Flow sensor and ventilator having the same

Abstract

The present application provides a flow sensor, comprising: a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section are coaxially connected and fixed, a diaphragm is provided at the connection between the first section and the second section; a first opening is provided at the end of the first section away from the second section, and a second opening is provided at the end of the second section away from the first section; a first sampling cavity is provided inside the first section, and a second sampling cavity is provided inside the second section; a first sampling port penetrating the first section is provided on the first section, a first sampling tube is connected to the first section through the first sampling port, and the first sampling port is located in the first sampling cavity; a second sampling port penetrating the second section is provided on the second section, a second sampling tube is connected to the second section through the second sampling port, and the second sampling port is located in the second sampling cavity; the first sampling cavity and the second sampling cavity are semi-closed cavities.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of medical devices, and in particular to a flow sensor and a ventilator having the flow sensor. Background Art

[0002] With the development of modern medicine, ventilators, as an effective means of artificially replacing spontaneous ventilation, have become widely used to treat sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders. The flow sensor, a crucial component in the ventilator's airway structure, not only plays a decisive role in the ventilator's alarm function, but also monitors the patient's inspiratory and respiratory flow rate and pressure in real time, providing feedback to the ventilator's control system to more accurately control parameters such as flow rate, pressure, and tidal volume.

[0003] The pressure fluctuation at the pressure sampling point in the air flow channel of the existing flow sensor is relatively large, and the pressure collection is inaccurate. At the same time, ultrasonic welding is used between the front section and the rear section of the flow sensor. The quality of the ultrasonic welding process is difficult to control, and empty welds are prone to occur at the joint surface, making it difficult to ensure absolute sealing. There is air leakage or cross-flow, which makes the pressure difference measurement accuracy of the flow sensor low. In addition, the connection strength of the ultrasonic welded parts is weak and easily broken, resulting in a poor customer experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a flow sensor and a ventilator having the flow sensor, aiming to improve the precision and accuracy of monitoring parameters such as respiratory flow characteristics on the patient side and enhance the user experience.

[0005] A flow sensor comprising:

[0006] A first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section are fixed by gluing, and a diaphragm is provided at the connection between the first section and the second section;

[0007] The end of the first section away from the second section is provided with a first opening, and the end of the second section away from the first section is provided with a second opening;

[0008] A first sampling cavity is provided inside the first section, and a second sampling cavity is provided inside the second section;

[0009] The first section is provided with a first sampling port that passes through the first section, the first section is connected to a first sampling tube through the first sampling port, and the first sampling port is located in the first sampling cavity;

[0010] The second section is provided with a second sampling port that passes through the second section, the second section is connected to a second sampling tube through the second sampling port, and the second sampling port is located in the second sampling cavity;

[0011] The first sampling cavity and the second sampling cavity are semi-enclosed cavities.

[0012] Furthermore, the distance between the diaphragm and the end of the first sampling cavity is 0-3.5 mm, and the diaphragm is in contact with the end of the second sampling cavity.

[0013] Furthermore, a glue dispensing groove is formed at the connection between the first section and the second section.

[0014] Furthermore, at least two positioning posts and positioning holes with one-to-one correspondence are respectively provided on the joint surfaces of the first section and the second section.

[0015] Furthermore, the first sampling chamber is composed of two first airflow guide ribs and a first baffle, the first baffle connects the two first airflow guide ribs and closes one end of the two first airflow guide ribs to form a semi-closed first sampling chamber; the second sampling chamber is composed of two second airflow guide ribs and a second baffle, the second baffle connects the two second airflow guide ribs and closes one end of the two second airflow guide ribs to form a semi-closed second sampling chamber.

[0016] Furthermore, the first sampling cavity and the second sampling cavity are coaxially arranged, the first baffle is located at one end of the first airflow guiding rib close to the first opening, and the second baffle is located at one end of the second airflow guiding rib close to the second opening.

[0017] Furthermore, the first airflow guide rib is integrally formed with the first baffle, and the second airflow guide rib is integrally formed with the second baffle. The first airflow guide rib is arc-shaped at one end away from the first baffle, and the second airflow guide rib is arc-shaped at one end away from the second baffle.

[0018] Furthermore, the first section and the second section are made of transparent PC material, and the diaphragm is made of transparent PET material.

[0019] Furthermore, the diaphragm includes a membrane flap, and the connection between the membrane flap and the diaphragm is arc-shaped.

[0020] The present application also includes a ventilator, which includes a host and any of the flow sensors described above;

[0021] The host is provided with a first sampling tube interface and a second sampling tube interface, the first sampling tube interface and the first sampling tube are respectively provided with a first color identification, the second sampling tube interface and the second sampling tube are respectively provided with a second color identification, the first color is different from the second color, and the first sampling tube interface and the second sampling tube interface are respectively connected to the first sampling tube and the second sampling tube through color matching.

[0022] The flow sensor provided herein provides a semi-enclosed cavity structure formed by airflow guide ribs within the air passages of the first and second sections of the flow sensor. This ribs and the baffle provide a relatively stable airflow during pressure monitoring, allowing for more accurate flow parameter collection. By varying the arc-shaped curvature radius of the two edges of the open end of the airflow guide ribs, the diaphragm's resistance during forward ventilation is altered to obtain the desired forward or reverse flow characteristic curve. The front and rear sections of the flow sensor are bonded together using AB adhesive, enhancing the sensor's airtightness and providing a more secure bond, improving the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present application and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the following detailed description, they are used to explain the embodiments of the present application, but do not constitute a limitation of the embodiments of the present application. In the accompanying drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 A flow sensor structure diagram for this application;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a front-end structural diagram of a flow sensor for this application;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the back section structure of a flow sensor for this application;

[0027] Figure 4 Diagram of the diaphragm structure for this application;

[0028] Figure 5 This is an appearance diagram of a flow sensor for this application.

[0029] Description of reference numerals:

[0030] Flow sensor front section 1, flow sensor inlet 10, first sampling cavity 11, first sampling port 12, positioning hole 13, first sampling tube 14, first airflow guide rib 111, first baffle 112, flow sensor rear section 2, flow sensor outlet 20, second sampling cavity 21, second sampling port 22, positioning column 23, second sampling tube 24, second airflow guide rib 211, second baffle 212, diaphragm 3, membrane flap 31, membrane flap root 32, through hole 33, glue dispensing groove 40. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0032] like Figure 1 Shown is a cross-sectional view of a flow sensor of the present application, and the specific structure is as follows.

[0033] A flow sensor comprises a flow sensor front section 1, a flow sensor rear section 2 and a diaphragm 3. The diaphragm 3 is located at the connection between the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2.

[0034] The flow sensor front section 1 includes a flow sensor inlet 10, and the flow sensor rear section 2 includes a flow sensor outlet 20, so that the air flow enters from the flow sensor inlet 10 and exits from the flow sensor outlet 20, and the air flow can also flow in the reverse direction.

[0035] The flow sensor front section 1 includes a first sampling chamber 11 and a first sampling port 12. The first sampling port 12 is located within the first sampling chamber 11. The first sampling chamber 11 is a semi-enclosed chamber and includes at least two first airflow guiding ribs 111 and a first baffle 112. The at least two first airflow guiding ribs 111 are arranged in parallel to form a groove structure. The first baffle 112 connects the first airflow guiding ribs 111, sealing the end of the first airflow guiding rib 111 near the flow sensor inlet 10, thereby forming a semi-enclosed structure. In this application, there are two first airflow guiding ribs 111.

[0036] The flow sensor rear section 2 includes a second sampling chamber 21 and a second sampling port 22. The second sampling port 22 is located within the second sampling chamber 21. The second sampling chamber 21 is a semi-enclosed chamber and includes at least two second airflow guiding ribs 211 and a second baffle 212. The at least two second airflow guiding ribs 211 are arranged in parallel to form a groove structure. The second baffle 212 connects the second airflow guiding ribs 211, sealing the end of the second airflow guiding rib 211 near the flow sensor outlet 20, thereby forming a semi-enclosed structure. In this application, there are two second airflow guiding ribs 211.

[0037] The semi-enclosed structures of the first and second sampling chambers 11, 21 protect the airflow from disturbances during sampling at the sampling ports, resulting in higher sampling accuracy. Furthermore, the closed ends of the first and second sampling chambers 11, 21 are located near the flow sensor inlet 10 or outlet 20. Regardless of which end the airflow enters, it will not flow directly to the first or second sampling ports 12, 22. This results in more consistent airflow at the first and second sampling ports 12, 22, with less disturbance.

[0038] The flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2 are secured together using adhesive. The adhesive is liquid and fills the entire joint surface within a certain period of time, resulting in a good weld airtightness. Traditional connection methods often use ultrasonic welding, which often results in issues such as hollow welds that affect airtightness. In daily use, ultrasonically welded flow sensors are also prone to cracking when dropped or impacted, whereas adhesively secured flow sensors do not experience this problem.

[0039] In some embodiments, AB glue is used to bond and secure the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2. Furthermore, epoxy resin AB glue or modified acrylic AB glue is used for bonding and securing. Epoxy resin AB glue is more preferred. AB glue is a two-component adhesive. For example, epoxy resin AB glue is a two-component, high-temperature-resistant adhesive based on epoxy resin. Epoxy resin AB glue refers to a general term for compounds that contain two or more epoxy groups in a molecular structure and can form a three-dimensional cross-linked cured compound under appropriate chemical reagents and conditions.

[0040] In one embodiment, a glue groove 40 is formed at the junction of the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2. The edges of the joint surface of the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2 are both inclined, forming a V-shaped glue groove 40. When fixing, glue is directly placed into the glue groove and allowed to flow into the joint surface of the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2, thereby sealing and fixing.

[0041] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, a plurality of positioning holes 13 are provided on the joint surface of the front section 1 of the flow sensor, and a plurality of positioning posts 23 are provided on the joint surface of the corresponding rear section 2 of the flow sensor. The number and positions of the positioning holes 13 and the positioning posts 23 correspond one to one, so as to realize the positioning function when the front section 1 of the flow sensor and the rear section 2 of the flow sensor are connected, prevent them from shifting when fixed, and ensure the position accuracy when they are connected.

[0042] The diaphragm 3 is located between the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2. Figure 4 As shown, the diaphragm 3 includes a diaphragm 31, a diaphragm root 32 and a through hole 33. The diaphragm 3 separates the flow sensor front section 1 from the flow sensor rear section 2, so that a pressure difference is generated on both sides.

[0043] The through hole 33 corresponds to the position of the positioning hole 13 and the positioning post 23 , and is used to fix the diaphragm 3 between the flow sensor front section 1 and the flow sensor rear section 2 .

[0044] The membrane flap 31 is connected to the membrane sheet via a membrane flap root 32 . The membrane flap 31 is formed by cutting a portion of the membrane sheet 3 . The membrane flap 31 can swing when air flows through it.

[0045] In one embodiment, the root of the diaphragm contacts the end of the second airflow guiding rib 211. When air flows from the flow sensor inlet 10 through the diaphragm 31, the diaphragm 31 swings toward the flow sensor rear section 2, and the second airflow guiding rib 211 contacts the root 32 of the diaphragm, causing resistance to the swing of the diaphragm 31. By designing the open end of the second airflow guiding rib 211 as an arc, that is, the end away from the second baffle 212, the resistance to the swing of the diaphragm 31 can be adjusted by adjusting the shape of the arc to obtain the desired forward flow curve. Similarly, by designing the end of the first airflow guiding rib 111 near the diaphragm 3 as an arc, it can generate resistance to the swing of the diaphragm 3 when the diaphragm 3 swings toward the flow sensor front section 1, thereby obtaining the desired reverse flow curve. The resistance can be adjusted by changing the shape or curvature radius of the arc.

[0046] In one embodiment, the distance between the end of the first airflow guiding rib 111 closest to the diaphragm 3 and the diaphragm 3 is 0-3.5 mm, more preferably 0-2.6 mm. The closer the distance, the greater the resistance to the diaphragm 31 when it swings, and the specific distance can be determined based on the type of patient the ventilator is suitable for.

[0047] like Figure 5 As shown, the first sampling port 11 and the second sampling port 12 are respectively connected to a first sampling tube 14 and a second sampling tube 24. Preferably, the first sampling tube 14 and the second sampling tube 24 are respectively provided with different color markings to facilitate identification when connected to the ventilator.

[0048] The present application also relates to a ventilator (not shown), comprising a host and the flow sensor described above;

[0049] The host is provided with a first sampling tube interface and a second sampling tube interface, the first sampling tube interface and the second sampling tube interface are provided with different color identifications, the first sampling tube interface is connected to the first sampling port through a sampling tube of the same color, and the second sampling tube interface is connected to the second sampling port through a sampling tube of the same color.

[0050] The following example illustrates the specific process of flow sensor detection:

[0051] The gas source enters the front section of the flow sensor from the inlet, passes through the diaphragm, and the valve opens under the gas flow pressure. The gas passes through the diaphragm and enters the rear section of the flow sensor and flows to the patient's breathing mask. The sampling tube collects parameter signal values ​​such as flow and pressure through the first sampling port and the second sampling port. The ventilator host processes the collected data to obtain a forward flow characteristic curve or a reverse flow characteristic curve.

[0052] The flow sensor provided in this application provides a semi-enclosed cavity structure formed by airflow guide ribs on the inner side of the front section and the inner side of the rear section of the flow sensor. This rib and the baffle provide a relatively stable airflow during pressure monitoring, allowing for more accurate flow parameters to be collected. By changing the arc-shaped curvature radius of the two edges of the open end of the airflow guide rib, the resistance state of the diaphragm during forward ventilation is changed to obtain the desired forward flow characteristic curve or reverse flow characteristic curve. At the same time, the front section and the rear section of the flow sensor are bonded and fixed using AB glue to increase the airtightness of the flow sensor, making the front section and the rear section of the flow sensor more firmly bonded and improving the user experience.

[0053] The above describes in detail the optional implementation methods of the embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the specific details of the above implementation methods. Within the technical concept of the embodiments of the present application, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and these simple modifications all fall within the scope of protection of the embodiments of the present application.

[0054] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the embodiments of this application will not further describe various possible combinations.

[0055] In addition, the various implementation methods of the embodiments of the present application can be arbitrarily combined, as long as they do not violate the ideas of the embodiments of the present application, they should also be regarded as the contents disclosed in the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A flow sensor, characterized in that: include: A first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section are fixed by adhesive connection, and a membrane is provided at the connection between the first section and the second section; The end of the first section away from the second section is provided with a first opening, and the end of the second section away from the first section is provided with a second opening; A first sampling cavity is disposed inside the first section, and a second sampling cavity is disposed inside the second section; The first section is provided with a first sampling port that runs through the first section, the first section is connected with a first sampling tube through the first sampling port, and the first sampling port is located in the first sampling cavity; The second section is provided with a second sampling port that runs through the second section, the second section is connected with a second sampling tube through the second sampling port, and the second sampling port is located in the second sampling cavity; The first sampling cavity and the second sampling cavity are semi-enclosed cavities; The first sampling cavity is composed of two first airflow guiding ribs and a first baffle, the first baffle connects the two first airflow guiding ribs and closes one end of the two first airflow guiding ribs to form a semi-enclosed first sampling cavity; the second sampling cavity is composed of two second airflow guiding ribs and a second baffle, the second baffle connects the two second airflow guiding ribs and closes one end of the two second airflow guiding ribs to form a semi-enclosed second sampling cavity; the first sampling cavity is coaxially arranged with the second sampling cavity, the first baffle is located at one end of the first airflow guiding rib close to the first opening, and the second baffle is located at one end of the second airflow guiding rib close to the second opening; The diaphragm includes a swingable diaphragm flap, and the end of the first airflow guide rib close to the diaphragm is arc-shaped to generate resistance to the swing of the diaphragm flap when the diaphragm flap swings toward the first section; the end of the second airflow guide rib away from the second baffle is arc-shaped to generate resistance to the swing of the diaphragm flap when the diaphragm flap swings toward the second section.

2. The flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distance between the diaphragm and the end of the first sampling cavity is 0-3.5 mm, and the diaphragm is in contact with the end of the second sampling cavity.

3. The flow sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that: A glue dispensing groove is formed at the connection between the first section and the second section.

4. The flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two positioning posts and positioning holes are respectively arranged on the joint surfaces of the first section and the second section in one-to-one correspondence.

5. The flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first airflow guiding rib is integrally formed with the first baffle, and the second airflow guiding rib is integrally formed with the second baffle.

6. The flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first section and the second section are made of transparent PC material, and the film is made of transparent PET material.

7. The flow sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connection between the membrane flap and the membrane sheet is arc-shaped.

8. A ventilator, characterized in that: A host computer and a flow sensor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7; The host is provided with a first sampling tube interface and a second sampling tube interface, the first sampling tube interface and the first sampling tube are respectively provided with a first color identification, the second sampling tube interface and the second sampling tube are respectively provided with a second color identification, the first color is different from the second color, and the first sampling tube interface and the second sampling tube interface are respectively connected to the first sampling tube and the second sampling tube through color matching.

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