CONNECTOR WITH A MOUNT FOR A SENSOR

Abstract

A connector (100) for arranging at least one sensor at a ventilation system. The connector includes at least one basic body (103) for connection to at least one ventilation device, at least one pivoting element (101) for connection to a user, and at least one sensor mount (125) for at least one sensor. The at least one pivoting element (101) is connected directly and undetachably to the basic body (103) on a first side (115). The at least one pivoting element (101) is pivotable about at least one axis with respect to at least one part of the basic body (103) in order to protect the basic body (103) against pulling and compressive forces imparted by the user.

Claims

1. A connector for arranging at least one sensor at a ventilation system, the connector comprising: a ventilator connection basic body for connection to at least one ventilation device; a user connection pivoting element for connection to a user, the user connection pivoting element being connected, on a first side, directly and undetachably to the ventilator connection basic body and pivotable about at least one axis with respect to at least a part of the ventilator connection basic body to protect the ventilator connection basic body from pulling and compressive forces imparted by the user; and a sensor mount for at least one sensor, the sensor mount being arranged at the user connection pivoting element, wherein the ventilator connection basic body is arranged in a bent form with respect to the pivoting element to provide a connector elbow configuration.

2. A connector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a flow element for at least partially blocking gas flow of a gas stream flowing through the connector up to a predefined minimum pressure.

3. A connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flow element is movable in at least some areas and is configured to transform the gas stream arriving at the flow element into a gas stream flowing according to a predefined curve.

4. A connector in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flow element is arranged such that the flow element extends horizontally or vertically in the connector.

5. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor mount comprises at least two pressure taps for determining a pressure difference in an gas stream flowing through the connector.

6. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor mount is connected rigidly or pivotably to the ventilator connection basic body.

7. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor mount is configured to arrange the at least one sensor at the connector to carrying out a main stream measurement.

8. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user connection pivoting element is connected to the ventilator connection basic body such that the connector has a minimal flow volume.

9. A connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user connection pivoting element is connected directly to the ventilator connection basic body by means of at least one swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis.

10. A connector in accordance with claim 9, wherein: the user connection pivoting element has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis; or the ventilator connection basic body has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis; or the sensor mount has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis; or any combination of the user connection pivoting element has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis, and the ventilator connection basic body has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis, and the sensor mount has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis.

11. A connector in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a sensor as the at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine an air mass flow of a gas stream flowing through the connector or a carbon dioxide concentration of a gas stream flowing through the connector or both an air mass flow of an gas stream and a carbon dioxide concentration of a gas stream flowing through the connector.

12. A connector in accordance with claim 11, wherein the sensor is a bidirectional sensor or an optical sensor or both a bidirectional sensor and an optical sensor.

13. A ventilation system for ventilating a user, the ventilation system comprising: a ventilator with a ventilation device; and a connector connected to the ventilation device, the connector comprising: a ventilator connection basic body connected to the ventilation device; a user connection pivoting element for connection to the user, the user connection pivoting element being connected, on a first side, directly and undetachably to the ventilator connection basic body and pivotable about at least one axis with respect to at least a part of the ventilator connection basic body to protect the ventilator connection basic body from pulling and compressive forces imparted by the user; and a sensor mount for at least one sensor, the sensor mount being arranged at the user connection pivoting element, wherein the ventilator connection basic body is arranged in a bent form with respect to the pivoting element to provide a connector elbow configuration.

14. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a flow element for blocking gas flow of a gas stream flowing through the connector up to a predefined minimum pressure.

15. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the flow element is movable in at least some areas and is configured to transform the gas stream arriving at the flow element into a gas stream flowing according to a predefined curve.

16. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the sensor mount comprises at least two pressure taps for determining a pressure difference in an gas stream flowing through the connector.

18. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the user connection pivoting element is connected directly to the ventilator connection basic body by means of at least one swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis.

19. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 18, wherein: the user connection pivoting element has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis; or the ventilator connection basic body has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis; or the sensor mount has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis; or any combination of the user connection pivoting element has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis, and the ventilator connection basic body has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis, and the sensor mount has at least one additional swivel joint pivotable about at least one axis.

20. A ventilation system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a sensor as the at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to determine an air mass flow of a gas stream flowing through the connector or a carbon dioxide concentration of a gas stream flowing through the connector or both an air mass flow of an gas stream and a carbon dioxide concentration of a gas stream flowing through the connector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] In the drawings:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a side view of a possible configuration of the connector;

[0064] FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector from FIG. 1 with a flow element;

[0065] FIG. 3 is a side view of the connector from FIG. 1 with a flow flap;

[0066] FIG. 4 is a side view of a possible configuration of the connector, in which the connector is configured as a linear module;

[0067] FIG. 5 is a side view of a possible configuration of the connector according to the present invention with a mount provided in a basic body of the connector; and

[0068] FIG. 6 is a view of a possible configuration of the ventilation system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0069] Referring to the drawings, elements having the same function and mode of operation are designated by the same reference numbers in FIGS. 1 through 6.

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a connector 100. The connector 100 comprises a pivoting element 101 and a basic body 103 defining a gas stream flow passage for flow of a gas stream the connector 100.

[0071] The connector 100 is configured as an angle connector, so that an air (gas) stream flowing through the connector 100 is deflected at an angle and the gas stream is not flowing through the connector 100 along a straight or horizontal plane.

[0072] The basic body 103 can be pivoted with respect to the pivoting element 101 by a first swivel joint 105, i.e., it is arranged rotatably along a horizontal or essentially horizontal rotation axis, as it is indicated by a first arrow 107.

[0073] An essentially horizontal rotation axis may be sloped in this case, for example, in a range between 1 and 25 with respect to the horizontal rotation axis.

[0074] Furthermore, the pivoting element 101 can be pivoted by a second swivel joint 109 with respect to a user connector 111, i.e., it is arranged rotatably along another axis of rotation, which is, for example, at an angle with respect to the horizontal axis, as it is indicated by a second arrow 113. For example, a tube, a filter or a mask of a patient, which may be configured as a part of the pivoting element 101, may be connected at the user connector 111.

[0075] Through the two rotation axes or the swivel joints 105 and 109, the connector 100 relieves a ventilation device connected to the connector 100, for example, via the connector piece 121, of a pulling or compressive force imparted by a movement of a user connected to the pivoting element 103 via the user connector 111. In other words, the connector 100 makes possible a movement of the user along the rotation axes with respect to the ventilation device connected to the connector 100, without pulling or compressive forces being transmitted thereby to the ventilation device.

[0076] The pivoting element 101 is connected directly to the basic body 103 on a first side 115.

[0077] The connector 100 may be connected to a user on a second side 117 via the user connector 111.

[0078] The basic body 103 is connected directly to the first side 115 of the pivoting element 101 on a third side 119.

[0079] The swivel joint 105 is provided here to connect the third side 119 of the basic body 103 to the first side 115 of the pivoting element 101. The swivel joint 105 may be configured completely as a part of the pivoting element 101 or it may be configured with a first part as a part of the basic body 103 and with a second part as a part of the pivoting element 101. As an alternative, the first swivel joint 105 may be configured as a part of the basic body 103.

[0080] The basic body 103 is connected on a fourth side 121 to a ventilation device.

[0081] Furthermore, the basic body 103 comprises a mount (a sensor mount) 125, by means of which a sensor can be arranged at the connector 100 in order to analyze an air stream flowing through the connector 100. The mount 125 is used to arrange an optical sensor, for example, an infrared sensor, for detecting, for example, a carbon monoxide concentration and/or a carbon dioxide concentration. The mount 125 comprises for this purpose a transparent element 123, which is permeable to rays of the optical sensor.

[0082] Due to the fact that the position of the mount 125 in the basic body 103 is predefined as a fixed position and the position of the connector 100 in a respective ventilation system is predefined as a fixed position, the sensor can only be arranged in a fixed predefined position in or relative to a respective ventilation device or user in the ventilation system. Position-related errors of measurement of the sensor, which are due, for example, to the measuring length of measured gas to be measured being longer or shorter with respect to a calibration length or an original length, are correspondingly minimized or avoided.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows the connector 100 with a flow element 201, through which air flowing through the connector 100 is at least partially blocked/throttled in the connector 100, so that a predefined minimum dynamic pressure becomes established during the operation of the connector 100 and a sensor arranged at the connector 100, for example, a pressure difference sensor, can be used to detect flow properties of the air stream flowing through the connector 100.

[0084] The flow element 201 shown in FIG. 2 passes through the basic body 103, especially along an overall length of the basic body 103, and is shown in FIG. 2 only in an area visible through the transparent element 123.

[0085] The flow element 201 may be configured for damming up, at least partially blocking and/or throttling dynamic pressure for an air stream, which flows from a user side or from the first side 115 through the connector 100. As an alternative or in addition, the flow element 201 may be configured for building up dynamic pressure for an air stream, which flows from the device side or from the fourth side 121 through the connector 100, so that flow properties of a user air stream and/or of a device air stream can be determined.

[0086] Further, the basic body 103 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a second mount 207 for arranging a sensor. The second mount 207 comprises a first pressure tap 203 at a first measuring window and a second pressure tap 205 arranged adjacent to the first pressure tap 203 at a second measuring window 205. The first pressure tap 203 and the second pressure tap 205 are connected to the sensor via a connection system, not shown, as a result of which the sensor is connected to the connector 100 and is arranged at this such that air flowing through the first pressure tap 203 and through the second pressure tap 205 is sent to the sensor, and the sensor, which may be, for example, a pressure difference sensor, can determine flow properties of an air stream flowing through the connector 100 on the basis of the corresponding air pressures or pressure differences between respective pressure columns.

[0087] A dynamic pressure (pressure drop), which causes air flowing through the connector 100 to flow at least partially to the sensor and causes the sensor to be able to detect properties of the air stream flowing through the connector 100, is generated by the flow element 201 in the area of the first pressure tap 203 and of the second pressure tap 205. The flow element 201 is configured such that the sensor is supplied at least with a minimal pressure necessary for a measurement and a resistance for the air stream flowing through the connector 100 remains minimal. The flow element 201 may be configured for this purpose, for example, as an arrangement of plates arranged especially parallel to one another, as it is shown in FIG. 2.

[0088] In FIG. 3, the connector 100 comprises a flow element 303 in the form of a flow flap and a mount 301 for arranging a pressure difference sensor at the connector 100 by means of a connection system, for example, a number of measuring lines.

[0089] The mount 301 may comprise, for example, a first pressure tap 203 and a second pressure tap 205, as it is shown in FIG. 2. The mount 301 may, of course, also comprise any additional, technically suitable pressure tap for providing air columns for a pressure difference measurement.

[0090] The flow element 303 is configured as a flow flap arranged partially movably in the connector 100, so that the flow element 303 moves as a function of an air stream flowing through the connector 100. This means that the flow element 303 moves away from the pivoting element 101 in case of an air stream flowing from the first side 115 through the connector 100 and to the pivoting element 101 in case of an air stream flowing from the fourth side 121 through the connector 100. The flow element 303 moves now as a function of a pressure of a respective incoming air stream, so that an air stream flowing behind the flow element 303 flows with flow characteristic flowing according to a predefined characteristic. The flow element makes it correspondingly possible to tap both an inspiratory pressure and an expiratory pressure.

[0091] In particular, the flow element 303 may be configured such that it dams up or blocks/at least partially blocks an air stream flowing with a low pressure through the connector 100 more strongly than an air stream flowing with a high pressure, so that the air stream flowing with lower pressure is dammed/blocked up to a minimum pressure and, as a result of this, the flow element 303 makes it possible to pass on the pressure to a pressure sensor.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows a connector 400. The connector 400 is configured as a linear module or linear connector, so that an air stream flowing through the connector 400 is not introduced at an angle, and the air stream correspondingly flows along a straight or horizontal plane through the connector 400. A basic body 401 of the connector 400 is arranged rotatably with respect to a pivoting element 403 analogously to the mechanisms described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 3, as it is indicated by the arrow 405. A swivel joint may be arranged for this purpose at the basic body 401 or at the pivoting element 403.

[0093] A sensor may be arranged here, for example, at a mount 407, as it was already described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0094] FIG. 5 shows a connector 500 according to the present invention, whose pivoting element 505 has a mount 503 for arranging a sensor at the connector 500. Due to the mount 503 being integrated into the pivoting element 505, a sensor arranged in the mount 503 can be arranged at an especially short distance to a user, as a result of which a dead space of a corresponding ventilation system is minimized. The pivoting element 505 is arranged here rotatably or pivotably with respect to a basic body 501, as it is already described analogously with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. The pivoting element 505 is arranged for this purpose at the basic body 501 directly and pivotably, i.e., rotatably along a rotation axis via a swivel joint of the basic body 501 or via a swivel joint of the pivoting element 505.

[0095] Furthermore, the pivoting element 505 is arranged pivotably by a second swivel joint with respect to a user connector 507, i.e., along an additional rotation axis. For example, a tube, a filter or a mask of a patient may be connected at the user connector 507.

[0096] Through the two rotation axes or the swivel joints, the connector 500 relieves a sensor arranged at the mount 503 of a pulling or compressive force imparted by a movement of a user connected to the pivoting element 505 via the user connector 507, so that pulling and compressive forces acting on the sensor are minimized.

[0097] For example, a sensor may be arranged, for example, at the mount 503, as was already described with reference to the mount 125 according to FIG. 1.

[0098] FIG. 6 shows a ventilation system 600. The ventilation system 600 comprises a ventilation device 601, a connector 603 with a basic body 605, with a pivoting element 607 and with a mount 609 provided in the pivoting element 607. A sensor 611 is arranged at the mount 609 for the analysis of breathing gas flowing through the ventilation system via a connection system 613 of the sensor 611. The connection system 613 correspondingly connects a measuring unit of the sensor 611 to the mount 609. The connection system 613 comprises in this case two lines, through which the respective one pressure column is sent from the connector 603 to the measuring unit of the sensor 611, so that the measuring unit can determine properties of an air stream flowing through the connector 603.

[0099] The pivoting element 607 is to be connected and can be connected to a user. The position of the pressure taps of the sensor 611 is predefined as a fixed position by the position of the mount 609, so that the flow path of an air stream flowing through the ventilation system 600 from the ventilation device 601 to the sensor 611 and from a user to the sensor 611 remains constant, for example, when the sensor 611 is changed or the ventilation device 601 is changed. Errors of measurement or measured value shifts of measured values determined by the sensor 611 due to position-related flow differences are correspondingly avoided with the use of the connector 603.

[0100] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0101] 100 Connector [0102] 101 Pivoting element [0103] 103 Basic body [0104] 105 First swivel joint [0105] 107 First arrow [0106] 109 Second swivel joint [0107] 111 User connector [0108] 113 Second arrow [0109] 115 First side [0110] 117 Second side [0111] 119 Third side [0112] 121 Fourth side [0113] 123 Transparent element [0114] 125 Mount [0115] 201 Linear flow element [0116] 203 First pressure tap [0117] 205 Second pressure tap [0118] 207 Second mount [0119] 301 Mount [0120] 303 Flow element [0121] 400 Connector [0122] 401 Basic body [0123] 403 Pivoting element [0124] 405 Arrow [0125] 407 Mount [0126] 500 Connector [0127] 501 Basic body [0128] 503 Mount [0129] 505 Pivoting element [0130] 507 User connector [0131] 600 Ventilation system [0132] 601 Ventilation device [0133] 603 Connector [0134] 605 Basic body [0135] 607 Pivoting element [0136] 609 Mount [0137] 611 Sensor [0138] 613 Connection system