FILTER AND DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION HAVING A FILTER

Abstract

A hygiene filter for a device for artificial respiration, having at least one filter for filtering microorganisms and/or solid particles from a respiratory air volume flow, and a device for artificial respiration, having a holding device within the air intake region. The filter material is designed as a sealing means against the respiratory air volume flow conducting elements such that the risk of the occurrence of secondary air is reduced.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A hygiene filter for a ventilation apparatus, comprising at least one filter for filtering microorganisms and/or solid particles from a breathing air volume flow, wherein the filter contains a material configured as a seal with respect to elements that guide the breathing air volume flow so that a risk of secondary air occurring is reduced.

16. The hygiene filter according to claim 15, wherein the filter is constructed from at least one material and has homogeneous or partially different mechanical properties and filter effects.

17. The hygiene filter according to claim 15, wherein the filter material is a foam mattress or an electrostatic filter fleece.

18. The hygiene filter according to claim 15, wherein the filter material is folded.

19. The hygiene filter according to claim 15, wherein the filter includes at least one coarse filter and at least one fine filter.

20. The hygiene filter according to claim 15, including a housing that accommodates the filter and forms an element that guides the breathing air volume flow, wherein the housing is configured so as to be insertable into a holding apparatus of a ventilation apparatus.

21. The hygiene filter according to claim 20, further comprising a casting compound that seals off the filter from the housing, in addition to the sealing by the filter material.

22. The hygiene filter according to claim 20, wherein the housing has internal walls arranged to guide breathing air volume flow in a double S-shaped or S-shaped manner within the housing.

23. The hygiene filter according to claim 20, wherein the housing has at least one housing opening arranged off-center on an end side of a housing contour, so that the hygiene filter is insertable into the holding apparatus of the ventilation apparatus in only one position and orientation.

24. The hygiene filter according to claim 20, wherein the housing has at least one rib arranged to stiffen the housing.

25. The hygiene filter according to claim 24, wherein the at least one rib is additionally configured as a spacer.

26. A ventilation apparatus, comprising: a holding apparatus within an air intake region; and hygiene filter according to claim 15 insertable into the holding apparatus and connectable so that a risk of secondary air occurring is reduced.

27. The ventilation apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the hygiene filter is sealed off via at least a part of the holding apparatus.

28. The ventilation apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising an electrostatic filter material that seals off the hygiene filter.

Description

[0042] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are schematically illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a ventilation apparatus having a hygiene filter system,

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a perspective sectional illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional sectional illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a third exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional illustration of a third exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0051] FIG. 9 shows a perspective sectional illustration of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0052] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a hygiene filter system,

[0053] FIG. 11 shows a variant embodiment in which a seal is provided by the filter, and

[0054] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment similar to FIG. 11, in which guiding ribs are used which keep the filter in a predefinable position.

[0055] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a ventilation apparatus (200) with a hygiene filter system (100). In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hygiene filter system (100) is fitted into a holding apparatus (210) within the air intake region (220) of a ventilation apparatus (200).

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a perspective exploded illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100) according to the invention. In this first exemplary embodiment, the hygiene filter system (100) is arranged within a housing (2) and also consists substantially of at least one fine filter (3) and at least one coarse filter (4) arranged upstream of the fine filter (3) in the direction of volume flow.

[0057] The intake cover (5) closes the housing (2) off from the environment and is configured such that first coarsest impurities in the ambient air to be drawn in are held backrealized here, for example, by a multiplicity of intake bores (8) with a suitable diameter smaller than the coarsest impurities to be held back. Provided on the housing (2) of the hygiene filter system (100) and arranged in the installation direction with respect to the ventilation apparatus (200) is a housing opening (9) (not illustrated in FIG. 2) with a seal (1).

[0058] Preferably, the housing opening (9) is positioned opposite the intake cover (5).

[0059] Depending on the selected material, the housing parts can be snapped together, welded or adhesively bonded. Preferably, the intake cover (5) is connected releasably to the housing (2), in order to support the filter change or the cleaning thereof on account of the resultant accessibility.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional sectional illustration of the first exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100), with the preferred arrangement of the coarse filter (4) and fine filter (3) one after the other as seen in the direction of volume flow. Ambient air is drawn in through the intake bores (8) in the intake cover (5). In order to effectively prevent secondary air, the housing (2) is equipped with a seal (1) at its interface formed by a housing opening (9) in the direction of the ventilation apparatus (200). In order to improve the stability of the housing (2), in particular at the interface in the direction of the ventilation apparatus (200), ribs (10) can be provided as stiffening webs. As a result, deformation of the sealing surfaces, which can be the cause of leaks and thus secondary air, is reduced. In a preferred configuration of the seal (1), the latter is produced from silicone or on the basis of silicone.

[0061] The first exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100) according to the invention is configured such that the position of the housing opening (9) is provided off-center on the end side of the housing contour. As a result of the off-center position, the hygiene filter system (100) can be fitted only in one desired position and orientation in the holding apparatus (210) of the ventilation apparatus (200)in this way, the handling and operability of the filter system in the event of maintenance are as easy and robust as possible and provide a clear and defined distinctive mechanical interface. In this way, installation in the wrong position is ruled out and operation without secondary air is supported.

[0062] According to another variant embodiment, the hygiene filter (100) is formed in a symmetrical manner and can be installed in both positions.

[0063] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective exploded illustration of the second exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100). Unlike the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing is split in the longitudinal direction and formed from at least one intake cover (5), a filter cover (7) and a filter material holder (11). The filter (3) in the second exemplary embodiment is formed by fleece material and, in a preferred configuration, can have electrostatic properties. The electrostatic filter fleece (3) is configured in a sheet-like manner and arranged in a wedge-shaped manner within the housing (5, 7). The filter (3) is fixed in and relative to the housing by being clamped between the filter material holder (11) and in each case the intake cover (5) and the filter cover (7), respectively.

[0064] The filter material holder (11) can be internally equipped with at least one spacer (10) for example in the form of a rib in order to increase the mechanical stability of the frame-like filter material holder (11) and to keep the preferably electrostatic filter fleece (3) in the desired plane and to prevent sagging into the filter material holder (11).

[0065] As a result of the wedge-shaped arrangement of the filter fleece (3) within the hygiene filter system (100) rather than the right-angled orientation in the housing, the useful filter surface area is not limited by the housing cross section at this point and can be larger in the scope of the known mathematical trigonometric relationships.

[0066] The second exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100) according to the invention, too, is configured such that the position of the housing opening (9) is provided off-center on the end side of the housing contour in order to support the installation of the hygiene filter system (100) only in one desired position and orientation in the holding apparatus (210) of the ventilation apparatus (200).

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional sectional illustration of the second exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100) with the wedge-shaped arrangement of the filter fleece (3) within the hygiene filter system (100) rather than the right-angled orientation in the housing, and the resultant useful filter surface area that is much larger, i.e. by up to a factor of about four to five, compared with the housing cross section. As a result, the filter surface can be about 10 000 mm.sup.2 when the clear cross section of the housing is 2000 to 2500 mm.sup.2.

[0068] The elements (5, 7, 11) that form the housing are preferably connected together by being snapped together. In order to ensure reliable clamping of the filter fleece (3), the housing-forming elements (5, 7, 11) can additionally or optionally have webs (12) in the form of housing edges. This ensures that the risk of secondary air is reduced. The webs (12) can be arranged such that the filter fleece (3) is clamped on one side or on both sides.

[0069] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective exploded illustration of a third exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the hygiene filter system (100). The structure of the housing (2) is similar to the first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. In contrast thereto, the filter material is folded and the folded layers are arranged in a manner spaced apart from one another such that the surface of the filter material also provides an active surface for the filtering process between the folded layers.

[0070] The folded filter (3) can, in this way, have a useful filter surface area that is increased by up to a factor of about seven compared with the construction according to exemplary embodiment two and a useful filter surface area that is increased by up to a factor of about 35 compared with the construction according to exemplary embodiment one. As a result, the filter surface can be approximately 70 000 mm.sup.2 when the clear cross section of the housing is 2000 to 2500 mm.sup.2.

[0071] The folded filter (3) is oriented within the housing such that the volume flow of the medium to be filtered flows in radially at the respective folded edges.

[0072] The housing parts can be welded or adhesively bonded, depending on the selected material. Preferably, the folded filter (3) is fixed within the housing (2) and sealed off by a casting compound (6) such that secondary air is largely prevented. In the case of the hygiene filter system (100) according to the third exemplary embodiment, provision is therefore not generally made for a filter material change.

[0073] FIG. 7 shows the situation according to FIG. 6 as a three-dimensional sectional illustration.

[0074] FIG. 8 depicts a perspective exploded illustration of a fourth exemplary embodiment according to the invention of the hygiene filter system (100).

[0075] Use is made of a folded filter (3), which is fixed with its folded edges parallel to the longitudinal orientation of the hygiene filter system (100) within the housing (3) and sealed off with respect to undesired secondary air by casting compound (6).

[0076] In the fourth exemplary embodiment, too, the folded filter (3) is oriented within the housing such that the volume flow of the medium to be filtered flows in radially at the respective folded edges.

[0077] In order to realize this radial incident flow at the filter edges by the volume flow of the medium to be filtered, two different possibilities are provided: if an intake cover (5) on the end side and opposite the housing opening (9) is used, the volume flow is guided by suitable internal housing walls (13) and in a suitable manner in a double S shape.

[0078] Ifas illustratedan intake cover (5) is used on the top side and opposite the housing opening (9), the medium to be filtered flows into the hygiene filter system (100) at an angle to the housing opening (9) via the intake opening (8) in the intake cover (5) and flows radially against the filter edges. In this case, the volume flow is guided by suitable internal housing walls (13) and in a suitable manner in an S shape.

[0079] FIG. 9 shows the situation according to FIG. 8 as a three-dimensional sectional illustration.

[0080] FIG. 10 shows a perspective illustration of a fifth exemplary embodiment of the hygiene filter system (100). In this exemplary embodiment, the hygiene filter system (100) is realized without a housing (3) and consists substantially of at least one suitable filter material which, in order to be able to be used as a compatible alternative to the preceding exemplary embodiments in the holding apparatus (210) for a hygiene system (100) of a ventilation apparatus (200), in the case of nonelastic filter material properties, the external dimensions of the filter (3, 4) have to correspond substantially to those of the housing dimensions of the preceding exemplary embodiments, or, in the case of elastic filter material properties, the filter can have larger external dimensions. The filter material can consist of one or more materials.

[0081] For the problem of undesired secondary air, it is particularly advantageous for the filter (3, 4) to have elastic filter material properties, to be formed with an oversize with respect to the housing dimensions and for the filter material to have sealing properties. On account of the resulting at least partially elastic or elastic-plastic compression of the filter (3, 4) as a result of the reduction in the dimensions of the hygiene system (100) upon fitting in the holding apparatus (210) for a hygiene system (100) of a ventilation apparatus (210), the filter material presses in a sealing manner against the holding apparatus (210) and reduces the risk of secondary air.

[0082] Depending on the conditioning of a material or arrangement of several materials, there can be completely or partially different filter properties, which result in the filtering of different particles or microorganisms. For example, a foam mattress having a homogeneous or inhomogeneous structure can be used, such that the filter effect is completely or regionally different. Different material conditionings can be for example electrostatic and/or antibacterial properties.

[0083] When the seal with respect to the device is produced from an electrostatic filter material, it is also possible to support sufficient freedom from germs even in the event of a slight leak. Given a corresponding electrostatic charge, viruses and/or bacteria are attracted electrostatically by the filter material. Additional design variants consist in the provision of a wedge shape and/or the use of air-guiding ribs.

[0084] Given a corresponding wedge-shaped design, the filter material is pressed against the sealing surface by a wedge-shaped design of the housing.