Ventilator with mixing chamber and mixing chamber for ventilator

Abstract

The invention comprises a respirator (1) with an electronic control device (8), which has a power supply and an electric fan (2) with a suction inlet (21) and a fan outlet (22). In this case, a solenoid valve (3) with an inlet (302) and an outlet (303) in a valve housing (301) is pneumatically connected to the suction inlet (21) or to the fan outlet (22) via the inlet (302) in a pneumatic main line (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a ventilator which is configured to support or maintain the respiratory function of a patient and has an electric fan and / or a valve as a source of breathing gas. The patient can be a human or an air-breathing animal, for example a mammal. The invention relates in particular to a ventilator in which at least one auxiliary gas is mixed into the exhausted breathing air. The invention also relates to a ventilator which is configured as an anesthesia machine. Background Art

[0002] An important, safety-critical aspect of a respirator is to ensure the supply of breathing gas in the event of a failure of the breathing gas source. The challenges in respirators are the desired mixing of the gases used and effective sound insulation. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a respirator which is improved compared with the prior art.

[0004] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the proposed ventilator.

[0005] The required ventilator comprises an electronic control device and a pneumatic main line, in which a breathing gas source, at least one valve, a mixing chamber, a gas metering unit and an inlet line are pneumatically arranged, wherein the gas metering unit is configured to introduce external air and / or oxygen and / or anesthetic gas into the mixing chamber, wherein the breathing gas source is configured to convey breathing gas to the inlet line and the mixing chamber is configured to provide breathing gas, wherein the inlet line is configured to supply a patient with breathing gas, wherein the valve is configured to at least temporarily reduce the flow of breathing gas to the patient.

[0006] The mixing chamber is provided for providing breathing gas by mixing external air and / or oxygen and / or anesthetic gas.

[0007] The breathing gas source is constructed in the pneumatic main line and is constructed as an electric fan, and the fan output end is pneumatically connected to the valve and the valve is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber is pneumatically connected not only to the gas metering unit but also to the input line, wherein the input end of the electric fan is configured to provide external air, wherein the gas metering unit is configured to pneumatically supply auxiliary gas containing oxygen into the mixing chamber in an adjustable manner in addition to or instead of the delivered external air, wherein the input line is configured to supply the patient with breathing gas composed of the delivered external air or breathing gas composed of a gas mixture composed of external air and auxiliary gas or breathing gas composed of auxiliary gas alone, wherein the valve is configured to at least temporarily reduce or interrupt the flow of external air into the mixing chamber.

[0008] The valve is constructed as part of a mixing chamber or is arranged in a common housing of the mixing chamber, wherein the valve is arranged in the pneumatic main line downstream of the fan output end in the flow direction and upstream of a gas metering unit in the flow direction, wherein the gas metering unit is arranged upstream of the supply line in the flow direction.

[0009] In the pneumatic main line, the fan output is pneumatically connected to the valve in the flow direction, the valve is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber is pneumatically connected not only to the gas metering unit but also to the supply line, wherein the suction input is provided for conveying external air, wherein the gas metering unit is constructed to pneumatically supply auxiliary gas containing oxygen into the mixing chamber in an adjustable manner in addition to or instead of the conveyed external air, wherein the supply line is provided for supplying a patient with breathing gas consisting of the conveyed external air or a gas mixture consisting of external air and auxiliary gas or a breathing gas consisting solely of auxiliary gas, wherein the auxiliary gas content, the breathing pressure and the breathing flow of the breathing gas can be adjusted by means of a control device, wherein the control device is additionally constructed to close the valve while opening the gas metering unit and to allow the gas metering unit to supply breathing gas itself when the electric fan and / or the power supply device fail and / or when the processor fails and / or when the software crashes.

[0010] The mixing chamber has a connection for a gas metering unit, a connection for a supply line and a connection for a breathing gas source.

[0011] The mixing chamber has at least one connector for connecting to a component, wherein the connector has a releasable locking portion for rapid assembly of the component. The releasable locking portion is, for example, a bayonet-type locking portion and is used for rapid assembly, positioning and sealing. The mixing chamber has means for reducing airborne sound and means for mixing gases. In addition, the mixing chamber preferably has means for preventing oxygen leakage during oxygen breathing and means for preventing the patient from back-breathing into the ventilator.

[0012] The valve has an inlet and an outlet in a valve housing and is pneumatically connected to a suction input via the outlet or to a fan output via the inlet, wherein the electric fan and the valve are electronically controlled in at least one common control loop by means of a control device and the control device itself is electronically controllable and / or automatically controllable at least partially by means of an algorithm in the form of software by means of a processor, wherein functional components and optional measuring tools and / or control tools are pneumatically connected in or on a pneumatic main line and / or pneumatically connected in another pneumatic branch line and / or secondary line and / or return device, wherein the functional components are electronically controlled by means of the control device and the measuring tools and / or control tools are also optional components of the control device.

[0013] The valve is designed as a non-return valve and / or as a solenoid valve and / or as a proportional valve.

[0014] The valve is preferably constructed as a solenoid valve, which has an electromagnet fixed in a valve housing and has a magnetically movable valve piston, wherein the valve piston has a sealing disk including a sealing device, wherein the sealing disk acts on the flow inlet, wherein the valve piston with the sealing disk is pressed against the flow inlet by a spring, thereby prohibiting a gas flow from or to the electric fan.

[0015] The electromagnet is de-energized when the solenoid valve is in the closed state.

[0016] If current is passed through the electromagnet, an adjustable or predetermined electromagnetic force acts on the magnetically movable valve piston, wherein the magnetically movable valve piston compresses the spring to a predeterminable extent, wherein in the open state the electromagnetic force acting on the magnetically movable valve piston is greater than the spring force.

[0017] The control device has at least one processor (or computer) or a plurality of processors to control at least the electric fan, the valve and the measuring means and / or the control means.

[0018] The control device is designed to automatically shut off the valve in the event of a failure of the electric fan and / or in the event of a failure of the control device.

[0019] The required respirator has an electronic control device and an electric fan including a suction input and a fan output. The respirator is configured to deliver respiratory gas or anesthetic gas to a patient through a pneumatic main line by means of an electric fan, that is, to configure a gas supply for the patient. The respirator also has a valve, wherein the valve itself has a valve housing including an inlet and an outlet. The valve housing as a component is gas-tight except for the inlet and the outlet. The electric fan and the valve are pneumatically connected to each other with the suction input through the outlet of the valve inside the pneumatic main line or pneumatically connected to each other with the fan output of the electric fan through the inlet of the valve. Therefore, in the required respirator, it is generally determined that the flow direction of the gas or gas mixture is from the electric fan to the patient, and the flow direction is therefore independent of whether the valve is pneumatically connected to the upstream of the suction input or pneumatically connected to the downstream of the fan output.

[0020] The valves can be controlled electronically. Here, the electric fan and the valves are controlled electronically in at least one common control loop by means of a control device, wherein the control device itself can be controlled electronically and / or automatically by means of an algorithm in the form of software by means of a processor. For this purpose, the ventilator has a current supply device, which is provided for supplying all electrically operated and electrically and / or electronically controlled device components of the proposed ventilator. The current supply device is realized, for example, by connection to a power supply network.

[0021] In the proposed ventilator, the control device is designed to regulate the gas supply to the patient via the control device with respect to the breathing pressure and the breathing flow. The gas supply to the patient can be regulated here by power control of the electric fan. Additionally or alternatively, the gas supply to the patient is set by regulating the valve by means of the control device, wherein the valve is designed as a continuous valve, in particular as a proportional valve.

[0022] In addition, the required respirator optionally has a flow sensor and / or a pressure sensor, which is pneumatically connected in or on the pneumatic main line of the respirator and / or pneumatically connected to another pneumatic branch line and / or a secondary line and / or a return device. The flow sensor and the pressure sensor can be electronically controlled by a control device. Therefore, the flow sensor and / or the pressure sensor are optional components of the control device and are therefore electronically connected to the control device. About the pressure value or flow value measured by the flow sensor and / or the pressure sensor of the gas or gas mixture flowing through the pneumatic main line, especially the anesthetic gas or the breathing gas, the desired or determined pressure value and / or the flow value of the gas or the gas mixture can be adjusted by the electronic control device in the case of a control valve and / or in the case of power control of an electric fan.

[0023] Compared to conventional ventilators with an electric fan, the breathing pressure and the breathing flow can be adjusted much more accurately by means of the control device of the proposed ventilator. Therefore, the proposed ventilator has a higher operational safety. In addition, in order to further improve the operational safety, the valve of the proposed ventilator is additionally configured as a shut-off valve.

[0024] According to the provided use purpose of the proposed respirator, other functional components and / or other such measuring tools and / or control tools other than flow sensors and / or pressure sensors are pneumatically connected in the pneumatic main line or on and / or pneumatically connected in other pneumatic branch lines and / or auxiliary lines and / or return devices, wherein the measuring tools and / or control tools are also optional components of the control device. Such functional components are, for example, gas metering units, mixing chambers and input pipelines. The gas metering unit is configured to pneumatically supply gas into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is provided to mix the supplied gas. The input pipeline itself is directly led to the patient's respiratory organs through an interface, wherein the interface is provided, for example, by a breathing mask or an intermediate tube (Tubus). The functional components are also controlled electronically by means of a control device. Here, optionally, according to the control purpose and / or use purpose, there are also more than only one valve connected in the pneumatic main line or on and / or connected in other pneumatic branch lines and / or auxiliary lines and / or return devices.

[0025] In a typical embodiment, the proposed respirator is designed for operation at a maximum gas flow of 180 l / min to 200 l / min at a maximum operating pressure of 1 mbar to 2 mbar with the electric fan switched on, wherein the operating pressure and the gas flow can also be adjusted to other values. When the electric fan is switched off, the pressure buildup is limited to a limit pressure by opening the valve when the limit pressure is exceeded. In a typical embodiment of the claimed respirator, the limit pressure is set at 100 mbar, but a structural design of the valve for other limit pressures is also possible.

[0026] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the proposed ventilator are discussed with regard to safety and its intended use.

[0027] In a first embodiment of the invention, the proposed control device of the ventilator is designed to automatically shut off the valve in the event of a failure of the electric fan and / or in the event of a processor failure and / or in the event of a software crash. Therefore, if the valve is pneumatically connected upstream of the fan output, it is particularly advantageous to prevent the patient from breathing in a closed space through the electric fan and the return of gas through the fan output into the electric fan in the event of a processor failure and / or in the event of a software crash. If the valve is pneumatically connected upstream of the suction input, gas or external air is prevented from entering through this opening of the electric fan.

[0028] In a second expansion scheme, the proposed breathing machine is configured as an anesthesia machine. In the proposed breathing machine, the gas metering unit is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber in the flow direction. The mixing chamber is pneumatically connected to the suction input of the electric fan and the fan output is pneumatically connected to the input pipeline. Therefore, the gas metering unit, the mixing chamber, the electric fan and the input pipeline form a pneumatic main line with this pneumatic connection sequence with respect to the flow direction, wherein the valve is pneumatically connected upstream of the suction input or downstream of the fan output, or a valve is pneumatically connected in the pneumatic main line upstream of the suction input and downstream of the fan output.

[0029] If the valve or a valve is arranged upstream of the suction inlet, the inlet is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber and the outlet is pneumatically connected to the suction inlet. If the valve or a valve is arranged downstream of the fan outlet, the inlet is pneumatically connected to the fan outlet and the outlet is pneumatically connected to the supply line.

[0030] Here, the gas metering unit is designed to pneumatically feed gas and at least one anesthetic agent into a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber is designed to mix anesthetic gas from the gas fed in, and the suction input is designed to convey the anesthetic gas. The input line is provided for supplying anesthetic gas to the patient, wherein the anesthetic gas comprises oxygen and at least one anesthetic agent. Optionally, in the desired ventilator, in this embodiment, a reverse breathing system is additionally pneumatically connected to the pneumatic main line, which particularly advantageously enables the return of unconsumed anesthetic agent to the patient (without discharge into the environment).

[0031] By means of a control device, the pneumatically supplied gas and at least one anesthetic agent through the gas metering unit can be regulated independently of each other in terms of the amount of the substance in the anesthetic gas, that is, the gas metering unit can be used to regulate the supply of each gas and anesthetic agent to the mixing chamber in terms of pressure flow and / or volume flow and / or flow independently of other gases. This also includes the selection or restriction on a gas or various gases and / or anesthetic agents, which are arranged to be supplied to the mixing chamber. By means of a control device, the breathing pressure and breathing flow of the anesthetic gas mixed in the mixing chamber can also be regulated and therefore controlled. Preferably and particularly advantageously, the control device is configured to automatically shut off the valve and additionally automatically shut off the gas metering unit when the electric fan and / or the current supply device fail and / or when the processor fails and / or when the software crashes.

[0032] In the third expansion scheme complementary to the second expansion scheme, the proposed respirator is only designed to supply respiratory gas to the patient. In this embodiment, the fan output is pneumatically connected to the valve in the flow direction. The outflow port of the valve is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber, wherein not only the gas metering unit but also the inflow pipe is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber. In this embodiment of the proposed respirator, the inflow pipe is also led to the patient's respiratory organ as described at the beginning. Therefore, in the proposed respirator, in this embodiment, the suction input, the fan output and the valve, the outflow port of the valve and the mixing chamber, and the mixing chamber and the gas metering unit and the input pipeline form a pneumatic main line in the order of pneumatic connection about the flow direction.

[0033] Here, the suction inlet is accordingly designed for conveying external air, and the gas metering unit is designed for pneumatically feeding auxiliary gas containing oxygen into the mixing chamber in an adjustable manner instead of or in addition to the conveyed external air. The inlet line is provided for supplying the patient with breathing gas consisting of the conveyed external air or a gas mixture consisting of external air and auxiliary gas or breathing gas consisting solely of auxiliary gas. The auxiliary gas content of the breathing gas, the breathing pressure and the breathing flow can be adjusted by means of the control device.

[0034] The control device is designed to automatically shut off the valve in the event of a failure of the electric fan and / or the power supply and / or in the event of a processor failure and / or in the event of a software crash and additionally in the event of a simultaneous opening of the gas metering unit.

[0035] In the event of failure of the electric fan and / or the current supply device and / or in the event of a processor failure and / or in the event of a software crash, the gas metering unit is configured for fully automatic and / or partially supported breathing of the patient. For this purpose, the gas metering unit has an electronic alternative control device independent of the control device and an alternative current supply device independent of the current supply device. In the event of at least one of the aforementioned failure situations, not only the alternative control device but also the alternative current supply device is configured to automatically connect and supply with the current of the gas metering unit. Here, the electric fan, the valve and the gas metering unit are electronically controlled in at least one common control loop by means of an alternative control device, wherein the alternative control device itself can also be electronically controlled and / or automatically controlled by means of an algorithm in the form of software by means of a processor. The alternative current supply device is, for example, composed of a battery.

[0036] In the following, advantageous variants of the claimed valve of a respirator are described in more detail.

[0037] In a preferred first variant, the valve is directly controlled. For this purpose, the valve has a stroke electromagnet fixed in the valve housing and having a magnetically attractable valve piston, wherein the valve piston is linearly supported in the stroke electromagnet. The valve piston is made of a magnetically attractable material, for example iron or an iron alloy and / or is even designed as a permanent magnet. The valve piston can be moved on a geometric longitudinal axis in the stroke electromagnet by means of an electric current, wherein a return spring is tensioned with the valve piston at the end in the valve housing. The return spring has a return force parallel to the longitudinal axis. The return spring can therefore expand in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the force applied by the valve piston can be adjusted to be greater than the return force by the stroke electromagnet that can be electrically connected.

[0038] Thus, due to the current control at the lift magnet, the valve can optionally be operated as a proportional valve. This particularly advantageously allows precise regulation and / or compensation control of a determined pressure value and / or flow value of the anesthetic gas or respiratory gas.

[0039] A sealing disk is mounted on the valve piston at the front and vertically. The sealing disk can be moved electrically together with the valve piston on a common geometric longitudinal axis. The inlet is designed as a valve seat, wherein the sealing disk is arranged on the inlet opposite to the elastic flange seal for this purpose.

[0040] In the closed state of the valve, in which the stroke electromagnet is de-energized, the sealing disc is pressed onto the flange seal by the return force of the return spring. In this connected state, the inlet is therefore sealed by the flange seal. In addition, a mechanical gap with three degrees of freedom is provided to the sealing disc, for example by a ball and socket joint. Only in this way is a reliable seal ensured by balancing the angular tolerances of the valve caused by manufacturing in the de-energized state of the electronic stroke magnet. The mechanical gap is achieved, for example, by a ball seat applied to the sealing disc, wherein the ball seat snaps onto a ball on the valve piston. Optionally, a circumferential sealing edge is applied to the sealing disc, wherein the sealing edge is pressed onto the flange seal together with the sealing disc in the closed state of the valve and thus particularly advantageously strengthens the seal.

[0041] The flange seal is made of an elastic material, such as silicon or butadiene rubber, while the sealing disk is made of a hard or elastic material, such as metal or ABS or silicon or rubber.

[0042] Preferably, the required ventilator is designed structurally so that a laminar flow of the gas flow in the pneumatic line is achieved in the flow direction to the patient. The better the laminar flow is formed, ie the less turbulence occurs, the more accurately both the gas pressure and the gas flow can be measured and regulated.

[0043] For this purpose, that is to say, in order to prevent turbulence, the inlet and outlet respectively have a flow cross section that is the same in area size. In addition, during the operation of the required respirator and in the state of the valve being open, the gas flow is realized not only on the side of the sealing disk facing the inlet but also behind the side by the structure, in that a free space for the inflowing gas is generated around the stroke electromagnet and inside the valve housing. For this purpose, during the operation of the required respirator and in the open state of the valve, the mathematical product formed by the circumference of the sealing disk and the spacing between the edge of the inlet formed by the flange seal is equivalent to the flow cross section with a deviation of no more than 20%. In the optional operation of the valve as a proportional valve, the spacing between the sealing disk and the edge of the inlet can be adjusted.

[0044] Preferably, the inlet, valve housing, stroke electromagnet, valve piston, sealing disk together with the optional sealing edge and flange seal are manufactured rotationally symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis. This optimizes the compensation of the manufacturing-related angular tolerances of the valve. This is also more advantageous for achieving a laminar flow.

[0045] In a preferred second variant, the valve is designed as a non-return valve for shutting off the electric fan in the event of a failure of the power supply and / or in the event of an overpressure at the outflow port relative to the inflow port.

[0046] Next, the expansion scheme of the relevant mixing chamber of the proposed respirator is described, wherein the respirator is only designed to supply respiratory gas to the patient. Here, the valve of the desired respirator is optionally implemented with its first and / or second previously described preferred variant.

[0047] In such a first embodiment of the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber is designed as a valve housing and the valve is therefore integrated into the mixing chamber. Here, the inlet of the valve is designed as a pneumatic inlet to the mixing chamber, and the outlet pneumatically leads to the inner chamber of the mixing chamber. The inner chamber is pneumatically connected not only to the gas metering unit via a connector but also to the supply line via another connector. In this way, the desired compact design of the respirator is particularly advantageously achieved.

[0048] Preferably, the flow cross section of the inlet of the valve is identical in area size and geometry to the corresponding flow cross sections of the connection for the gas metering unit and the connection for the supply line. This makes it particularly advantageous to achieve a laminar flow through the mixing chamber.

[0049] Even tests with silenced electric fans have shown that due to the transmission of vibrations and mainly due to the gas flow on the functional components arranged on the fan output side in the pneumatic main line, the functional components have a higher sound development than caused by the electric fan itself. In particular, a further substantial contribution to the undesirable sound development occurs through the operation of the gas metering unit.

[0050] Therefore, the interior space optionally additionally has a labyrinth seal for attenuating the sound generated by the operation of the electric fan and the gas metering unit. Surprisingly, it has been found that a much lower sound attenuation can be achieved with a perforated plate instead of a labyrinth seal.

[0051] In a second embodiment of the proposed respirator with regard to the mixing chamber, the flow of the delivered external air and / or the flow of the supplied auxiliary gas and / or the flow of the breathing gas each additionally has at least one deflection in the labyrinth seal, thereby particularly advantageously causing a reflection of the sound waves generated by the electric fan.

[0052] Alternatively or additionally, in the labyrinth seal, the flow of the delivered external air and / or the flow of the supplied auxiliary gas and / or the flow of the breathing gas each has at least one change in the cross section through which the flow passes perpendicularly to the flow direction. This second embodiment corresponds to an improvement of the structural features of the labyrinth seal with regard to sound attenuation.

[0053] In the third embodiment of the proposed respirator with regard to the mixing chamber, the mixing chamber has a deflection wedge with a wedge tip upstream of the connection of the gas metering unit, wherein the flow of the supplied oxygen is directed around the wedge tip. Here, the deflection wedge is constructed in a cavity-like manner or has a filler made of a foam material. Here, the flow of the delivered external air is combined with the flow of the supplied auxiliary gas to form a flow of breathing gas by the deflection wedge, thereby achieving better mixing. Preferably, the narrowing at the end of the deflection wedge facing the inner wall of the inner chamber is selected to be large enough so that compression of the gas flow (i.e., pressure increase) no longer occurs in a measurable manner. If the deflection wedge is constructed in a cavity-like manner, refraction of the sound waves generated by the electric fan and the gas metering unit and thus attenuation of the sound waves can occur particularly advantageously.

[0054] The attenuation of sound waves is additionally improved by filling the deflecting wedge with foam material. A further improvement in the sound attenuation occurs when the claimed respirator additionally has the features of the proposed second embodiment of the respirator with regard to the mixing chamber.

[0055] In a fourth embodiment of the proposed respirator with respect to the mixing chamber, a surface is produced in the labyrinth seal, which surface is at least partially lined with a large-pore foam material. This and in particular in combination with at least one of the features of the first to third embodiments of the proposed respirator with respect to the mixing chamber make it possible to achieve a further optimization of the sound attenuation.

[0056] In a fourth embodiment of the proposed ventilator with regard to the mixing chamber, alternatively or additionally, the surface in the labyrinth seal has antimicrobial properties at least in some areas, wherein the foam material itself optionally has antimicrobial properties. For this purpose, for example, the mixing chamber is made of a plastic, such as polystyrene (PS) or ABS, to which silver zeolites or silver particles are attached, for example. Similarly, a bactericidal silver additive is mixed into the foam material, for example. Alternatively, the surface of the labyrinth seal and / or the foam material has an antimicrobial surface coating, which includes, for example, silver and / or other bactericidal metals and / or their chemical combinations and / or bactericidal quaternary ammonium salts and / or quaternary phosphonium salts. Thus, particularly advantageously, in the event of a possible reverse breathing of the currently treated patient through the inlet line, the risk of contamination of the mixing chamber with microorganisms is eliminated, which would otherwise infect the next treated patient.

[0057] The proposed mixing chamber of a ventilator designed only for supplying a patient with respiratory gas consists, for example, of a structural component and a counterpart to the structural component. The structural component and the counterpart are made independently of one another from the same or different inelastic materials. Preferably, the structural component and the counterpart are made cost-effectively from thermoplastics, such as ABS, by means of injection molding. The structural component and the counterpart each have a connecting edge, which is positively locked relative to one another.

[0058] The mixing chamber is also characterized in that it has a mixing chamber housing having a connection for a gas metering unit, a connection for a supply line and a connection for a breathing gas source.

[0059] The mixing chamber is also characterized in that the mixing chamber has a component, such as a mixing chamber housing, which is manufactured by a structural part and a matching part in a form-locked and force-locked manner, wherein the structural part and the matching part respectively have connecting edges that are form-locked with each other, wherein in the structural part, a groove is embedded in the connecting edge in a manner at least parallel to the length of the connecting edge, and a transverse groove that vertically opens into the groove and penetrates the relevant connecting edge is embedded in the connecting edge, wherein a one-piece elastic and compressible flat seal is installed and extends not only in the groove but also in the transverse groove, wherein the flat seal is form-locked not only with respect to the groove but also with respect to the transverse groove, wherein a sealing height is provided to the flat seal that is greater than the depth of the groove and greater than the depth of the transverse groove and corresponds to twice the depth of the groove and twice the depth of the transverse groove at a maximum, wherein the flat seal is configured to extend beyond the transverse groove passing through the connecting edge by no more than twice the depth of the transverse groove.

[0060] One or more connecting edges of the structural component each have a continuous groove over the entire length of the connecting edge. Here, for example, a flat seal is inserted into each groove with a groove depth in a form-locking manner relative to the groove by injection molding of plastic. The flat seal is made of an elastic material (for example, silicon or butadiene rubber). The flat seal has a sealing height that is greater than the groove depth.

[0061] The structural component and the counterpart are connected to each other in a form-locking and force-locking manner with the flat seal located inside. The force-locking connection is achieved, for example, by a screw connection. Here, the sealing of the mixing chamber is achieved by pressing the corresponding flat seal into the corresponding groove of the structural component and onto the connecting edge of the counterpart.

[0062] In components manufactured from structural and counterpart parts, it can also occur structurally that the openings for the supply line and the inlet are separated by corresponding connecting edges of the structural and counterpart parts. According to the teachings of production technology to date, such a structure can generally be avoided, because it inevitably leads to leaks at the relevant openings (for example, at the openings for the inlet pipe and for the inlet) according to the prior art. Leaks are also inevitable from a certain length of the connecting edge.

[0063] However, this problem can be solved in that the structural component and the counterpart component each have a connecting edge that is positively locked with respect to one another, wherein in the structural component, a groove is embedded in the connecting edge at least parallel to the length of the connecting edge, and a transverse groove is embedded in the connecting edge that opens vertically into the groove and penetrates the relevant connecting edge. The transverse groove is embedded in the relevant connecting edge at a position where a leak could otherwise occur or actually would occur after the force-locking has occurred.

[0064] In addition, for sealing, a one-piece elastic and compressible flat seal extending not only in the groove but also in the transverse groove is installed, wherein the flat seal is form-locked not only with respect to the groove but also with respect to the transverse groove, that is, the flat seal is configured to extend over the entire groove and over the entire transverse groove. Provide the flat seal with a sealing height that is greater than the depth of the groove and the transverse groove and is equivalent to twice the depth of the groove and twice the depth of the transverse groove to the maximum. The flat seal is configured to extend over the transverse groove passing through the connecting edge by no more than twice the depth of the transverse groove. Since the compression of the flat seal in the transverse groove is combined into a component through form locking and force locking, the sealing is strengthened at the relevant position of the connecting edge.

[0065] This manufacturing technology problem-solving can be transferred to any component that is produced from any number of structural parts and counterparts in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner. The production of the components, counterparts and flat seals is by no means limited to plastics. For example, the structural parts and counterparts are produced from steel and the flat seals are produced from copper. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] Next, the proposed ventilator will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In which:

[0067] Figure 1 The required ventilator 1 is configured as an anesthesia machine;

[0068] Figure 2 The claimed ventilator 1 is configured to ventilate a patient with a breathing gas;

[0069] Figure 3 Overview of valve 3 of ventilator 1;

[0070] Figure 4 Cross section of valve 3 in closed state;

[0071] Figure 5 Cross section of the solenoid valve 3 in the open state;

[0072] Figure 6 A partially cut-away side view of a ventilator 1 which is designed for ventilating a patient with a breathing gas and has a mixing chamber 6 in which a solenoid valve 3 is integrated;

[0073] Figure 7 An oblique view of the mixing chamber 6 in which the valve 3 is integrated is shown on the left in closed form and on the right in cross section;

[0074] Figure 8 A cross section illustrating a side view of a mixing chamber 6 in which the valve 3 is integrated, with respect to the direction r;

[0075] Fig. 9 A cut-away oblique view of a mixing chamber 6 in which the valve 3 is integrated, illustrating the change of the cross-sectional areas Q1 , Q2 , Q3 , Q4 and Q5 through which flow respectively flows;

[0076] Fig.10 A side view of a component 601 , for example a mixing chamber housing 601 , which is manufactured in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner and consists of a structural part 610 and a matching part 611 ;

[0077] Fig.11 An overview of the connecting edge 612 of the structural element 610 is shown while illustrating the connecting edge 162 with the groove 614 , the transverse groove 615 and the flat seal 616 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0078] In the following exemplary embodiment, the ventilator 1 has an electronic control device and an electric fan 2 with a suction inlet 21 and a fan outlet 22. The ventilator is designed to convey breathing gas or anesthetic gas to the respiratory organs of a patient by means of the electric fan 2, ie, for gas supply to the patient.

[0079] The ventilator further comprises a valve 3, wherein the valve 3 itself comprises a valve housing 301 with an inlet 302 and an outlet 303. In the following exemplary embodiment, the electric fan 2 and the valve 3 are electronically controlled by means of a control device. The electric fan 2 and the valve 3 are pneumatically connected in a pneumatic main line 4. In the desired ventilator 1, a flow direction d of the gas or gas mixture from the electric fan 2 to the patient is generally determined.

[0080] In the following exemplary embodiments, the control device itself can be controlled electronically and / or automatically by means of an algorithm in the form of software with the aid of a processor. For this purpose, the ventilator 1 has a power supply device, which is provided for supplying all electrically operated and electrically and / or electronically controlled device components of the proposed ventilator. The power supply is achieved via a connection to the power supply network.

[0081] In the following embodiment of the ventilator, the control device is designed to regulate the gas supply of the patient in terms of the breathing pressure and the breathing flow via the control device. Here, the regulation of the gas supply of the patient is accomplished by power control of the electric fan. In addition, the required ventilator has a flow sensor and / or a pressure sensor, which is pneumatically connected in or on the pneumatic main line of the ventilator. The flow sensor and the pressure sensor can be electronically controlled by the control device and are electronically connected to the control device.

[0082] According to the invention, the ventilator is a CPAP or APAP or Bilevel or home ventilator or clinical ventilator or anesthesia ventilator. According to the invention, the valve is designed as a pneumatically or electronically controlled solenoid valve or non-return valve or proportional valve.

[0083] In the following embodiments, the valve 3 can also be directly controlled and configured as a non-return valve. For this purpose, the proposed control device of the ventilator is configured to automatically shut off the valve 3 when the electric fan 2 fails and / or when the processor fails and / or when the software crashes.

[0084] exist Figures 1 to 9 The control device, the processor, the power supply, the flow sensors and the pressure sensors as well as the patient and his respiratory system are not shown.

[0085] In the following exemplary embodiment, the ventilator has a gas metering unit 5, a mixing chamber 6 and a supply line 7. The supply line 7 itself leads directly to the patient's respiratory organs via a hose and / or an intermediate tube. The intermediate tube is Figures 1 to 9 It is not shown in Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6 , respectively different pneumatic connection diagrams of the pneumatic main line 4 are shown representatively for the two different exemplary embodiments.

[0086] Figure 1 Required respirator 1 is shown, and the respirator is for example configured to supply a patient with anesthesia gas. In flow direction d (illustrated by arrow), gas metering unit 5 is pneumatically connected to mixing chamber 6. Mixing chamber 6 is pneumatically connected to inflow port 302 again, and the outflow port 303 of valve 3 is pneumatically connected to the suction input 21 of electric fan 2. Fan output 22 is pneumatically connected to input pipeline 7. Therefore, gas metering unit 5, mixing chamber 6, valve 3, electric fan 2 and input pipeline are in a row with this pneumatic connection sequence and constitute pneumatic main line 4 about flow direction d. Gas metering unit 5 is configured to pneumatically supply external air, oxygen and laughing gas into mixing chamber 6, and mixing chamber 6 is configured to mix the anesthetic gas composed of these supplied gases, and suction input 21 is configured to convey anesthetic gas. Therefore, anesthetic gas is composed of external air, oxygen and laughing gas. Therefore, the gas metering unit 5 has a supply input 51 for external air, a supply input 52 for oxygen and a supply input 53 for anesthetic gas (laughing gas), wherein oxygen and laughing gas are supplied from compressed gas bottles. Figure 1 Not shown in the figure. The supply line 7 is provided for supplying a patient with a breathing gas, for example an anesthetic gas. With the aid of a control device 8, the pneumatic supply of these gases can be regulated independently of one another in terms of their substance quantity proportions, and the breathing pressure and the breathing flow of the anesthetic gas can be regulated. The control device 8 is additionally designed to automatically shut down the gas metering unit in the event of a failure of the electric fan 2 and / or the power supply device and / or in the event of a processor failure and / or in the event of a software crash. The pneumatic return device is connected to the pneumatic main line 4, wherein the pneumatic return device is designed to return the anesthetic gas to the pneumatic main line 4. The pneumatic return device is in Figure 1 Not shown in FIG.

[0087] Figure 2The required respirator 1 is shown as a second embodiment, which is designed for respirating a patient with a respiratory gas. Here, in the flow direction d (again indicated by the arrow), in the pneumatic main line 4, the fan outlet 22 is pneumatically connected to the valve 3, the valve 3 is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber 6, and the mixing chamber 6 is pneumatically connected not only to the gas metering unit 5 but also to the input line 7. The suction input 21 is provided for conveying external air. The gas metering unit 5 is designed to pneumatically supply oxygen as auxiliary gas in an adjustable manner in addition to or instead of the conveyed external gas into the mixing chamber 6. Therefore, the gas metering unit 5 here has only one supply input for oxygen 52, wherein the oxygen is in turn supplied via a compressed gas cylinder. The compressed gas cylinder is in Figure 2 Not shown. The inlet line 7 is provided for supplying the patient with breathing gas consisting of delivered external air or a gas mixture consisting of external air and oxygen or pure oxygen. The oxygen content, breathing pressure and breathing flow of the breathing gas can be adjusted with the aid of the control device 8. In this second embodiment, in the event of failure of the electric fan 2 and / or the power supply device and / or in the event of a processor failure and / or in the event of a software crash, the control device 8 is additionally configured to automatically shut off the valve 3 while simultaneously opening the gas metering unit 5, and the gas metering unit 5 itself is configured to provide the patient with fully automatic and / or partially supported breathing. For this purpose, the gas metering unit 5 has, for example, a separate, independent control device 8 and a separate power supply device in the form of a battery. The separate, independent control device 8 and the battery are Figure 2 Not shown in FIG.

[0088] Figure 3 An overview of the valve 3 of the required respirator 1 is shown, for example for the first two embodiments, which is implemented as a valve or a solenoid valve or a non-return valve or a proportional valve. The valve housing 301 as a component is gas-tight except for the inlet 302 and the outlet 303. The flow direction d extending through the inlet 302 and out of the outlet 303 is again illustrated graphically by an arrow. Both the inlet 302 and the outlet 303 have the same flow cross section S both in terms of area size and in terms of geometry. In this way, laminar flow is ensured while preventing turbulence. Figure 3 In FIG. 3 , all other components of the valve 3 are not shown; they are surrounded by the valve housing 301 .

[0089] The cross section of the valve opening is at least 180 mm 2 and preferably about 230 mm 2 .

[0090] Figure 4 Show Figure 3The cross section of the valve 3 of the respirator 1 in the closed state. Here, the valve is a valve with a magnet and connected in an electrically conductive manner. In the closed state, the solenoid valve 3 is connected without current. The solenoid valve 3 has a stroke electromagnet 304 fixed in the valve housing 301, which has a valve piston 305 that can be magnetically attracted, wherein the valve piston 305 is linearly supported in the stroke electromagnet 304. The valve piston 305 is made of nickel steel here. The valve piston 305 can be moved on the geometric longitudinal axis l in the stroke electromagnet 304 by means of an electric current, wherein the return spring 306 is tensioned on the end side with the valve piston 305 in the valve housing 301. The return spring 306 has a return force parallel to the longitudinal axis 1. Therefore, the return spring 306 can expand in the direction of the longitudinal axis l, wherein the force applied by the valve piston 305 can be adjusted to be greater than the return force by means of the electrically connected stroke electromagnet 304. A sealing disk 308 is inserted on the valve piston 305 at the front side and vertically by a ball 307 screwed on the valve piston 305, for which the sealing disk 308 has a ball seat 309. The sealing disk 308 also has a surrounding sealing edge 310, wherein the sealing disk 308, the ball seat 309 and the sealing edge 310 are manufactured in one piece from ABS by injection molding. Therefore, the ball 307 and the ball seat 309 form a ball joint 311. The sealing disk 308 can be electrically moved on the longitudinal axis l together with the valve piston 305 when the solenoid valve 3 is opened. Therefore, the inlet 302 is constructed as a valve seat 312, wherein the sealing disk 308 is arranged on the inlet 302 opposite to the elastic flange seal 313. Here, the flange seal 313 is made of silicon. In the closed state of the solenoid valve 3, in which the stroke electromagnet 304 is de-energized, the sealing disk 308 together with the sealing edge 310 is pressed onto the flange seal 313 by the return spring 306. The sealing disk 308 is additionally provided with a mechanical clearance with three degrees of freedom by the ball joint 311. Therefore, in this closed and de-energized state, the inlet 302 is also sealed particularly safely by the flange seal 313: the mechanical clearance additionally ensures the compensation of the angular tolerances of the solenoid valve 3 caused by the manufacturing. The inlet 302, the valve housing 301, the stroke electromagnet 304, the valve piston 305, the sealing disk 308 together with the sealing edge 310 and the flange seal 313 are jointly manufactured rotationally symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis 1. The compensation of the angular tolerances of the solenoid valve 3 caused by the manufacturing is thereby optimized.

[0091] Figure 5 Show Figure 4The cross section of the solenoid valve 3 of the respirator 1 in the open state. In the open state, the current is connected to the stroke electromagnet 304. In order to illustrate the mechanical clearance provided to the sealing disk 308, the sealing disk 308 is shown with a lateral tilt. This diagram corresponds to a hypothetical state without gas flow. In the operation of the required respirator 1 and in the open state of the solenoid valve 3, the gas flow is realized not only on the side of the sealing disk 308 facing the inflow port 302 but also behind the side due to the structure, in that a free space 314 for the inflowing gas appears around the stroke electromagnet 304 and inside the valve housing 301. For this reason, in the operation of the required respirator 1 and in the open state of the solenoid valve 3, further, the mathematical product formed by the circumference of the sealing disk and the distance a between the edge 315 of the sealing disk 308 and the inflow port 302 formed by the flange seal 313 corresponds to the flow cross section S. This structural feature ensures that the laminar flow of the gas flow through the solenoid valve 3 without turbulence is obtained. The valve is constructed as a solenoid valve 3, which has a stroke electromagnet 304 fixed in a valve housing 301 and a valve piston 305 that can move magnetically. The valve piston 305 has a sealing disk 308 including a sealing device, wherein the sealing disk 308 acts on the inlet 302, that is, it can block the gas flow from the electric fan. The valve piston 305 and the sealing disk 308 are pressed against the inlet 302, 312 by the spring 306, thereby prohibiting the gas flow from the electric fan or to the electric fan. In the closed state of the solenoid valve 3, the stroke electromagnet 304 is without current. If the stroke electromagnet 304 is energized, an adjustable or predetermined electromagnetic force acts on the magnetically movable valve piston 305. Then, the magnetically movable valve piston 305 compresses the spring 306 to a predetermined degree. In the open state, the electromagnetic force that affects the magnetically movable valve piston 305 is greater than the spring force.

[0092] When the solenoid valve 3 is closed, the travel electromagnet 304 is de-energized and the sealing disk 308 together with the sealing edge 310 are pressed onto the flange seal 313 by the return spring 306. Thus, the inlet 302 is configured as a valve seat 312, wherein the sealing disk 308 and the elastic flange seal 313 are arranged on the inlet 302 opposite to each other.

[0093] The restoring spring 306 can therefore be expanded in the direction of the longitudinal axis 1, wherein the force exerted by the valve piston 305 can be adjusted to be greater than the restoring force by means of the electrically connected lift magnet 304 .

[0094] The cross section of the valve opening is at least 180 mm 2 and preferably about 230 mm 2 .

[0095] This design has the advantage that in the event of a power failure or a fault, the valve closes automatically and no energy has to be expended for the closed position.

[0096] Figure 6 A partially cut-away side view of a respirator 1 is shown, which is designed similarly to the second exemplary embodiment for ventilating a patient with respiratory gas, but as a third exemplary embodiment has a mixing chamber 6 in which the valve 3 is integrated. The mixing chamber thus has a mixing chamber housing 601, which also corresponds in its function to the valve housing 301. Figure 6 4 again shows a pneumatic main line 4 as a detail of the respirator 1. The respirator 1 in this third exemplary embodiment is characterized by a particularly compact design.

[0097] Figure 7 An oblique view of a mixing chamber 6 of a third embodiment is shown on the left in closed form and on the right in cross section, in which the valve 3 is integrated. The mixing chamber 6 has an inlet 302 for the valve 3, a connector 602 for the gas metering unit 5 and a connector 603 for the supply line 7 as openings in its mixing chamber housing 601, which is originally manufactured in a gas-tight manner. The mixing chamber housing 601 is manufactured by screwing and / or form-locking. The mixing chamber housing 601 has an inner cavity 604 including a labyrinth seal 605. In this embodiment, the mixing chamber 6 is manufactured integrally with the labyrinth seal 605, for example from ABS. The outflow port 303 of the valve 3 leads directly into the inner cavity 604, wherein the outflow port 303 again has the same flow cross section S as the inflow port 302 in terms of area size and differs only in geometry. The valve 3 is originally structurally identical to that in the embodiment. Figures 3 to 5 Therefore, in this embodiment, laminar flow is also ensured in the gas flow through the valve 3. Figure 7 In FIG, valve 3 is shown closed.

[0098] Figure 8 A cross section of a side view of a mixing chamber 6 of the third embodiment is shown while explaining the deflection r of the gas flow, in which the valve 3 is integrated. The inner chamber 604 of the mixing chamber 6 has a deflection wedge 606 including a wedge tip 607 upstream of the connector 602 for the gas metering unit 5. Here, the deflection wedge 606 can also be understood as a component of the labyrinth seal 605. The deflection wedge 606 forms a blind alley 618 (Sackgasse) for the flow path. The blind alley 618 is a structural receiving area for resonance. For sound waves, this area, for example, completely filled with sound insulation material 608, serves as a resonance groove and receiving groove for sound waves, in which the sound waves are "caught" and therefore absorb sound.

[0099] The filler made of a sound-insulating material (e.g., a large-pore foam material 608) is, for example, not only inserted into the deflection wedge 606 and / or also inserted into the surface 609 of the inner cavity 604. Figure 8 , the flow u1 of the external air delivered, the flow u2 of the auxiliary gas oxygen supplied, and the flow u3 of the breathing gas are graphically illustrated by arrows of different configurations. In the labyrinth seal 605, the flow u1 of the external air delivered has one deflection r, the flow u2 of the auxiliary gas oxygen supplied has two deflections r, and the flow u3 of the breathing gas has three deflections r. The deflections cause the sound waves to be reflected back and cannot propagate unimpeded.

[0100] The flow u2 of the supplied auxiliary gas oxygen is deflected at least twice, preferably three times; it is deflected at least once by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and, for example, 90°, and at least another time by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and, for example, 90° and finally by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and, for example, 100°. The flow u1 of the supplied external air is deflected at least once by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and, for example, 90°.

[0101] The flow u3 of the breathing gas (02 / air mixture) is turned at least twice, preferably three times; it is turned at least once by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and for example 90° and at least another time by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and for example 90°, and finally by more than 45°, preferably more than 70° and for example 90° or 180°.

[0102] Here, the flow u2 of the supplied auxiliary gas oxygen is also guided around the wedge tip 607, thereby ensuring good mixing at the same time. The deflection r causes reflection of sound waves when the electric fan 2 is in operation, which particularly advantageously achieves sound attenuation of the operated respirator 1.

[0103] The partition wall 617 is arranged adjacent to the wedge tip 607. For example, a constriction is formed here in the cross section of the throughflow. The partition wall 617 separates the valve from the oxygen flow u2.

[0104] If the oxygen flow is very large compared to the ambient air flow u1, the sealing function of the valve should be prevented from being adversely affected by the partition wall. The partition wall 617 has a side 617a facing the oxygen flow u2 and a side 617b facing the flow u1 of the ambient air. The partition wall 617 points with its tip 617c into the inner chamber 604, wherein the oxygen flow u2 and the ambient air u1 meet and mix at the tip 617c of the partition wall.

[0105] Fig. 9A cut-away oblique view of a mixing chamber 6 of a third exemplary embodiment is shown, illustrating the changes in the respective through-flow cross sections Q1 , Q2 , Q3 , Q4 and Q5 , in which the valve 3 is integrated.

[0106] exist Fig. 9 , the cross-sections Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 through which the external air delivered and the oxygen supplied flow respectively are shown as planes for illustrating their geometry and are shown on the same relative scale for illustrating their relative size ratios to one another, wherein the positions of these individual cross-sections Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 in the mixing chamber 6 are indicated by the associated arrows in the drawing of the mixing chamber 6. In the labyrinth seal 605, the flow u1 of the external air delivered, the flow u2 of the auxiliary gas oxygen supplied and the flow u3 of the breathing gas have at least one change perpendicular to the flow direction d through which the cross-sections Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 respectively flow, thereby resulting in a further improvement in the sound attenuation. The cross-sections Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 through which flow correspond to the flow cross-sections. The laminar flow is obtained by the mixing chamber 6, and it is also particularly advantageously achieved that not only the flow cross section of the connection for the gas metering unit 5 but also the flow cross section of the connection 603 for the supply line 7 is comparable to the flow cross section S of the inlet 302 and the outlet 303 of the valve 3 in terms of area size and geometry. Therefore, the mixing chamber 6 of the third embodiment is optimized not only in terms of structural size reduction but also in terms of sound attenuation while obtaining a laminar flow. The flow u1 of the external air delivered enters the inlet 302 with a relatively large flow cross section S, wherein the inlet has, for example, a circular cross section. The flow u1 of the external air delivered passes through the valve, wherein, here, the cross section passed through is reduced, for example, wherein, however, preferably, there is no constriction in the area of ​​the valve 3.

[0107] Flow u1 also flows along the partition wall 617 and meets the flow u2 of the supplied auxiliary gas at the tip 617c of the partition wall 617. After the mixing point, the traversed cross section is reduced to the cross section Q4. Then, the mixed breathing gas flow u3 is bent three times and leaves the mixing chamber through the connector 603.

[0108] In the fourth embodiment, the valve 3 is designed as a proportional valve. This particularly advantageously allows a precise regulation and / or compensation control of a determined pressure value and / or flow value of the anesthetic gas or respiratory gas by regulating the distance a between the sealing disk 308 and the flange seal 313 due to the control of the current intensity on the stroke electromagnet 304. In this case, a laminar flow is achieved within sufficient limits when the mathematical product of the circumference of the sealing disk and the distance a between the sealing disk 308 and the edge 315 of the inlet 302 does not differ from the flow cross section S of the inlet 302 by more than 20%.

[0109] Fig.10 A side view of a component 601, for example a mixing chamber housing 601, produced in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner and consisting of a structural component 610 and a counterpart 611 is shown. The structural component 610 has a connecting edge 612 and the counterpart 611 has a connecting edge 613, which are each form-fitting to each other. In the component 601 produced from the structural component 610 and the counterpart 611, it is additionally structurally produced that the opening for the connection 602 and the opening of the inlet 302 are separated by the connecting edges 612, 613. The structural component 610 and the counterpart 611 are produced from ABS.

[0110] Fig.11 The connecting edge 612 with the groove 614, the transverse groove 615 and the flat seal 616 is shown. Fig.10 Here, Fig.11 On the right, a detail of the connecting edge 612 at the location of the connection 603 for the supply line 7 is shown, and on the upper left and lower left, enlarged views of the groove 614 and the transverse groove 615 and the flat seal 616 are shown, respectively.

[0111] In the structural member 610 Fig.11 In the position shown in the figure, a groove 614 is embedded in the connecting edge 612 parallel to the length of the connecting edge 612, and a transverse groove 615 that is vertically connected to the groove 614 and opens the relevant connecting edge 612 is embedded in the connecting edge on the opposite side of the joint 603, wherein a one-piece elastic and compressible flat seal 616 extending not only in the groove 614 but also in the corresponding transverse groove 615 is installed. The flat seal 616 is made of silicon. The flat seal 616 is not only in a shape lock with the groove 614 but also with each transverse groove 615. The flat seal 616 has a sealing height h that is greater than the depth n1 of the groove 614 and the depth n2 of the transverse groove 615. In this embodiment, the sealing height is 1.2 times the depth n1 of the groove 614, wherein the depth n1 of the groove 614 is equal to the depth n2 of the transverse groove 615. The flat seal 616 is configured to extend 1.2 times the depth n2 of the transverse groove 615 beyond the transverse groove 615 through the connecting edge 612. The compression of the flat seal 166 in the transverse groove 615 forms a component 601 due to form locking and force locking, and the seal is strengthened at the relevant position of the connecting edge 612.

[0112] Reference numerals list

[0113] 1. Ventilator

[0114] 2 Electric fan

[0115] 21 Suction input

[0116] 22 Fan output

[0117] 3 (Solenoid) valve

[0118] 301 valve housing

[0119] 302 Inlet

[0120] 303 Outlet

[0121] 304 travel electromagnet

[0122] 305 Valve Piston

[0123] 306 Return spring

[0124] 307 balls

[0125] 308 Sealing disc

[0126] 309 Tee

[0127] 310 Sealing edge

[0128] 311 Ball and socket joint

[0129] 312 Valve Seat

[0130] 313 Flange seal

[0131] 314 Free Space

[0132] 315 Edge

[0133] 4 Pneumatic main line

[0134] 5 Gas metering unit

[0135] 51 Supply input for external air

[0136] 52 Input for oxygen supply

[0137] 53 Input port for anesthetic gas (laughing gas)

[0138] 6 Mixing chamber

[0139] 601 Mixing chamber housing

[0140] 620 Connector for breathing gas source 2

[0141] 602 Connector for gas metering unit 5

[0142] 603 Connector for input line 7

[0143] 604 Lumen

[0144] 605 Labyrinth seal

[0145] 606 Steering wedge

[0146] 607 Wedge Tip

[0147] 608 Insulation material (large pore foam material)

[0148] 609 Surface

[0149] 610 Structural parts

[0150] 611 matching parts

[0151] 612 connecting edge of structural member 610

[0152] 613 Connecting edge of the mating piece 611

[0153] 614 slots

[0154] 615 Horizontal slot

[0155] 616 Flat seal

[0156] 617 Partition Wall

[0157] 618 Blind Alley

[0158] 7 Input pipeline

[0159] 8 Control device

[0160] a Spacing

[0161] d Flow direction

[0162] h Sealing height

[0163] l Longitudinal axis

[0164] n1 Depth of groove 614

[0165] n2 Depth of transverse groove 615

[0166] Q1 cross section

[0167] Q2 cross section

[0168] Q3 cross section

[0169] Q4 cross section

[0170] Q5 cross section

[0171] r Turn

[0172] S Flow cross section

[0173] u1 Flow rate of external air delivered

[0174] u2 Flow rate of the auxiliary gas supplied

[0175] u3 Flow of breathing gas.

Claims

1. A ventilator (1) comprising an electronic control device (8) and a pneumatic main line (4), in which a breathing gas source (2), at least one valve (3), a mixing chamber (6), a gas metering unit (5) and an inlet line (7) are arranged in a pneumatically connected manner, wherein the breathing gas source is configured as an electric fan (2) having a suction inlet (21) and a fan outlet (22), wherein: The gas metering unit (5) is configured to introduce external air and / or oxygen and / or anesthetic gas into the mixing chamber (6), and the breathing gas source (2) is configured to convey breathing gas to the supply line (7), and the mixing chamber (6) is configured to provide breathing gas, wherein the supply line (7) is configured to supply breathing gas to a patient, characterized in that the valve (3) is configured to at least temporarily reduce the flow of breathing gas supplied to the patient, wherein the breathing gas comprises external air and / or oxygen and / or anesthetic gas, wherein the valve is constructed as a part of the mixing chamber (6) or is arranged in a common housing of the mixing chamber, wherein the valve is arranged in the pneumatic main line (4) downstream of the fan outlet (22) in the flow direction (d) and upstream of the gas metering unit (5) in the flow direction (d), wherein the gas metering unit (5) is arranged upstream of the supply line (7) in the flow direction (d).

2. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mixing chamber (6) is configured to provide breathing gas by mixing external air and / or oxygen and / or anesthetic gas.

3. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The breathing gas source (2) is constructed in the pneumatic main line (4) and is constructed as an electric fan (2), and the fan output end (22) is pneumatically connected to the valve (3), and the valve (3) is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber (6), and the mixing chamber (6) is pneumatically connected not only to a gas metering unit (5) but also to an inlet line (7), wherein the inlet end (21) of the electric fan (2) is configured to provide external air, wherein the gas metering unit (5) is configured to pneumatically supply auxiliary gas containing oxygen into the mixing chamber (6) in an adjustable manner in addition to or instead of the delivered external air, wherein the inlet line (7) is configured to supply a patient with breathing gas consisting of the delivered external air or a gas mixture consisting of the external air and the auxiliary gas or a breathing gas consisting of the auxiliary gas alone, wherein the valve is configured to at least temporarily reduce or interrupt the flow of external air into the mixing chamber.

4. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the pneumatic main line (4), in the throughflow direction (d), the fan outlet (22) is pneumatically connected to both the gas metering unit (5) and the supply line (7) by means of the valve (3) of the mixing chamber (6), wherein the suction inlet (21) is provided for conveying external air, wherein the gas metering unit (5) is designed to pneumatically supply auxiliary gas containing oxygen to the mixing chamber (6) in an adjustable manner in addition to or instead of the conveyed external air, wherein the supply line (7) is provided for supplying a patient with a gas composed of the conveyed external air. The invention relates to a breathing gas composed of a breathing gas or a breathing gas composed of a gas mixture composed of the external air and the auxiliary gas or a breathing gas composed of the auxiliary gas alone, wherein the auxiliary gas content, the breathing pressure and the breathing flow of the breathing gas can be adjusted by means of the control device (8), wherein the control device (8) is also constructed to close the valve (3) while opening the gas metering unit (5) when the electric fan (2) and / or the power supply device fails and / or when the processor fails and / or when the software crashes, and to enable the gas metering unit (5) to provide breathing gas itself.

5. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The mixing chamber (6) has a connection (602) for the gas metering unit (5), a connection (603) for the supply line (7) and a connection (620) for the breathing gas source (2).

6. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The mixing chamber (6) has at least one connection (602, 603, 620) for connecting to a component (2, 5, 7), wherein the connection has a releasable locking portion for quickly assembling the component.

7. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A valve (3) having an inlet (302) and an outlet (303) in a valve housing (301), the valve being pneumatically connected to the suction inlet (21) via the outlet (303) or to the fan outlet (22) via the inlet (302), wherein the electric fan (2) and the valve (3) are electronically regulated in at least one common control circuit by means of the control device (8), and the control device (8) itself is at least partially controlled by means of a soft The invention relates to an algorithm in the form of a software component which can be electronically and / or automatically adjusted by means of a processor, wherein functional components (5, 6, 7) and optional measuring tools and / or regulating tools are pneumatically connected in or on the pneumatic main line (4) and / or in other pneumatic branch lines and / or secondary lines and / or return devices, wherein the functional components (5, 6, 7) are electronically adjusted by means of the control device (8) and the measuring tools and / or regulating tools are also optional components of the control device (8).

8. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The valve is designed as a non-return valve and / or as a solenoid valve and / or as a proportional valve.

9. The ventilator (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The valve is constructed as a solenoid valve (3), having a stroke electromagnet (304) fixed in a valve housing (301) and a magnetically movable valve piston (305), wherein the valve piston (305) has a sealing disk (308) including a sealing device, wherein the sealing disk (308) acts on an inlet (302), wherein the valve piston (305) with the sealing disk (308) is pressed against the inlet (302, 312) by a spring (306), thereby prohibiting a gas flow from or to the electric fan.

10. The ventilator (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The travel electromagnet (304) is de-energized when the solenoid valve (3) is in the closed state.

11. The ventilator (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that When current is passed through the travel electromagnet (304), an adjustable or predetermined electromagnetic force acts on the magnetically movable valve piston (305), wherein the magnetically movable valve piston (305) compresses the spring (306) to a predeterminable extent, wherein, in the open state, the electromagnetic force acting on the magnetically movable valve piston (305) is greater than the force of the spring.

12. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The control device (8) has at least one processor or a computer or has a plurality of processors in order to control at least the electric fan, the valve and the measuring means and / or regulating means.

13. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The control device (8) is designed to automatically shut off the valve (3) when the electric fan (2) fails and / or when the control device (8) fails.

14. The ventilator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the pneumatic main line (4), in the flow direction (d), the fan outlet (22) is pneumatically connected to the valve (3), the valve (3) is pneumatically connected to the mixing chamber (6), and the mixing chamber (6) is pneumatically connected not only to the gas metering unit (5) but also to the supply line (7), wherein the suction inlet (21) is provided for conveying external air, wherein the gas metering unit (5) is designed to pneumatically supply auxiliary gas containing oxygen into the mixing chamber (6) in an adjustable manner in addition to or instead of the conveyed external air, wherein the supply line (7) is provided for supplying a patient with a gas metering unit (5). Supplying breathing gas consisting of delivered external air or a gas mixture consisting of the external air and the auxiliary gas or a breathing gas consisting of the auxiliary gas alone, wherein the auxiliary gas content, the breathing pressure and the breathing flow of the breathing gas can be adjusted with the aid of the control device (8), wherein the control device (8) is also constructed to automatically close the valve (3) while opening the gas metering unit (5) and to enable the gas metering unit (5) to provide breathing gas itself when the electric fan (2) and / or the power supply device fails and / or when the processor fails and / or when the software crashes.

15. The ventilator (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The valve (3) is directly controlled, for which purpose the valve has a stroke electromagnet (304) with a valve piston (305) and can be operated by current control at the stroke electromagnet (304), wherein a sealing disk (308) is mounted on the valve piston (305) at the front and vertically, wherein the inlet (302) is designed as a valve seat (312), wherein a mechanical play with three degrees of freedom is provided for the sealing disk (308), wherein the inlet (302) and the outlet (303) are arranged in a manner that allows the valve to move freely. ) respectively have flow cross-sections (S) of the same size in area, wherein, in the open state of the valve (3), gas flow is achieved both on the side of the sealing disk (308) facing the inlet (302) and behind the side due to the structure, and the mathematical product formed by the circumference of the sealing disk (308) and the distance (a) between the sealing disk (308) and the edge (315) of the inlet (302) corresponds to the flow cross-section (S) with a deviation of no more than 20%.

16. The ventilator (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The valve (3) is designed as a non-return valve for shutting off the electric fan (2) in the event of a failure of the power supply device and / or in the event of an overpressure at the outflow (303) relative to the inflow (302).

17. The ventilator (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The mixing chamber (6) is constructed as a valve housing (301), wherein the inlet (302) of the valve (3) is constructed as an inlet (302) to the mixing chamber (6), and the outlet (303) is pneumatically led into an inner chamber (604) of the mixing chamber (6), wherein the inner chamber (604) is pneumatically connected not only to the gas metering unit (5) but also to the supply line (7).

18. The ventilator (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that The inner cavity (604) has a labyrinth seal (605).

19. The ventilator (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that In the labyrinth seal (605), the flow of external air (u1) delivered and / or the flow of auxiliary gas (u2) supplied and / or the flow of breathing gas (u3) respectively have at least one detour (r), and / or the flow of external air (u1) delivered and / or the flow of auxiliary gas (u2) supplied and / or the flow of breathing gas (u3) respectively have at least one change in the cross-section (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5) of the flow perpendicular to the flow direction (d).

20. The ventilator (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that The mixing chamber (6) has a deflecting wedge (606) with a wedge tip (607) upstream of the gas metering unit (5), wherein a flow (u2) of the supplied auxiliary gas is guided around the wedge tip (607), wherein the deflecting wedge (606) is constructed in a hollow manner and / or has a filling made of an insulating material (608).

21. The ventilator (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that In the labyrinth seal (605) there is a surface (609) which is at least partially lined with an insulating material (608) and / or has antimicrobial properties at least in some regions.

22. The ventilator (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that The insulating material (608) has antibacterial properties.

23. A mixing chamber for a ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that: The mixing chamber (6) has a mixing chamber housing (601) having a connection (602) for the gas metering unit (5), a connection (603) for the supply line (7) and a connection (620) for the breathing gas source (2).

24. A mixing chamber for a ventilator according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that: The mixing chamber comprises a component which is manufactured by a structural component (610) and a counterpart (611) in a form-locked and force-locked manner, wherein the structural component (610) and the counterpart (611) respectively have connecting edges (612, 613) which are form-locked with each other, wherein in the structural component (610), a groove (614) is embedded in the connecting edge (612) at least in parallel with the length of the connecting edge (612), and a transverse groove (615) which is vertically connected to the groove (614) and opens the relevant connecting edge (612) is embedded in the connecting edge, wherein a one-piece elastic and force-locking member extending not only in the groove (614) but also in the transverse groove (615) is installed. A compressed flat seal (616), wherein the flat seal (616) is form-locked not only with respect to the groove (614) but also with respect to the transverse groove (615), wherein the flat seal (616) is provided with a sealing height (h) which is greater than the depth (n1) of the groove (614) and greater than the depth (n2) of the transverse groove (615) and which is at most equivalent to twice the depth (n1) of the groove (614) and twice the depth (n2) of the transverse groove (615), wherein the flat seal (616) is configured to extend correspondingly beyond the transverse groove (615) passing through the connecting edge (612) by no more than twice the depth (n2) of the transverse groove (615).

25. The mixing chamber according to claim 24, characterized in that The component is a mixing chamber housing (601).

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