anion concentration in the air. The However, it is often not sufficient to produce anions that are caused by anions in order to guarantee germ-free air. Especially in facilities that are visited by many people, the air often has an increased bacterial, viral and mold concentration.

In order to avoid an inhalation of germs, it is known to supply highly concentrated oxygen via a pressure bottle. However, the pressure bottles must be replaced regularly, which requires monitoring of the level and a corresponding order logistics and therefore is impracticable and time consuming.

Object of the invention

It is therefore an object of the invention to propose an inhalation device that can be safely used by people with weakened immune system without having to monitor the level of oxygen must be performed.

Brief description of the invention

This object is achieved in that a sterilization device is provided with at least one ultraviolet (UV) light source, wherein the UV light source irradiates at least a portion of the flow line.

UV radiation can be known to be used for disinfection. The photons in the UV range change the cell nucleus through a photolytic process and thus prevent cell division. UV radiation therefore has a germicidal effect on almost all germs. The present invention utilizes this effect to treat anions and oxygen enriched air within an inhalation device. However, with regard to inhalers, caution should be exercised with regard to the use of UV light, as UV radiation may produce ozone which, in turn, may be harmful to the respiratory tract. As UV sources therefore preferably ozone-free UV lamps are used, for example. LEDs that emit light in the wavelength range> 200 nm or UV bulbs in which ozone-generating vacuum UV radiation (<200 nm) is filtered out, for example by providing a quartz glass body in which the light source is located.

In order to ensure effective irradiation of the air flowing through the flow line, the flow line, at least in the area in which it is irradiated by the UV light source, made of UV-transparent material, preferably made of quartz glass. In addition, the irradiation power can be increased by focusing the light emitted by the at least one light source by means of one or more lenses on the flow line.

For the oxygen enrichment, it is preferable to use a molecular sieve in the form of an osmosis filter which filters out nitrogen molecules from the air to be treated, whereby the oxygen concentration in the air of 21% (natural oxygen concentration) can be increased by 40%.

The inhalation device according to the invention allows the inhalation of sterilized, oxygen-enriched air and at the same time ensures an improved oxygen uptake by reducing the concentration of cations.

Preferably, a plurality of UV light sources are provided. In this way, the radiation intensity can be increased and any losses due to absorption in the line material can be compensated. In a particularly preferred development of this embodiment, the UV light sources are arranged radially around the flow line. Preferably, the light sources are evenly distributed on a circle concentric to the flow line and directed to the flow line, so that there is a uniform irradiation of the air flowing through the flow line from all sides.

A particularly preferred embodiment provides that a magnet arrangement is provided for generating a magnetic field, wherein the flow line leads through the magnetic field. The magnet arrangement serves to generate a magnetic field which retains the cations possibly still present in the air flow in the flow line. In this way, the concentration of cations in the treated air is further reduced.

This can be done, for example, in that the flow line extends at least at one point within the magnetic field substantially perpendicular to the magnetic field. The ions then experience a force perpendicular to the flow direction (Lorenz force) and are deflected towards the wall of the flow line.

However, an embodiment in which at least one current-carrying annular coil is arranged around the flow line is preferred, wherein the flow direction of the current in the coil is selected so that a magnetic field is formed in the interior which deflects the cations to the outside. Preferably, the toroidal coil is wound around a ferromagnetic toroidal core to reinforce the magnetic field.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, two spaced apart in the flow direction of the air ring coils are provided. With such a two-stage barrier reliable filtering of the cations can be ensured. Preferably, the cataeones are directed to a cathode where they are neutralized or discharged.

Preferably, a moistening device is provided to increase the humidity of the air to be treated. This can be realized in particular by passing the air through a water bath.

The inventive method for the treatment of breathing air according to the invention comprises a sterilization by UV irradiation in a sterilizing device.

Preferably, the air to be treated is passed through a water bath. As a result, on the one hand the humidity is increased and on the other hand the air is cleaned of coarse particles.

Preferably, the air to be treated is supplied by means of a pump to the enrichment device, the sterilization device and possibly the moistening device. This allows the flow rate of air within the flow line to be regulated.

In a particularly preferred variant, the air to be treated is passed through a magnetic field in order to avoid that the cations possibly still contained in the air are supplied to the user. The cations are deflected by the magnetic field and can then be dissipated.

Preferably, the generation of the anions is carried out as a first method step. During the ionization, the other treatment components (enrichment device, degerminator) can be switched off.

In a specific development of this embodiment, the anions generated are first released to the environment. Then the Air with the increased anion concentration supplied to the housing again, and then subjected to oxygenation and sterilization. In this way, in addition to the cation concentration of the air supplied to the user of the inhalation device, the cation concentration of the total ambient air in the corresponding space is also reduced. For an average sized room (about 20 m ² ), the ionizer should be operated for about half an hour to adequately supply the ambient air with anions.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and the drawings. Likewise, the features mentioned above and those listed further can be used individually or in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as exhaustive enumeration, but rather have exemplary character for the description of the invention.

Drawing and detailed description of the invention In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention; and

Fig. 2a, b sectional views of a preferred embodiment of

Disinfecting device in combination with a magnet arrangement according to the invention (magnetic-optical module).

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention for inhaling oxygen-enriched air. The device comprises a housing 1 in which an ionization device 2 for generating anions, an enrichment device 3 for oxygen enrichment and a sterilization device 4 are arranged. By way of a fan 5, ambient air 6a to be reprocessed is drawn into the housing 1 through an inlet opening 7. The ambient air 6a reaching the ionization device 2 is ionized by generating anions 8, in particular oxygen anions, in the ionization device 2. This is preferably done by corona discharge of a high voltage supplied conductive tip. The generated anions 8 are discharged via an outlet opening 9 back to the environment. Due to the increased concentration of anions, the cations present in the air, which at too high a concentration lead to concentration disorders and circulatory complaints, are neutralized. In this way, the natural concentration of anions in the air can be restored and allows for better oxygen uptake in the body.

The further treatment (oxygen enrichment, degerming) of the ambient air is preferably only started when the anion-enriched ambient air 6b has a sufficient concentration of anions. However, it is also possible to carry out the further treatment steps in parallel with the ionization. In this case, one will either accept an initially lower anion concentration, or not (or only partially) return the anions generated back to the ambient air, but into a separate air reservoir (not shown) in which the anion-enriched air is intermediately stored and from which the anion enriched air can be removed for further processing.

The anion-enriched air 6b is sucked by a vacuum pump 10 (shown here in two stages) through an osmotic filter serving as an enrichment means 3. The osmosis filter acts as an oxygen concentrator: The aspirated ambient air with about 21% oxygen is extracted with the help of a filter membrane or a molecular sieve nitrogen 6c. In this way, an oxygen concentration of about 40% is achieved, whereby an oxygen concentration of up to 30% reai can be siert. The filtered out nitrogen 6c is discharged through a nitrogen outlet 17 of the housing 1 to the environment.

Via a flow line 11, the enriched with oxygen and anions air is passed to a humidifier 12. The moistening device 12 is embodied here as a bottle filled with water. The air is passed through the water, which wets it. In addition, the passage of the air through the water causes a cleaning of the air of coarse particles. Since the water should be replaced regularly, the humidifying device 12 is preferably outside the housing 1. However, an arrangement within the housing 1 is also possible. The so humidified air is finally fed to the degermination device 4.

The degermination device 4 is equipped with at least one UV light source 13 (see FIG. 2 b) which is directed onto the flow line 11. Different geometries with respect to the arrangement and shape of the light sources 13 are possible. A particularly preferred embodiment of the sterilization device 4 is shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b.

FIG. 2 a shows a longitudinal section in the flow direction 11, while FIG. 2 b shows a cross section in which the flow direction 11 points out of the plane of the drawing. Six UV light sources 13 (eg mercury or amalgam lamps) are arranged around the flow line 11. The UV light 13a emitted from the light sources 13 is directed to the flow line 11 and can be focused via lens elements (not shown). By arranging a plurality of light sources 13 on the one hand can be achieved that the flow line 11 is uniformly illuminated from all sides, on the other hand, radiation losses that occur in the material of the flow line 11 can be compensated. A translucent retaining ring 15 ensures that the light sources 13 have the desired distance from one another. It is particularly advantageous if the degermination device 4 is operated in combination with a magnet arrangement 16 (see also FIG. 1) which generates a magnetic field which prevents the further transport of cations in the flow direction 14 of the air. The magnet arrangement 16 is preferably arranged at least partially with respect to the flow direction 14 behind or at the same height as the sterilization device, so that cations which may be generated by the UV irradiation do not reach the air flow transported to the user. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the magnet arrangement 16 is designed in two stages, in that two current-carrying annular coils 18 are provided, so that the cations are deflected both before and after the sterilization device 4. Inside the flow line 11, an annular magnetic field 19 is formed, which deflects the cations to the edge of the flow line 11, while the anions experience a force to the center of the flow line 11 and thus can be freely transported on.

The anion and oxygen enriched, humidified and sterilized air 6d (Figure 1) is then passed through the flow conduit 11 to a nasal cannula or breathing mask (not shown) through which the user can breathe the conditioned air.

The order of the individual process steps is almost arbitrary. However, it is advantageous to carry out the sterilization and the filtering of the cations by the magnet arrangement as the last method steps in order to minimize contamination of the air by possible subsequent components.

A device for inhaling oxygen-enriched air comprising a housing 1 into which ambient air 6a to be treated is introduced through an inlet opening 7; an enrichment device 3 for oxygen enrichment of the air to be treated, an ionization unit direction 2 for generating anions 8; and a flow line 11 for guiding treated and reprocessed air 6b, 6d, wherein the flow line 11 connects the enrichment device 3 with an inhalation attachment, is characterized in that a disinfection device 4 is provided with at least one UV Lichtquelie 13, wherein the UV Light source 13 irradiated at least a portion of the flow line 11. As a result, an inhalation device is provided which can be safely used even by people with weakened immune systems, without having to carry out a monitoring of the filling level of the oxygen.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 housing

2 ionization device

3 enrichment facility

4 degerminator

5 fans

6a untreated ambient air

6b air with increased anion concentration

6c nitrogen out

6d enriched, humidified and sterilized air

7 entrance opening

8 anions

9 outlet opening

10 vacuum pump

11 flow line

12 moistening device

13 UV light source

13a UV light

14 flow direction of the air

15 retaining ring

16 magnet arrangement

17 nitrogen outlet

18 ring coil

19 magnetic field

Claims

Patent claims

Device for inhaling oxygen-enriched air with a housing (1) into which ambient air (6a) to be processed is introduced through an inlet opening (7); o an enrichment device (3) for oxygen enrichment of the air to be treated, o an ionization device

(2) to produce antones (8);

o a flow line (11) for guiding processed air (6b, 6d) which is to be processed, the flow line (11) being the enrichment device

(3) connects to an inhalation attachment, characterized in that a sterilization device

(4) is provided with at least one UV light source (13), the UV light source (13) irradiating at least a portion of the flow line (11).

Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of UV light sources (13) are provided.

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the UV light sources (13) are arranged radially around the flow line (11).

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a magnet arrangement (16) is provided for generating a magnetic field and the flow line (11) leads through the magnetic field.

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the flow line (11) runs essentially perpendicular to the magnetic field at least at one point in the magnetic field.

6. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one toroidal coil (18) through which current flows is arranged around the flow line (11), the flow direction of the current in the toroidal coil (18) being selected so that in the flow line (11). Magnetic field (19) is created that deflects the cations outwards.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a humidification device (12) is provided to increase the humidity of the air (6b) to be treated.

Method for preparing breathing air for an inhalation device according to one of the preceding claims with the following method steps: o supplying ambient air (6a, 6b) into a housing (1) of the device; o Generation of anions

(8) in the supplied air (6a) in an ionization device (2); o Oxygen enrichment of the supplied air (6b) in an enrichment device (3); characterized in that disinfection is carried out by UV irradiation in a disinfection device (4).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the air to be processed is passed through a water bath.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the air to be treated (6b) is supplied to the enrichment device, the sterilization device and possibly the humidification device by means of a pump (10).

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the air to be treated (6b) is passed through a magnetic field which causes a force perpendicular to the direction of flow on the cations.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the ionization is carried out as the first process step.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the anions (8) are first released into the environment, the air (6b) with the increased anion concentration is fed again to the housing (1) and the air is then subjected to oxygen enrichment and the is subjected to sterilization.