VENTILATOR DEVICE HAVING AN INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE LOCKED ON AN INNER FUNCTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A ventilator device for at least supporting artificial ventilation of patients, having: —a device housing, a functional arrangement which is accommodated in the device housing in an operational position and which has at least one control device as functional unit, an input/output device provided on the device housing in an arrangement position; wherein: the input/output device is connected to the control device through an opening in the device housing for signal transmission; the input/output device includes a locking formation, and a locking counter-formation is provided in the interior of the device housing; the locking formation is in a locking form-fitting engagement with the locking counter-formation, which prevents removal of the input/output device from the arranged position thereof in a lifting direction away from the device housing; at least one formation from the locking formation and locking counter-formation is movable out of a release position along a movement path transversely with respect to the lifting direction into a locking position; in the release position there is no locking form-fitting engagement between the locking formation and the locking counter-formation, and in the locking position the locking form-fitting engagement is produced.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A ventilator device for at least supportive artificial respiration of patients, comprising: A device housing, A functional arrangement accommodated in the device housing in an operational position, which exhibits as functional units at least a section of a respiratory gas line, a pressure modification device for modifying a respiratory gas pressure in the respiratory gas line, and a control device for controlling the operation at least of the pressure modification device, and An input/output device arranged at the device housing in an arrangement position, accessible from outside the device housing for its operation, for the input of data and/or control commands into the control device and/or for the output of data and information, where the input/output device is linked with the control device for signal transmission through an aperture in the device housing, Where the input/output device comprises a latching formation and where inside the device housing there is provided a latching counter-formation, where in an operational ventilator device the latching formation is in positive-locking latching engagement with the latching counter-formation which prevents removal of the input/output device from its arrangement position in a lifting direction away from the device housing, where at least one formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation is moveable at least once from a release position along a movement path transversely to the lifting direction into a latching position, where in the release position no positive-locking latching engagement exists between latching formation and latching counter-formation and the then unlatched input/output device is removable from its arrangement position in the lifting direction away from the device housing and where in the latching position the positive-locking latching engagement is established.

17. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable along the movement path is securable in the latching position by a securing device against movement out of the latching position.

18. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable along the movement path is movable by means of a drive element from the release position into the latching position.

19. The ventilator device according to claim 18, wherein the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable along the movement path is securable in the latching position by a securing device against movement out of the latching position, the drive element comprises a self-locking screw drive, where the screw drive is also the securing device which secures the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable along the movement path in the latching position against movement into the release position.

20. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable along the movement path is movable reversibly between release position and latching position.

21. The ventilator device according to claim 18, wherein at least one actuation formation of the drive element at least in the release position of the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable by means of the drive element is arranged inside the device housing.

22. The ventilator device according to claim 18, wherein the whole drive element, both in the release position and in the latching position, of the formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation which is movable by means of the drive element is arranged inside the device housing.

23. The ventilator device according to claim 21, wherein at least one actuation formation of the drive element is accessible for actuation through a different aperture of the device housing than through that aperture through which the input/output device is connected with the control device for signal transmission.

24. The ventilator device according to claim 21, wherein the whole drive element is accessible for actuation through a different aperture of the device housing than through that aperture through which the input/output device is connected with the control device for signal transmission.

25. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the device housing exhibits a prism shape with a housing casing wall at a radial distance from a prism axis encircling the prism axis and with at least one axial, with respect of the prism axis, end-side aperture, where at least the actuation formation of the drive element is accessible for actuation through an axial end-side aperture of the at least one axial end-side aperture.

26. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the device housing exhibits a prism shape with a housing casing wall at a radial distance from a prism axis encircling the prism axis and with at least one axial, with respect of the prism axis, end-side aperture, where the whole drive element is accessible for actuation through an axial end-side aperture of the at least one axial end-side aperture.

27. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein at least one surface out of an abutment surface of the latching formation and an abutment counter-surface of the latching counter-formation which abuts against the abutment surface when a positive-locking latching engagement is established is inclined to the movement path in such a way that during a movement of the at least one movable formation out of the latching formation and latching counter-formation from the release position into the latching position to establish the positive-locking latching engagement, a force effect is exerted on the input/output device in the direction towards the device housing through a sliding abutment engagement between the abutment surface and the abutment counter-surface.

28. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein both surfaces out of an abutment surface of the latching formation and an abutment counter-surface of the latching counter-formation which abuts against the abutment surface when a positive-locking latching engagement is established are inclined to the movement path in such a way that during a movement of the at least one movable formation out of the latching formation and latching counter-formation from the release position into the latching position to establish the positive-locking latching engagement, a force effect is exerted on the input/output device in the direction towards the device housing through a sliding abutment engagement between the abutment surface and the abutment counter-surface.

29. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein only one formation out of latching formation and latching counter-formation is movable between the release position and the latching position.

30. The ventilator device according to claim 29, wherein only the latching counter-formation is movable between the release position and the latching position.

31. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein during assembling of the ventilator device the functional arrangement is insertable into its operational position in the device housing by means of an insertion movement along an insertion path and the input/output device is displaceable into its arrangement position by means of an arrangement movement along an arrangement path, where one arrangement out of the input/output device and the functional arrangement exhibits a plug of a connecting line which transmits signals and/or energy and the respective other arrangement out of the input/output device and the functional arrangement exhibits a socket of the connecting line which transmits signals and/or energy, where the plug and the socket are connected with the respective arrangement, exhibiting them rigidly and oriented along the insertion path or the arrangement path facing towards one another in such a way that a temporal sequence of an assembly movement out of insertion movement and arrangement movement and the respective other assembly movement out of insertion movement and arrangement movement effects a fully functional connection of the plug with the socket.

32. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the functional arrangement is a preassembled module consisting of at least the section of a respiratory gas line, the pressure modification device, and the control device, which as a preassembled module is insertable into the device housing and/or is withdrawable from the latter.

33. The ventilator device according to claim 16, wherein the functional arrangement exhibits the latching counter-formation, which is accommodated displaceably between the release position and the latching position at a functional unit and/or at a frame component of the functional arrangement which carries at least one functional unit.

34. The ventilator device according to claim 32, wherein the device housing exhibits a prism shape with a housing casing wall at a radial distance from a prism axis encircling the prism axis and with at least one axial, with respect of the prism axis, end-side aperture, where the functional arrangement as a component of the preassembled module exhibits a cover which with a functional arrangement introduced completely into the operational position covers an axial end-side aperture of the at least one axial end-side aperture of the device housing.

35. The ventilator device according to claim 32, wherein the functional arrangement exhibits the latching counter-formation, which is accommodated displaceably between the release position and the latching position at a functional unit and/or at a frame component of the functional arrangement which carries at least one functional unit, the device housing exhibits a prism shape with a housing casing wall at a radial distance from a prism axis encircling the prism axis and with at least one axial, with respect of the prism axis, end-side aperture, where the functional arrangement as a component of the preassembled module exhibits a cover which with a functional arrangement introduced completely into the operational position covers an axial end-side aperture of the at least one axial end-side aperture of the device housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which forms a part hereof and wherein:

[0052] FIG. 1A perspective view of a ventilator device in a preferred embodiment as emergency ventilator,

[0053] FIG. 2A perspective exploded view of a prism-shaped housing component and of the functional arrangement of the emergency ventilator according to the invention of FIG. 1,

[0054] FIG. 3A perspective exploded view of the functional arrangement and of the input/output device of the emergency ventilator according to the invention of FIG. 1,

[0055] FIG. 4 The functional arrangement and the input/output device of FIG. 3 with established positive-locking latching engagement, and

[0056] FIG. 5A plan view of the front face of the emergency ventilator of FIG. 1 facing away from the observer in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0057] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, in FIG. 1, an embodiment form according to the invention of a ventilator device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment as an emergency ventilator is labelled generally by 10. The emergency ventilator 10 comprises a device housing 12 with a prismatic basic form, in the present case with a cuboidal basic form with rounded edges.

[0058] The housing casing wall 14 of the device housing 12 comprises four planar surface segments 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d (only the top and the front planar surface segments 14a and 14d respectively can be seen in in FIG. 1, for the rest see FIG. 2), of which planar surface segments 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d following one another respectively in the circumferential direction about the prism axis P are oriented orthogonally to one another. All planar surface segments 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are parallel to the prism axis P. The planar surface segments 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are connected with one another, preferably joint-free, through curved, preferably quarter-cylindrical, surface segments 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d (only the top front and the bottom front curved surface segments 16a and 16d respectively can be seen in FIG. 1, for the rest see FIG. 2). The individual cylinder axes of the quarter-cylindrical and thereby the curved surface segments 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are parallel to the prism axis P. The housing casing wall 14 is preferably formed by an extruded aluminum tube 15 as a component of the device housing 12.

[0059] On the front face 18 of the housing 12 facing towards the observer of FIG. 1 the device housing 12 comprises a housing cover 22 which is removable from the rest of the device housing 20 along the prism axis P and arrangeable at the rest of the device housing 20. The housing cover 22 consequently serves to close a housing aperture 24 (see FIG. 2) which is configured at the longitudinal end 14e of the housing casing wall 14 lying nearer to the observer of FIG. 1. The housing aperture 24 is bordered by the housing casing wall 14 of the rest of the housing 20. Through the housing aperture 24 when the cover 22 is removed there is accessible a filter accommodating compartment 26 (s. FIG. 2) for an air filter cartridge 28 with an air filter and there is accessible a storage battery accommodating compartment 30 (s. FIG. 2) for a rechargeable electric storage battery as a power grid-independent energy store.

[0060] The housing cover 22 exhibits a cover component 32 and a closure component 34. The closure component 34 is mounted on the cover component 32 rotatably about the closure axis V. The closure axis V proceeds in the closed state, i.e. when the housing cover 22 is arranged at the rest of the housing 20 and closes the housing aperture 24, coaxially with the prism axis P.

[0061] The housing cover 22 exhibits besides an ambient air aspiration aperture 36 which penetrates through both the cover component 32 and the closure component 34. Through the ambient air aspiration aperture 36 there can be aspirated by a fan as a pressure modification device ambient air from the environment U through the air filter cartridge 28 into a fan space in the housing 12.

[0062] The closure component 34 is shown in FIG. 1 in its closed position, from which it is rotatable counterclockwise by about a twelfth of a rotation about the closure axis V into an open position indicated by a symbol in the shape of an open padlock.

[0063] The ambient air aspiration aperture 36 is bordered immediately radially outward—with respect to the latching axis V—by a mounting section 38 of the cover component 32. The mounting section 38 exhibits an attachment formation 38a in the form of an internal thread. At this attachment formation 38a there can for example be arranged an additional air filter which performs filter functions that the air filter of the air filter cartridge 28 does not carry out. Alternatively or additionally there can be arranged at the attachment formation 38a a measuring device which captures metrologically the ambient air flowing through the ambient air aspiration aperture 36, for instance determines its chemical composition or determines whether and if applicable to what extent the aspirated ambient air does or does not contain a predetermined component.

[0064] On the planar surface segment 14d and starting from it extending into the part-cylindrical surface segments 16d and 16a adjacent in the circumferential direction about the prism axis P, the emergency ventilator 10 exhibits an input/output device 40 arranged in an arrangement position which serves for information exchange between an operator and the emergency ventilator 10 and which serves for controlling the emergency ventilator 10 by the operator. The input/output device 40 exhibits a monitor 42 as an output device, which preferably is a touchscreen which permits in a touch-sensitive manner the input of information. The input/output device 40 exhibits furthermore display LEDs 44 as a further output device for example for depicting the charging state of the electric storage battery of the emergency ventilator 10 and exhibits for example a pushbutton switch 46 and a rotary switch 48 as input means.

[0065] For protection from external stresses and for sealing against the housing casing wall 14, the input/output device 40 is surrounded by a synthetic material frame 50, for instance made from a thermoplastic synthetic. In the frame 50 there can be accommodated an elastomer seal completely extending along a closed loop together with the frame 50, which abuts in a sealing manner both against the frame 50, there preferably in an accommodating groove, and against the housing casing wall 14.

[0066] The instrument cover 22 is surrounded by a shock-absorbing elastomer ring 52 completely encircling the prism axis P in the circumferential direction. In the closed state the elastomer ring 52 covers a part of the housing casing wall 14 in like manner to the front face 18, such that in the region of the instrument cover 22 the elastomer ring 52 protects the emergency ventilator 10 both against axial and against radial impact stresses.

[0067] At the longitudinal end 14f of the housing casing wall 14 opposite the instrument cover 22 there is likewise arranged an instrument cover 54. In contrast to the instrument cover 22, the instrument cover 54 is preferably not removable on its own from the housing casing wall 14 of the housing 12. In order to also protect the longitudinal end of the instrument cover 54 from axial and radial impact stresses, there is also provided at this longitudinal end an elastomer ring 56 encircling the prism axis P in a completely closed manner in the circumferential direction, which covers both a part of the housing casing wall 14 and a part of the front face 19. The front face 19 is opposite the front face 18 with respect to the prism axis P.

[0068] In the unlatched state, the input/output device 40 is removable from the device housing 12 along an arrangement path AB in a lifting direction A out of the arrangement position shown in FIG. 1.

[0069] In FIG. 2, the prism-shaped aluminum tube 15 as component of the device housing 12 and a functional arrangement 60 which in the operational state is arranged inside the device housing 12 are depicted in an exploded view.

[0070] The housing casing wall 14 exhibits on its side which faces towards the observer of FIG. 2 a large aperture 14g through which a control device 62 of the functional arrangement 60 can be connected with the input/output device 40 for signal transmission.

[0071] The functional arrangement 60 can be inserted into the aluminum tube 15 as part of the device housing 12 along an insertion path E which is collinear with the prism axis P, through an axial end-side aperture 25 in the longitudinal end 14f of the housing casing wall 14 and accordingly of the aluminum tube 15.

[0072] The functional arrangement 60 comprises the control device 62 already mentioned above on its side facing upwards in FIG. 2. On combustion safety grounds, the control device 62 is arranged constructionally separated in the functional arrangement 60 from respiratory gas lines conducting inspiratory respiratory gas, including pure oxygen as an optional special gas. In an atmosphere with an elevated oxygen content compared with normal air, the heating up of electric and electronic components of the control device 62 or a spark forming undesirably can have a combustive effect, which is why the pressure modification device in the form of a fan which is likewise contained preassembled in the functional arrangement 60 and the respiratory gas lines in which the respiratory gas conveyed by the pressure modification device flows are constructionally strictly separated from the control device 62. The pressure modification device and the respiratory gas lines are therefore no discernible in FIG. 2. In the depicted preferred embodiment example, the cover 54 is likewise part of the functional arrangement 60 preassembled as a module, which can be inserted as a module into the aluminum tube in a single assembly step along the insertion path E. An engagement formation 63 which protrudes along the insertion path E from an end plate 61 of the functional arrangement 60 serves for arranging the cover 22, in particular the closure component 34 at the rest of the device housing 20 when the functional arrangement 60 is in its operational position inside the device housing 12.

[0073] Two edge connectors 64 project out of the control device 62 in parallel to the arrangement path AB. They serve to make a signal-transmission connection directly between the control device 62 and the input/output device 40 solely by arranging the functional arrangement 60 in its operational position and by arranging the input/output device 40 in its arrangement position.

[0074] Facing towards the observer of FIG. 2, there is situated at the functional arrangement 60 movable back and forth along a movement path B in parallel to the insertion path E and accordingly to the prism axis P a carrier 65 with a latching counter-formation 66, which in FIG. 2 is in its release position in which it is arranged nearer to the cover 54. The latching counter-formation 66 comprises in the depicted example six latching wedges 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66e, and 66f, of which three are arranged on the upper side and three on the lower side. All latching wedges together form the latching counter-formation 66. The carrier 65 is movable along the movement path B relative to the end plate 61 and to the rest of the immovable functional units of the functional arrangement.

[0075] The carrier 65, which for example is configured as a synthetic injection-molded component, is displaceable along the movement path B by means of a screw drive 68. In FIG. 3 the actuation formation 72 with cross-slot tool engagement formation of a screw and/or threaded rod as the case may be of the screw drive 68 is depicted to the right of the filter accommodating compartment 26. Since the screw drive 68 is self-locking, a movement of the carrier 65 can only be effected via the actuation formation 72, but no movement of the actuation formation 72 through movement of the carrier 65. Therefore the screw drive 68 also acts as a securing device for securing the position of the carrier 65 and thereby of the latching counter-formation 66 in the respective position reached by actuating the actuation formation 72.

[0076] In FIG. 3, the input/output device 40 is depicted obliquely from above and behind, such that of the input/output device 40 mainly its back is discernible. The input/output device 40 comprises electronic components for operating the monitor 42, the further display device 44, and the switches 46 and 48. The input/output device 40 further comprises at its back two connecting sockets 74 sticking out in parallel to the arrangement path AB, against the lifting direction, into which the edge connectors 64 are inserted when the functional arrangement 60 is in its operational position and the input/output device 40 approaches the housing casing wall 14 against the lifting direction A.

[0077] The input/output device 40 shows besides, preferably configured integrally at its frame 50, a latching formation 76 which is configured as complementary to the latching counter-formation 66 of the functional arrangement 60. The latching formation 76 exhibits in total six engagement recesses 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76e, and 76f, in which the latching wedges 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66e, and 66f engage for establishing a positive-locking latching engagement. In contrast to the latching counter-formation 66, the latching formation 76 is not movable relative to the device carrying it, here: input/output device 40, but rather is arranged rigidly at the frame 50 of the input/output device 40.

[0078] When the functional arrangement 60 is in its operational position and the latching counter-formation 66 is in its release position, the input/output device 40 can be brought into its arrangement position against the lifting direction A, where the latching wedges 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66e, and 66f already engage with the engagement recesses 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76e, and 76f but as yet without establishing a positive-locking latching engagement which prevents lifting of the input/output device 40 in the lifting direction A. This is effected only through movement of the latching counter-formation 66 along the movement path B in the direction away from the cover 54 into the latching position.

[0079] Using the example of the engagement recess 76a there is shown in FIG. 3 an abutment surface 76a1, which with an established positive-locking latching engagement is in abutment against an abutment counter-surface 66a1 of the latching wedge 66a. Every engagement recess 76a, 76b, 76c, 76d, 76e, and 76f exhibits an abutment surface each, where the abutment surfaces are preferably identical. For the sake of better clarity, in FIG. 3 only the upper abutment surfaces 76a1, 76b1, and 76c1 are labelled with reference numbers. Likewise, every latching wedge 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66e, and 66f exhibits one abutment counter-surface each, where the abutment counter-surfaces are preferably identical. Once again for the sake of better clarity, only the upper abutment counter-surfaces 66a1, 66b1, and 66c1 are labelled with reference numbers.

[0080] The abutment surfaces and abutment counter-surfaces are slightly inclined relative to the movement path B, such that they are slightly inclined relative to the lifting direction A from a reference plane orthogonal to the lifting direction A. The inclination is such that during a displacement of the latching counter-formation 66 along the movement path from the release position into the latching position, a force acting opposite the lifting direction is exerted by the inclined abutment counter-surfaces on the abutment surfaces and thereby on the input/output device 40. Consequently by establishing the positive-locking latching engagement, the input/output device 40 can be clamped by the latching counter-formation 66 towards the housing casing wall 14.

[0081] In FIG. 4 the functional arrangement 60 and the input/output device 40 are shown in the same perspective as in FIG. 3, where the input/output device 40 is in its arrangement position and the latching counter-formation 66 has been brought into its latching position. Consequently, the input/output device 40 is on the one hand connected with the control device 62 for signal transmission through insertion of the edge connectors 64 into the sockets 74 and on the other through establishment of the positive-locking latching engagement between the latching formation 76 and the latching counter-formation 66 secured against removal in the lifting direction A from the functional arrangement 60 and from the housing casing wall 14 which is not depicted in FIG. 4. The screw drive 68 holds with its self-locking effect the latching counter-formation 66 in the latching position shown in FIG. 4.

[0082] Solely for the sake of completeness, in FIG. 5 there is depicted a view of the front face 19 of the emergency ventilator 10. FIG. 5 shows a respiratory gas output aperture 78, through which inspiratory respiratory gas conveyed by the fan of the pressure modification device exits from the device housing 12 towards a patient connected to the emergency ventilator 10. The respiratory gas output aperture 78 forms an end of a respiratory gas line of the functional arrangement 60. At a special gas coupling section 79 there can be introduced into the respiratory gas line a supply device for supplying as an inspiratory respiratory gas or a component of same a gas which differs from the air as respiratory gas aspirated by the fan.

[0083] FIG. 5 further shows connection nozzles 80a and 80b to which pressure acquisition hoses are connectable which at their other end lying distally from the connection nozzles 80a or 80b respectively are each connected with an inner region of a differential pressure flow sensor for measuring a proximal inspiratory and preferably also expiratory respiratory gas flow. The two inner regions of the differential pressure flow sensor are separated from one another in a manner known per se through a flow resistance which is variable through the respiratory gas flow.

[0084] Given spatial availability of a power connection, the emergency ventilator 10 can be operated via a power input 82 with energy from an external power supply grid such as for instance from a public power supply grid or from the on-board supply grid of a vehicle or aircraft. All electrical functional units of the emergency ventilator 10 can then be supplied with grid energy, where the grid voltage is transformed to DC low voltage via a power supply unit as a further functional unit of the preassembled functional arrangement 60. Likewise, the not depicted storage battery can be recharged. A socket 84 in the housing 12 is arranged for connecting an external sensor, in particular CO.sub.2 sensor. Such a CO.sub.2 sensor can for example be provided at a flow sensor coupled with the emergency ventilator device 10 and be coupled to a sensor arrangement.

[0085] While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, and equivalences thereof, can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can be combined to form yet other embodiments of the invention of this application. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.