Pressure Control Device

Abstract

To improve liquid resistance of a pressure control device provided with a ventilation path.SOLUTION: A connector 15 communicates a tube, which is at least partially arranged outside a housing 11, with a pump that is housed in the cabinet 11 so as to deliver or suck in a fluid. The connector 15 is attached to the housing 11 so that a ventilation path 16 for communicating the inside and outside of the housing 11 with each other can be formed in a first direction. The connector 15 has a first wall part 15c that protrudes in a second direction crossing the first direction in the ventilation path 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pressure control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a device for non-invasively measuring the blood pressure of a subject as an example of a pressure control device. The device is equipped with a pump that delivers or sucks in fluid to control the internal pressure of a cuff attached to the subject's arm, etc. An air passage is formed in the housing of such a device to balance the internal pressure of the housing, which changes with the delivery or intake of fluid by the pump, with atmospheric pressure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-006096 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to improve the liquid resistance of a pressure control device having an air vent passage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object is a pressure control device, comprising: A housing and A pump housed within the housing for pumping or suctioning a fluid; a tube at least a portion of which is disposed outside the housing; a connector for connecting the tube to the pump; Equipped with The connector is attached to the housing so as to form an air passage that communicates between the inside and the outside of the housing in a first direction, The connector has a first wall portion that protrudes in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the air passage.

[0006] According to the above-mentioned configuration, while forming an air passage that reduces the air pressure fluctuation inside the housing due to the operation of the pump, the first wall portion suppresses the intrusion of liquid from outside the housing. This makes it possible to improve the liquid resistance of the pressure control device having an air passage. In addition, since the connector for connecting the tube to the pump is provided with a structure that provides both the air ventilation function and the liquid resistance function, there is less need to provide a structure for individually ensuring the liquid resistance of the various components housed in the housing. This makes it possible to suppress the pressure control device from becoming larger and the number of components from increasing. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an external view of a pressure control device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 illustrates an example of the appearance of each element constituting the pressure control device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 illustrates an example of the appearance of a connector in the pressure control device of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 illustrates an example of the appearance of a connector in the pressure control device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] 2 illustrates an external appearance of an upper housing in the pressure control device of FIG. 1; [Figure 6] 4 shows an example of the configuration of the connector in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] 4 shows another example of the configuration of the connector in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] 4 shows another example of the configuration of the connector in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] 13 illustrates an external appearance of a connector according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 shows an example of the configuration of the connector in FIG. 9 . [Figure 11] 10 shows another example of the configuration of the connector in FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An example of an embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, an arrow F indicates the forward direction of the illustrated structure. An arrow B indicates the rearward direction of the illustrated structure. An arrow U indicates the upward direction of the illustrated structure. An arrow D indicates the downward direction of the illustrated structure. An arrow R indicates the rightward direction of the illustrated structure. An arrow L indicates the leftward direction of the illustrated structure. These directional expressions are used for convenience of explanation and do not limit the posture or direction of the illustrated structure in an actual use state.

[0009] The term "front-rear direction" as used herein means a direction along the above-mentioned front and rear directions. The term "up-down direction" as used herein means a direction along the above-mentioned top and bottom directions. The term "left-right direction" as used herein means a direction along the above-mentioned left and right directions.

[0010] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the external appearance of a pressure control device 10 according to one embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the external appearance of each element constituting the pressure control device 10.

[0011] The pressure control device 10 includes a housing 11. In this example, the housing 11 defines an internal space 113 by combining an upper housing 111 and a lower housing 112. The housing 11 can be made of a relatively hard material such as ABS resin.

[0012] The pressure control device 10 includes a pump 12. The pump 12 is accommodated in an internal space 113 of a housing 11. In this example, the pump 12 is configured to pump and suck air through a pipe 121. Air is an example of a fluid.

[0013] The pressure control device 10 includes a control circuit 13. The control circuit 13 is accommodated in an internal space 113 of the housing 11. The control circuit 13 includes circuit components for controlling the operation of the pump 12.

[0014] The pressure control device 10 includes a tube 14. A portion of the tube 14 is disposed outside the housing 11.

[0015] The pressure control device 10 includes a connector 15. The connector 15 supports the tube 14. The connector 15 may be made of a relatively soft material such as silicone rubber.

[0016] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the connector 15 connects one end of the tube 14 to the pipe 121 , thereby connecting the tube 14 to the pump 12 .

[0017] In this example, the other end of the tube 14 is configured to be connected to a cuff (not shown) for non-invasively measuring the subject's blood pressure. That is, the pressure control device 10 is used to control the internal pressure of the cuff when measuring the non-invasive blood pressure.

[0018] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the connector 15 is attached to the housing 11. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the connector 15 has a flange portion 15a. On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the upper housing 111 and the lower housing 112 have an upper mating recess 111a and a lower mating recess 112a, respectively.

[0019] The dimensions of the upper fitting recess 111a illustrated in Fig. 5 are set to allow for surface-contact fitting of the upper half of the flange 15a. The dimensions of the lower fitting recess 112a illustrated in Fig. 2 are set to allow for surface-contact fitting of the lower half of the flange 15a. In the portion where surface-contact fitting is performed, airtightness and liquid resistance are ensured for the internal space 113.

[0020] 3, the connector 15 has a groove 15b. The groove 15b is formed so as to cross a part of the flange 15a in the front-rear direction. The front-rear direction is an example of a first direction.

[0021] 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pressure control device 10 with the connector 15 attached to the housing 11. An air passage 16 that communicates between the inside and outside of the housing 11 is formed by the groove portion 15b.

[0022] When pump 12 performs an operation to send out air, the pressure in internal space 113 of housing 11 decreases. At this time, outside air flows into internal space 113 through air passage 16, thereby achieving pressure equilibrium inside and outside housing 11. On the other hand, when pump 12 performs an operation to suck air, the pressure in internal space 113 increases. At this time, air inside housing 11 flows out to the outside of housing 11 through air passage 16, thereby achieving pressure equilibrium inside and outside housing 11.

[0023] 3 and 6, the connector 15 has a first wall portion 15c. The first wall portion 15c is formed so as to protrude upward from the bottom surface of the groove portion 15b. The upward direction is an example of the second direction.

[0024] 6, the protruding height h1 of the first wall portion 15c is smaller than the height dimension h2 of the flange portion 15a. Therefore, when the connector 15 is attached to the housing 11, a gap is formed between the upper end of the first wall portion 15c and the bottom of the upper fitting recess 111a of the upper housing 111. Therefore, the first wall portion 15c is disposed in the ventilation path 16 without obstructing ventilation through the ventilation path 16.

[0025] According to this configuration, while forming the ventilation passage 16 that reduces the air pressure fluctuation inside the housing 11 caused by the operation of the pump 12, the first wall portion 15c suppresses the intrusion of liquid from outside the housing 11. This makes it possible to improve the liquid resistance of the pressure control device 10 having the ventilation passage 16. In addition, since the connector 15 for connecting the tube 14 to the pump 12 is provided with a structure that provides a ventilation function and a liquid resistance function, there is less need to provide a structure for individually ensuring the liquid resistance of the various parts housed inside the housing 11. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the size of the pressure control device 10 and an increase in the number of parts.

[0026] When the connector 15 is provided as an integrally molded product, that is, when the first wall portion 15c is provided as an inseparable part of the connector 15, there is no need to provide a liquid-resistant film or the like in the ventilation path, and therefore the above-mentioned effect becomes more pronounced.

[0027] The protruding height h1 of the first wall portion 15c can be determined so as to exceed the height h3 of the liquid level rise due to capillary action that can occur in the air passage 16. The height h3 of the liquid level rise due to capillary action is given by the following formula.

number

[0028] In the illustrated example, the cross section of the air passage can be treated as a rectangle. In this case, the above formula can be modified as follows:

number

[0029] In this example, since the ventilation path 16 is formed by the groove 15b formed in the connector 15, liquid may accumulate in the groove 15b. However, by determining the protruding height h1 of the first wall 15c as described above, it is possible to prevent the liquid accumulated in the groove 15b from climbing over the first wall 15c and entering the housing 11.

[0030] 7, the groove 15b of the connector 15 may have a first inclined surface 15d that forms an upward gradient in the up-down direction as it approaches the first wall 15c in the front-rear direction. The inclination of the upward gradient may be, for example, 10° to 15°.

[0031] With this configuration, particularly when the pressure control device 10 is installed so that the groove portion 15b opens upward, liquid is less likely to approach the first wall portion 15c, thereby further preventing the occurrence of a situation in which liquid overcomes the first wall portion 15c and enters the housing 11.

[0032] 6, in this example, a front end 15e of the groove portion 15b forms a step with respect to the upper surface of the connector 15. The height h4 of the step is preferably set to be smaller than the protruding height h1 of the first wall portion 15c.

[0033] In this case, the discharge of liquid from groove portion 15b can be promoted, which further prevents the liquid from climbing over first wall portion 15c and entering housing 11. In order to achieve such an effect, a configuration in which front end 15e of groove portion 15b is connected to the upper surface of connector 15 without a step can be adopted, as exemplified in FIG.

[0034] 9 and 10, the connector 15 has a second wall portion 15f. The second wall portion 15f is formed so as to protrude in the left-right direction from the inner surface of the groove portion 15b. The left-right direction is an example of a third direction.

[0035] According to this configuration, even when the pressure control device 10 is installed so that the groove portion 15b opens to the side, it is possible to provide a configuration that can suppress the occurrence of a situation in which liquid enters the housing 11 through the ventilation path 16. In other words, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the installation posture of the pressure control device 10.

[0036] The protruding height h5 of the second wall portion 15f illustrated in FIG. 10 can also be determined so as to exceed the height h3 of the liquid level rise caused by capillary action that may occur in the air passage 16 described above.

[0037] According to this configuration, regardless of the installation posture of the pressure control device 10, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which liquid remaining in the groove portion 15b climbs over the second wall portion 15f and enters the housing 11.

[0038] 11, the groove 15b of the connector 15 may have a second inclined surface 15g that forms an upward gradient in the left-right direction as it approaches the second wall 15f in the front-rear direction. The inclination of the upward gradient may be, for example, 10° to 15°.

[0039] With this configuration, particularly when the pressure control device 10 is installed so that the groove portion 15b opens to the side, liquid is less likely to approach the second wall portion 15f, which further prevents liquid from climbing over the second wall portion 15f and entering the housing 11.

[0040] 1 and 2, the pressure control device 10 includes an electrical wire 17. The electrical wire 17 is used to supply power to the pump 12. The electrical wire 17 may supply power to the pump 12 via the control circuit 13, or may supply power directly to the pump 12. The electrical wire 17 is supported by the connector 15.

[0041] By having the connector 15, which is responsible for the ventilation and liquid resistance functions, support not only the tube 14 but also the electric wire 17, an increase in the number of parts of the pressure control device 10 can be further suppressed.

[0042] The above-described embodiment is merely an example for facilitating understanding of the present invention. The configurations according to the above-described embodiment may be appropriately modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0043] In the above embodiment, a portion of the tube 14 is disposed inside the housing 11 and connected to the pipe 121. However, the tube 14 may be communicated with the pump 12 by directly connecting the connector 15, which supports the tube 14 so that the entire tube 14 is positioned outside the housing 11, to the pipe 121.

[0044] The air delivered by the pump 12 does not necessarily reach a closed space such as a cuff used in non-invasive blood pressure measurement. The configuration described with reference to the above embodiment is applicable to various pressure control devices having an air passage for ensuring pressure equilibrium between the inside and outside of the housing when a fluid is delivered or sucked in using a pump. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10: pressure control device, 11: housing, 12: pump, 14: tube, 15: connector, 15c: first wall portion, 15d: first inclined surface, 15f: second wall portion, 15g: second inclined surface, 16: air passage, 17: electric wire, h1: protruding height of first wall portion, h5: protruding height of second wall portion

Claims

1. A housing defining an internal space; a pump housed within the interior space for pumping or suctioning a fluid; a tube at least a portion of which is disposed outside the interior space; a connector attached to the housing and connecting the tube to the pump; Equipped with the housing has a portion that forms a recess outside the internal space, The connector comprises: a flange portion having a first height and engaging with the recess portion to ensure liquid resistance to the internal space; A groove portion formed so as to cross a part of the flange portion in a first direction; a first wall portion protruding in a second direction intersecting the first direction within the groove portion by a second height that is lower than the first height, Pressure control device.

2. The connector has a first inclined surface that forms an upward gradient in the second direction as it approaches the first wall portion in the first direction. The pressure control device of claim 1 .

3. The connector has a second wall portion protruding in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction in the groove portion. The pressure control device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the connector has a second inclined surface that forms an upward gradient in the third direction as it approaches the second wall portion in the first direction, The pressure control device according to claim 3.

5. an electrical line for supplying power to the pump; The electric wire is held by the connector. A pressure control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The tube is configured to be connected to a cuff for non-invasively measuring the blood pressure of a subject. A pressure control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The connector is an integrally molded product. A pressure control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images