Medical ventilator with internal casing including a motorized micro-blower and gas circuits

Abstract

The invention relates to a respiratory assistance apparatus (10) comprising a rigid internal casing (1) comprising a motor compartment (3) within which a motorized micro-blower (2) is arranged. The casing (1) is formed from a first and a second half-casing (1a, 1b) which are rigidly connected to each other in a leaktight manner.

Claims

1. A respiratory assistance apparatus (10) comprising a rigid casing (1) comprising a motor compartment (3) within which a motorized micro-blower (2) is arranged, characterized in that the casing (1) is formed from a first and a second half-casing (1a, 1b) which are rigidly connected to each other in a leaktight manner, said rigid casing (1) comprising: an air inlet compartment (11) comprising an air inlet opening (12) in communication with the atmosphere, said air inlet compartment (11) additionally being in fluidic communication with the motor compartment (3) via at least one air outlet opening (13), a gas outlet compartment (14) comprising a gas supply opening (15), said gas outlet compartment (14) being fed with gas by the motorized micro-blower (2), an oxygen circuit (16) comprising an oxygen inlet (17) and at least one oxygen outlet (18), said at least one oxygen outlet being in fluidic communication with the motor compartment (3), and a venting circuit (19) comprising an air inlet (20), formed in the air inlet compartment (11), and an air outlet (21).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first half-casing (1a) comprises: at least part of the air inlet compartment (11), at least part of the motor compartment (3), at least part of the gas outlet compartment (14), and the oxygen circuit (16) comprising the oxygen inlet (17) and said at least one oxygen outlet (18).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the second half-casing (1b) comprises: at least part of the air inlet compartment (11), and the venting circuit (19) comprising the air inlet (20) and the air outlet (21).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the venting circuit (19) comprises an air outlet (21) arranged parallel to the gas supply opening (15) of the gas outlet compartment (14).

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the oxygen circuit (16) comprises an oxygen inlet (17) arranged parallel to the air outlet (21) of the venting circuit (19).

6. The apparatus according claim 1, characterized in that the motor compartment (3) comprises a peripheral wall (3a) surrounding at least part of the outer housing (2a) of the micro-blower (2), thus defining, with said outer housing (2a), a space (22) for passage of gas.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the oxygen circuit (16) comprises an oxygen outlet (18) opening into the gas passage space (22) situated between the peripheral wall (3a) of the motor compartment (3) and the outer housing (2a) of the micro-blower (2), so as to feed said space (22) of the motor compartment (12) with oxygen and to mix said oxygen there with the air coming from the air inlet compartment (11).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the motorized micro-blower (2) additionally comprises a volute (23) defining a wheel compartment (27) which accommodates a bladed wheel (24) supported by a motor shaft (25) driven by the motor contained in the housing (2a) of the motorized micro-blower (2), said volute (23) comprising a volute opening (26) in fluidic communication with, on the one hand, the gas passage space (22) and, on the other hand, the wheel compartment (27).

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the volute (23) additionally comprises an outlet opening (28) in fluidic communication with, one the one hand, the wheel compartment (27) and, on the other hand, the gas outlet compartment (14).

10. An installation for supplying respiratory gas to a patient, comprising a respiratory assistance apparatus according to claim 1, an oxygen source, such as a pressurized oxygen canister, connected fluidically to said respiratory assistance apparatus, a flexible conduit connected fluidically to said respiratory assistance apparatus and fed with gas by said respiratory assistance apparatus, and a respiratory interface fed with gas by said flexible conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be better understood by virtue of the following detailed description, which is provided by way of a non-limiting illustration, and with reference to the appended figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a rigid casing for a respiratory assistance apparatus according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is another side view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(8) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(9) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the casing from FIG. 1,

(10) FIG. 9 shows an integration of the casing from FIG. 1 in a respiratory assistance apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(11) FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 show an embodiment of a rigid casing 1 according to the present invention for a respiratory assistance apparatus or medical ventilator 10 comprising a motorized micro-blower 2, also called a turbine or compressor.

(12) According to the invention, the rigid casing 1 is formed of two parts, namely a first and a second half-casing 1a, 1b, which are rigidly connected to each other in a leaktight manner, that is to say schematically in the manner of the two shells or valves of a bivalve.

(13) In the embodiment shown, the casing 1 also has the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, as can be seen from FIG. 1. More generally, the rigid casing 1 comprises: a motor compartment 3 within which a motorized micro-blower 2 is arranged, an air inlet compartment 11 comprising an air inlet opening 12 in fluidic communication with the ambient atmosphere and also with the motor compartment 3 via an air outlet opening 13, such that the air entering through the air inlet opening 12 can feed the motor compartment 3, a gas outlet compartment 14 comprising a gas supply opening 15, which is fed with gas by the motorized micro-blower 2 via a gas evacuation conduit 29, as is explained below, an oxygen circuit or passage 16 comprising an oxygen inlet 17 and one or more oxygen outlets 18, preferably a plurality of orifices or oxygen outlets 18, in fluidic communication with the motor compartment, so as to feed the motor compartment 3 with oxygen and to there form a gaseous mixture between the air coming from the air inlet compartment 11 and the oxygen distributed via the one or more oxygen outlets 18, and a venting circuit or passage 19 comprising an air inlet 20, formed in the air inlet compartment 11, and an air outlet 21, which allows the patient to be able to breathe even in the event of a failure of the micro-blower 2 or the like.

(14) The ambient air can be filtered, before and/or after it enters the air inlet compartment 11, in order to purify it, that is to say in order to free it of the pollutants, such as dust, spores, microorganisms or the like, that it may contain, in particular by filtration, for example with one or more HEPA filters.

(15) The first half-casing 1a comprises at least part of the air inlet compartment 11, at least part of the motor compartment 3, at least part of the gas outlet compartment 14, and the oxygen circuit 16 with the oxygen inlet 17 and the one or more oxygen outlets 18.

(16) Moreover, the second half-casing 1b comprises at least part of the air inlet compartment 11 and the venting circuit 19 with the air inlet 20 and the air outlet 21. The role of the venting circuit 19 is to allow a patient to breathe through this circuit in the event of failure of the micro-blower 2, so as to avoid an accident.

(17) The venting circuit or passage 19 extends through the casing and comprises an air outlet 21, arranged parallel to the gas supply opening 15 of the gas outlet compartment 14. Similarly, the oxygen circuit 16 comprises an oxygen inlet 17 arranged parallel to the air outlet 21 of the venting circuit 19. In other words, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the air outlet 21, the gas supply opening 15 and the oxygen inlet 17 are arranged on the same face 40 of the casing, while the air inlet opening 12 is situated on an opposite face 41, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

(18) Preferably, the oxygen inlet 17 and the air outlet 21 are arranged on tubular, typically cylindrical, elements or connectors protruding from the surface of the face 40 of the casing 1, as is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(19) The motorized micro-blower 2 is equipped with an electric motor (not visible), for example a brushless motor, arranged in an outer housing 2a comprising a rigid peripheral wall for protecting the motor, that is to say typically the stator and the rotor of the motor.

(20) The rigid peripheral wall of the housing 2a can be formed from a metal alloy, for example an alloy of aluminium or Zamak (alloy of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper), or from a polymer or thermoplastic, for example PET or PA. The housing 2a generally has a circular cross section, that is to say a general cylindrical shape. It can also have cooling blades or structures serving as a radiator.

(21) Preferably, the electric motor is brushless and/or is designed to reach a speed of rotation that is typically of the order of 30,000 to 40,000 rpm, or even up to 70,000 rpm or above.

(22) The supply of electric current to the motor of the micro-blower 2, to permit the operation of the latter, is traditionally effected by means of a suitable connection system, for example by means of one or more connectors, sockets 31, electrical wires or cables 30 for connecting the casing 1, the apparatus and/or the micro-blower 2 to the electricity network for example, or to one or more electrical supply batteries.

(23) During its operation, the motor of the micro-blower 1 drives the rotation of a rotary shaft 25, also called a motor shaft, supporting a bladed wheel 24, also called a “vane wheel’. This bladed wheel 24 preferably has a circular cross section of between 20 and 80 mm, typically of between 30 and 60 mm. The bladed wheel 24 comprises a first face supporting the blades, also called “vanes”, and a second face without blades, that is to say plane, which is additionally situated opposite the housing 2a of the motor 2.

(24) The bladed wheel 24 is arranged so as to be rotationally movable inside the internal wheel compartment 27 of a volute 23 surmounting the electric motor and the housing 2a, so as to generate a gaseous flow at a pressure that is above the atmospheric pressure (>1 atm).

(25) Preferably, the bladed wheel 24 and the volute 23 are made of polymer material(s), for example a thermoplastic (e.g. PEEK, PA, etc.), or a metal alloy, for example an aluminium-based alloy.

(26) The volute 23 can be formed by two semi-volutes, namely a lower semi-volute and an upper semi-volute, which are joined and fixed rigidly to each other in a leaktight manner, for example by bonding or other means. A seal can be interposed between these semi-volutes.

(27) The volute 23 has a generally circular cross section. It additionally has a central gas opening or passage 26 through which the gas is sucked into the wheel compartment 27 situated in the volute 23, during the rotations of the wheel 24, and a gas flow outlet orifice 28, through which the gas flow generated in the wheel compartment 27, during the rotations of the wheel 4, exits the micro-blower 2.

(28) The gas flow is then conveyed through an evacuation conduit 29, which is fluidically connected to the gas flow outlet orifice 28, as far as the gas outlet compartment 14 comprising a gas supply opening 15.

(29) In other words, the gas outlet compartment 14 is fed with gas by the micro-blower 2 via the evacuation conduit 29, typically with air or a mixture of air and oxygen. The gas flow then leaves the gas outlet compartment 14 via the gas supply opening 15, before then being sent to the patient via a flexible tube feeding a respiratory interface, such as a mask, nasal cannulas or the like (not shown).

(30) The volute 23 is in fluidic communication, directly or indirectly, with the motor compartment 3 within which in particular the mixing of air and oxygen is effected when the air flow has to be enriched with oxygen.

(31) At least part of the outer housing 2a of the electric motor of the micro-blower 2 is arranged, that is to say projecting, in the motor compartment 3 of the casing 1 of the ventilation apparatus. More precisely, the motor compartment 3 is delimited by (at least) a peripheral wall 3a surrounding at least part of the outer housing 2a of the micro-blower 2, defining with the outer housing 2a a gas passage space 22 within which the gas flow can circulate, in particular an air/oxygen mixture, which will sweep across the wall of the housing 2a before being evacuated to the volute 23. In other words, the peripheral wall of the motor compartment 3 forms a sleeve around the housing 2a.

(32) The motor compartment 3 additionally comprises, arranged in its peripheral wall 3a, one or more air inlet orifices 13 in fluidic communication with the gas passage space 22, in order to feed the motor compartment 3, including the space 22, with air.

(33) Moreover, it additionally comprises at least one oxygen inlet orifice 16, preferably a plurality of oxygen inlet orifices 16, in fluidic communication with the motor compartment 12, including the gas passage space 22, in order to feed the motor compartment 12 and the space 22 with oxygen and to thereby obtain a gaseous flow of air and oxygen, called an air//oxygen mixture. Indeed, some of the gaseous flow is propelled by the flow rate of oxygen entering the casing.

(34) In other words, the motor compartment 12, in particular the space 22, is fed with air from the one or more air inlet orifices 15 and with oxygen from the one or more oxygen inlet orifices 16, which leads to the air/oxygen mixture being obtained there. At least part of said air/oxygen mixture comes into contact with the housing 2a of the micro-blower 2, that is to say it sweeps across the outer surface (i.e. wall) of the housing 2a of the motor of the micro-blower 2, so as to capture some of the calories (i.e. the heat) generated by the motor during the operation of the latter.

(35) The flow of the air/oxygen mixture circulating in the space 22 reheats there upon contact with the housing 2, then leaves the space 22, and therefore the motor compartment 12, via one or more gas outlet openings 17, bringing the gas passage space 22 and the motor compartment 12 into fluidic communication with the gaseous mixture compartment 18 surrounding the volute 5, in such a way as to extract at least some of the air/oxygen gas mixture which is present in the space 22 and which is reheated upon contact with the housing 2 of the motor, and then to feed the gas mixture compartment 18 with this air/oxygen gas mixture.

(36) This air/oxygen gas mixture is then sucked into the wheel compartment 6 of the volute 5, via its central gas opening or passage 7, during the rotations of the wheel 4, that is to say during the operation of the electric motor of the micro-blower 1, which drives the wheel 4 in rotation, thus creating suction.

(37) According to one embodiment, an intermediate chamber or compartment can be provided between the space 22 of the motor compartment 3 and the inlet 26 of the volute 23, serving to receive the air or the air/oxygen gas mixture, coming from the motor compartment 3, before it penetrates the volute 23, by being aspirated by the rotary wheel 24, during the rotations thereof.

(38) The air/oxygen gas mixture then leaves the wheel compartment 6 of the micro-blower 1, via the gas flow outlet passage 8, before then being sent to a patient who inhales this gaseous mixture, for example via a flexible tube and a respiratory interface such as a breathing mask or the like.

(39) Preferably, the space 22 for the gas has an annular general shape, when the housing 2 and the motor compartment 12 each have a circular cross section, that is to say generally cylindrical three-dimensional shapes, as is illustrated in FIG. 5.

(40) As has already been mentioned, the air/oxygen mixture is aspirated by the bladed wheel 4, during the rotations of the latter, and circulates in the space 22 and sweeps across, that is to say “washes”, the outer surface 2a of the housing 2, in such a way as to cool it by capturing some of the calories generated by the motor, during the operation of the latter.

(41) Traditionally, the apparatus 10 moreover comprises control means, such as an electronic board with microprocessor, which are configured to control the operation or shut-down of the electric motor. The control means are supplied with electric current.

(42) In addition, the apparatus 10 can also comprise other elements, such as pressure sensors and flow rate sensors, pneumatic control elements, solenoid valve, non-return valve, a viewing screen, a human-machine interface (HMI), etc.

(43) The air inlet 12 of the casing is in fluidic communication with an air source, preferably the ambient atmosphere, while the oxygen inlet 21 is in fluidic communication with an oxygen source, such as a gas canister containing oxygen, or a wall socket for distribution of gaseous oxygen, supplied though a gas channel or a network of channels. The gas coming from this gas source can also be filtered in order to hold back any dust or other particles.

(44) FIG. 9 shows an integration of the casing 1 from FIG. 1 in a respiratory assistance apparatus or medical ventilator 10, typically an apparatus delivering gas at one or more pressure levels, that is to say a ventilator of the CPAP or BiPAP type.

(45) As will be seen, the medical ventilator 10 comprises one or more air inlets 112 in fluidic communication with the one or more air inlet orifices 12 of the casing 1, and also an oxygen inlet 21 in fluidic communication with the one or more oxygen inlet orifices 21 of the casing. The medical ventilator 10 moreover comprises a gas flow outlet 115 in fluidic communication with the gas outlet passage 15 of the micro-blower, making it possible to evacuate the air/oxygen mixture in order then to convey it to a patient, via the gas distribution outlet 115 of the apparatus 10.

(46) The one or more air inlets 112 are formed in the peripheral shell 102 of the apparatus 10, while the oxygen inlet 121 is arranged in an oxygen supply connector supported by the shell of the apparatus 10, connected fluidically to an oxygen source, such as a gas canister containing oxygen, or a wall socket for distribution of gaseous oxygen, supplied though a gas channel or a network of channels.

(47) Moreover, the peripheral shell of the apparatus 10 can comprise a carrying handle 101 making it easier for a user to transport, as can be seen in FIG. 9.

(48) In addition, the apparatus 10 can also comprise other elements (not shown), such as pressure sensors and flow rate sensors, pneumatic control elements, a viewing screen, a human-machine interface (HMI), etc.

(49) Generally, a respiratory assistance apparatus 10 equipped with a casing according to the invention, integrating a micro-blower, is intended to treat respiratory diseases in human patients, i.e. adults and/or children.

(50) It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.