Anti-blocking heat and humidity exchanger

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of medical devices, and discloses an anti-blocking heat and humidity exchanger which comprises a shell, the shell is provided with an inhalation end facing a patient and an exhalation end facing breathing equipment, and when the anti-blocking heat and humidity exchanger is used, the inhalation end and the exhalation end of the shell are arranged from top to bottom; a filtering cavity is formed in the shell, a filtering piece used for conducting heat and moisture is arranged in the filtering cavity, the filtering piece is in a disc shape or a plate shape and is provided with a plurality of channels communicating an inhalation end with an exhalation end, and the auxiliary device is arranged outside the shell and comprises a driving mechanism. A water removal cavity is further formed in the shell, and a water removal mechanism is arranged in the water removal cavity. According to the utility model, through the arrangement of the water removal mechanism, when condensate water is accumulated in the filter part, the transmission belt can be driven to rotate through the transmission shaft, so that the sponge can clean the lower side surface of the filter part, and therefore, the condensate water can be removed, and the ventilation capacity of the filter part is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical devices, and in particular to a heat and moisture exchanger that can prevent clogging. Background Technology

[0002] A heat and moisture exchanger, also known as an artificial nose, is a medical device that mimics the function of the human nasal cavity. In normal individuals, inhaled air maintains a certain level of humidity and temperature as it passes through the nasal cavity. However, for critically ill patients with tracheostomies or those under anesthesia, the inhaled air does not pass through the nasal cavity, resulting in colder and drier air and causing the patient to produce a large amount of phlegm. Therefore, a heat and moisture exchanger (or artificial nose) is needed to heat, humidify, and filter the inhaled air during respiration, making the state of the air entering the respiratory tract as close as possible to the body's physiological needs. It can also partially recover and reuse the heat and moisture in exhaled air to reduce the loss of moisture and heat from the respiratory tract.

[0003] The main body of a heat and moisture exchanger's filter element is generally composed of corrugated humidifying paper and a humidifying pad, with the humidifying pad typically located at the patient's inhalation end. The corrugated paper has multiple fine pores inside to allow airflow. During use, the humidifying pad absorbs moisture from the patient's exhaled air and retains its heat. When the patient inhales outside air, this moisture and heat are carried from the humidifying pad into the patient's respiratory tract.

[0004] However, during the use of heat and moisture exchangers, condensation water accumulates inside the corrugated humidifying paper. The accumulation of condensation water can cause blockage of the fine pores inside the exchanger, which will reduce the overall ventilation capacity of the device and ultimately reduce the patient's inspiratory tidal volume. Therefore, a blockage-proof heat and moisture exchanger is proposed to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] To overcome the above shortcomings, this utility model provides a clog-proof heat and humidity exchanger, which aims to improve the problem in the prior art that "heat and humidity exchangers cannot avoid condensation, and some small holes may be blocked by water, resulting in a decrease in the patient's tidal volume".

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model adopts the following technical solution: a clog-resistant heat and moisture exchanger, comprising a housing, wherein the housing has an inhalation end facing the patient and an exhalation end facing the respiratory device, wherein in use, the inhalation end and the exhalation end of the housing are configured from top to bottom; a filter chamber is formed inside the housing, and a filter element for heat and moisture conduction is disposed inside the filter chamber, the filter element being disc-shaped or plate-shaped, having multiple channels connecting the inhalation end to the exhalation end, and further comprising:

[0007] An auxiliary device, disposed outside the housing, includes a drive mechanism;

[0008] The outer casing also has a water removal chamber, and a water removal mechanism is provided in the water removal chamber. The water removal mechanism includes a transmission mechanism and a wiping component. The driving mechanism can cooperate with the transmission mechanism to drive the wiping component to wipe along the lower side of the filter element to remove the condensate accumulated in the channel of the filter element.

[0009] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0010] The housing has a limiting plate inside for placing the filter element, thereby forming a first space on the underside of the filter element for the wiping element to move; the transmission mechanism includes a transmission shaft and a transmission belt, the housing has an opening, the transmission shaft is embedded in the opening and is driven to rotate within the opening in a restricted manner; the lower side inside the housing has a guide, the transmission belt is at least partially confined by the guide in the first space and is driven to rotate by the transmission shaft; the wiping element is a conical sponge, the sponge is disposed on the transmission belt, and its cross-section facing the filter element is larger.

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0012] The transmission belt can be restricted by the guide and wound in a meandering manner in the first space, so that the sponge can rub against the entire lower side of the filter when it moves.

[0013] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0014] The drive mechanism of the auxiliary device includes

[0015] The motor, wherein the drive shaft and the motor shaft have a engaging structure;

[0016] A positioning post, in which the motor is housed;

[0017] In addition, the auxiliary structure also includes a substrate on which a control circuit is disposed and connected to a power supply, and the positioning post is engagedly disposed on the substrate.

[0018] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0019] Conductive electrode plates are provided at the engagement point between the positioning post and the substrate, so that when the positioning post is engaged with the substrate, the motor can be electrically connected to the control circuit.

[0020] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0021] The outer shell has a water-removing cavity that protrudes towards the exhalation end to form a hollow water-receiving part. A squeezing member is provided inside the outer shell near the water-receiving part to squeeze the water in the sponge into the water-receiving part.

[0022] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0023] The auxiliary device further includes a heating unit, which includes a receiving groove and a heating element. The receiving groove is located on the substrate, and the heating element is located inside the receiving groove. The water-containing part can be placed into the receiving groove and heated by the heating element.

[0024] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0025] The outer casing has a locking block, and the receiving groove has a locking slot that engages with the locking block, so that when the water-containing part is placed into the receiving groove, the outer casing cannot rotate relative to the receiving groove.

[0026] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0027] The drive shaft has a sealing ring at the opening.

[0028] As a further description of the above technical solution:

[0029] The substrate also has a fixing member that can fix the heat and humidity exchanger and auxiliary devices to a restricted position in the outside.

[0030] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention also adopts the following technical solution: an auxiliary device for a clog-proof heat and humidity exchanger, comprising a heating element, wherein the heating element is mounted on the top of a substrate.

[0031] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0032] 1. In this utility model, by setting a water removal mechanism, when condensate accumulates inside the filter element, the transmission belt can be driven to rotate through the transmission shaft, so that the sponge can clean the lower side of the filter element, thereby removing the condensate and ensuring the air permeability of the filter element.

[0033] 2. In this utility model, by setting a heating element, after a certain amount of condensate is collected, the collected condensate can be heated by the heating element, so that it can be re-atomized and then released into the patient's respiratory tract through the inhalation tube, thus ensuring the humidity of the released air. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the overall device in this utility model;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural disassembly diagram of the filter element in this utility model;

[0036] Figure 3This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the filter element in this utility model;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the three-dimensional structure of the drive component in this utility model;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the fixing component in this utility model.

[0039] Legend:

[0040] 1. Substrate; 3. Fixing component; 41. Housing; 42. Inhalation end; 43. Filter component; 44. Drive shaft; 45. Drive belt; 46. Wiping component; 49. Exhalation end; 410. Guide component; 411. Squeezing component; 413. Water holding part; 414. Heating element; 5. Drive assembly; 51. Electrode plate; 52. Slot; 53. Motor; 54. Positioning post; 56. Locking block; 57. Drive shaft; 6. Water removal chamber; 61. First space. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Reference Figure 1 - Figure 5 One embodiment of the present invention is provided: the clog-proof heat and moisture exchanger includes a housing 41, which has an inhalation end 42 facing the patient and an exhalation end 49 facing the respiratory device. In use, the inhalation end 42 and the exhalation end 49 of the housing 41 are configured from top to bottom.

[0042] A filter chamber is formed inside the outer casing 41, and a filter element 43 for heat and moisture conduction is disposed inside the filter chamber. The filter element 43 is disc-shaped or plate-shaped and has multiple channels connecting the inhalation end 42 to the exhalation end 49. It also includes an auxiliary device disposed outside the outer casing 41, which includes a drive mechanism 5 and a heating element.

[0043] The outer casing 41 also has a water removal chamber 6, which is equipped with a water removal mechanism. The water removal mechanism includes a transmission mechanism and a wiping component 46. The drive mechanism 5 can cooperate with the transmission mechanism to drive the wiping component 46 to wipe along the lower side of the filter element 43 to remove the condensate accumulated in the fine channels of the filter element 43.

[0044] The housing 41 has a limiting plate inside for placing the filter element 43, so as to form a first space 61 on the underside of the filter element 43 for the wiping element 46 to move.

[0045] The transmission mechanism includes a transmission shaft 44 and a transmission belt 45. The housing 41 has an opening, the transmission shaft 44 is inserted into the opening and is driven to rotate in a restricted manner within the opening. In addition, the transmission shaft 44 also has a sealing ring at the opening.

[0046] A portion of the transmission belt 45 is confined within the first space 61 by multiple guides 410 and is driven to rotate by the transmission shaft 44.

[0047] The wiping element 46 is a cone-shaped absorbent sponge 46, which is set on the transmission belt 45. The cross-section of the sponge 46 facing the filter element 43 is larger in order to maximize the wiping surface.

[0048] In this embodiment, there are multiple guide members 410. The transmission belt 45 is restricted by the guide members 410 and is wound in a meandering manner in the first space 61, so that the sponge 46 can rub against the entire lower side of the filter member 43 when it moves.

[0049] It should be noted that another implementation of the guide 410 is a T-shaped groove opened on the lower inner wall of the housing 41, and the cross-section of the transmission belt 45 is also T-shaped, so that it can be restricted to rotate in the meandering groove.

[0050] A portion of the water-removing cavity 6 of the outer shell 41 protrudes towards the exhalation end 49 to form a hollow water-receiving part 413. A squeezing member 411 is provided inside the outer shell 41 near the water-receiving part 413 to squeeze the water in the sponge 46 into the water-receiving part 413.

[0051] The drive mechanism 5 of the auxiliary device includes a motor 53 and a positioning post 54. The drive shaft 44 has a engaging structure with the motor 53 shaft; and the positioning post 54 is used to accommodate the motor 53. The auxiliary device also includes a base plate 1, on which a control circuit is disposed and connected to a power source, and the positioning post 54 is engagingly disposed on the base plate 1.

[0052] Conductive electrode plates 51 are provided at the engagement point between the positioning post 54 and the substrate 1, so that when the positioning post 54 is engaged with the substrate 1, the motor 53 can be electrically connected to the control circuit.

[0053] The heating part includes a receiving tank and a heating element 414. The receiving tank is located on the substrate 1, and the heating element 414 is located inside the receiving tank. The water receiving part 413 can be placed into the receiving tank and heated by the heating element 414.

[0054] The outer casing 41 has a locking block 56, and the receiving groove on the base plate 1 has a locking slot 52 that mates with the locking block 56. Therefore, during use, the water-receiving part 413 is inserted into the receiving slot, and the motor 53 cannot drive the outer casing 41 to rotate relative to the base plate 1 and the receiving groove. Obviously, the locking slot 52 can also be located in other positions on the base plate 1.

[0055] The substrate 1 also has a fixing member 3, which can fix the heat and humidity exchanger and auxiliary devices in a limited position. The fixing member 3 is implemented in the form of existing technology, such as clamping fixation, threaded rod fixation, etc. In this embodiment, clamping plates extend downward from both ends of the substrate 1, and the fixing member 3 includes a threaded rod 32. The threaded rod 32 passes through the clamping plate and is threaded to one end of the clamping plate. The threaded rod 32 is divided into an operating end and an action end. The action end is fixedly connected to a rubber pad 33 for pressing the bed board, and the operating end of the threaded rod 32 is provided with a knob 31 for the operator to rotate. In use, the operator clamps the clamping plate to the bed frame or other fixed objects in the outside, and rotates the threaded rod 32 to gradually fix the substrate 1 and components such as the heat and humidity exchanger in a limited position.

[0056] When in use, the operator first inserts the water-containing part 413 of the heat and humidity exchanger into the receiving groove on the base plate 1 and inserts the locking block 56 into the locking groove 52; then the positioning post 54 is engaged with the base plate 1, at which time the motor shaft 57 is also engaged with the transmission shaft 44, and then the fixing part 3 can be used to fix the base plate 1 to the external bed frame or other positions.

[0057] When the heat and humidity exchanger is working, condensation forms inside the microchannels of the filter element 43. This condensation accumulates on the lower surface of the filter element 43 under gravity. At this time, the control circuit manipulates the drive motor 53 to rotate the transmission shaft 44 periodically or slowly, thereby causing the transmission belt 45 to rotate around the path restricted by the guide 410. This allows the sponge 46 to gradually rub against the lower surface of the filter element 43, thus absorbing the condensation. When the sponge 46 moves near the water-receiving section 413, it is contacted by the squeezing element 411. The squeezing element 411 and the transmission shaft 44 together squeeze the sponge 46, squeezing out the condensation inside and dripping it into the water-receiving section 413. The control circuit heats the water-receiving section 413 via the heating element 414, causing this condensation to evaporate into the outer shell 41 of the heat and humidity exchanger, thus ensuring the humidity of the air inhaled by the patient.

Claims

1. A clog-resistant heat and moisture exchanger comprising a housing (41) having a patient-facing inhalation end (42) and an exhalation end (49) facing a breathing apparatus, characterized in that: In use, the suction end (42) and the exhalation end (49) of the shell (41) are configured from top to bottom; a filter cavity is formed inside the shell (41), and a filter member (43) for heat and moisture conduction is arranged inside the filter cavity; the filter member (43) is disc-shaped or plate-shaped, has a plurality of channels communicating between the suction end (42) and the exhalation end (49), and further comprises: an auxiliary device arranged outside the shell (41) and comprising a driving mechanism; the shell (41) further has a water removal cavity (6) inside, and a water removal mechanism is arranged inside the water removal cavity (6); the water removal mechanism comprises a transmission mechanism and a wiping member (46); the driving mechanism can cooperate with the transmission mechanism to drive the wiping member (46) to wipe along the lower side of the filter member (43) to remove condensed water accumulated in the channels of the filter member (43).

2. The anti-clogging heat and moisture exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shell (41) has a limiting plate inside for placing the filter member (43) to form a first space (61) for the wiping member (46) to move on the lower side of the filter member (43); the transmission mechanism comprises a transmission shaft (44) and a transmission belt (45); the shell (41) is provided with an opening, the transmission shaft (44) is embedded in the opening and is driven to rotate in the opening; the lower side of the shell (41) has a guide member (410), the transmission belt (45) is at least partially limited in the first space (61) by the guide member (410) and is driven to rotate by the transmission shaft (44); the wiping member (46) is a conical sponge, and the sponge is arranged on the transmission belt (45) and has a larger cross section on the side facing the filter member (43).

3. The anti-clogging heat and moisture exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission belt (45) can be limited by the guide member (410) and is wound in a detour in the first space (61) so that the sponge can wipe the entire lower side of the filter member (43) when moving.

4. The anti-jamming heat and moisture exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that: The driving mechanism of the auxiliary device comprises a motor (53), the transmission shaft (44) and the motor (53) have matching engagement structures on the shafts; a positioning column (54), the motor (53) is accommodated in the positioning column (54); In addition, the auxiliary structure further comprises a base plate (1), the base plate (1) is provided with a control circuit and is connected to a power supply, and the positioning column (54) is clippably arranged on the base plate (1).

5. The anti-jamming heat and moisture exchanger of claim 4, wherein: The positioning column (54) and the base plate (1) are matched to be provided with conductive electrode sheets (51) at the clamping positions, so that when the positioning column (54) is clamped to the base plate (1), the motor (53) can be electrically connected to the control circuit.

6. The anti-jamming heat and moisture exchanger of claim 4, wherein: A hollow water containing portion (413) is protruded from the water removal cavity (6) of the shell (41) to the exhalation end (49), and a squeezing member (411) is arranged near the water containing portion (413) in the shell (41) to squeeze water in the sponge into the water containing portion (413).

7. The anti-jamming heat and moisture exchanger according to claim 6, characterized in that: The auxiliary device further comprises a heating part, which comprises a containing groove on the base plate (1) and a heating sheet (414) in the containing groove, and the water containing part (413) can be put into the containing groove and heated by the heating sheet (414).

8. The anti-jamming heat and moisture exchanger of claim 7, wherein: The housing (41) has a clamping block (56), and the containing groove has a clamping groove (52) matched with the clamping block (56), so that the housing (41) cannot rotate relative to the containing groove when the water containing part (413) is put into the containing groove.

9. The anti-clogging heat and moisture exchanger according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that: The transmission shaft (44) has a sealing ring at the opening.

10. The anti-clogging heat and moisture exchanger according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that: The base plate (1) further has a fixing part (3), which can fix the heat and moisture exchanger and the auxiliary device at a limited position outside.

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