Air tap for cold and hot air perfusion, vestibular cold and hot stimulator and cold and hot air perfusion system

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air tap for cold and hot air perfusion, a vestibular cold and hot stimulator and a cold and hot air perfusion system, the air tap for cold and hot air perfusion comprises an air tap body and an extension tube arranged on the air tap body; an air inlet channel communicated with the extension tube is arranged in the air tap body, the extension tube can be inserted into the external auditory canal of a patient, and the far end of the extension tube can extend to the position close to the tympanic membrane of the patient. The vestibular cold and hot stimulator comprises a gas transmission handle and the gas nozzle for cold and hot gas perfusion. The cold and hot air perfusion system comprises the vestibular cold and hot stimulator. By adopting the technical scheme, the extension tube can go deep into an external auditory canal to be close to a tympanic membrane, cold and hot gas is directly conveyed, temperature and flow are ensured to accurately reach a target position, energy loss is reduced, and the accuracy of vestibular stimulation and diagnosis reliability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a hot and cold gas infusion nozzle, a vestibular hot and cold stimulator, and a hot and cold gas infusion system, belonging to the field of medical device technology. Background Technology

[0002] A vestibular thermo-cold stimulator is a medical device used to assess the function of the vestibular system. It primarily induces vestibular responses through temperature stimulation, aiding in the diagnosis of vestibular dysfunction and related diseases. The device works by injecting hot or cold air or water into the ear canal, altering the temperature of the inner ear lymph fluid and triggering its flow. This stimulates the vestibular system, inducing nystagmus, and vestibular function is assessed by observing the direction, intensity, and duration of the nystagmus.

[0003] Common vestibular thermo-cold stimulators typically feature a conical, rigid nozzle with a central air vent and an outer light. During use, the nozzle is placed close to the auricle and external auditory canal, similar to an ear thermometer. This type of nozzle has several drawbacks: 1. It cannot reach deep into the external auditory canal, failing to meet clinical needs. Hot and cold air infusion requires specific temperatures and flow rates of gas to be delivered to the patient's tympanic membrane; if the nozzle is too far from the tympanic membrane, the temperature and flow rate cannot meet the design requirements. 2. It can easily block the patient's ear canal, preventing airflow and increasing the risk of increased air pressure in the ear canal. 3. Cleaning and disinfection are inconvenient for users; frequent contact between the nozzle and the patient increases the risk of cross-infection; the small nozzle is easily damaged, and once damaged, it cannot be replaced by the user or after-sales service, requiring the entire device to be returned to the factory for repair. When infusing hot air, the high temperature at the tip of the nozzle causes discomfort for the patient. Some nozzles, in order to solve the problem of not being able to expel air, divide the inner hole of the nozzle into two halves in the middle. The lower half is the air inlet and the upper half is the air outlet. The upper half also serves as a viewing window for observing the inside of the ear canal. However, this structure, which divides the inner hole of the nozzle into air inlets and air outlets placed side by side, will inevitably reduce the diameter of the air inlet, affecting thermal efficiency. The air about to enter the air outlet will exchange heat with the air blown out of the air inlet, thus taking away some of the heat (or cold) blown in, affecting the precise temperature stimulation of the eardrum. The blown air may escape directly through the adjacent air outlet without fully reaching the eardrum, resulting in a weakened stimulation effect or the need to increase the flow rate. The narrow partition channel is prone to retaining secretions or dirt. If the air outlet is blocked by ear canal secretions or nozzle displacement, it may still cause pressure buildup in the ear canal. Utility Model Content

[0004] Therefore, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a hot and cold air infusion nozzle, a vestibular hot and cold stimulator, and a hot and cold air infusion system that can extend to the depth of the external auditory canal near the tympanic membrane.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a nozzle for hot and cold air infusion, comprising a nozzle body and an extension tube disposed on the nozzle body; the nozzle body is provided with an air inlet communicating with the extension tube, the extension tube being able to be inserted into the patient's external auditory canal, and the distal end of the extension tube being able to extend to a position close to the patient's tympanic membrane; the distal end of the nozzle body is provided with an abutment portion, the abutment portion being able to abut against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal to limit the depth of insertion of the extension tube into the external auditory canal.

[0006] When the abutting part abuts against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, the distance between the distal end of the extension tube and the tympanic membrane is 2mm-20mm.

[0007] At least one vent is provided on the nozzle body and on the proximal side of the abutment portion. When the abutment portion abuts against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, the vent is always located on the outside of the external auditory canal. An exhaust channel communicating with the vent is provided in the nozzle body, and an exhaust port communicating with the exhaust channel is provided on the distal end face of the nozzle body.

[0008] A tapered outer wall is provided at the distal end of the air nozzle body, and the tapered outer wall forms the abutment portion.

[0009] The proximal side of the abutment portion is connected to the constricted neck with a reduced outer diameter, and the vent is opened in the constricted neck.

[0010] The constricted neck includes a tapered section connected to the abutment portion and having a gradually decreasing outer diameter, and the vent is opened on the tapered section.

[0011] A cavity is formed on the distal end face of the air nozzle body, and the proximal end of the extension tube is inserted into the cavity. There is a gap between the extension tube and the inner wall of the cavity, and the gap forms the exhaust passage.

[0012] The distal end face of the air nozzle body is a beveled surface.

[0013] This utility model also provides a vestibular hot and cold stimulator, including a gas delivery handle and a gas nozzle for hot and cold gas injection as described above, an air inlet pipe, and a gas temperature control module. The gas temperature control module is connected between the air inlet pipe and the gas nozzle for hot and cold gas injection and is used to heat or cool the gas.

[0014] This utility model also provides a hot and cold gas injection system, including:

[0015] The vestibular thermo-cold stimulator as described above;

[0016] An air pump, with connecting pipes, is connected to the vestibular hot and cold stimulator;

[0017] The control module, connected to the temperature sensor and gas temperature-changing module in the vestibular thermo-stimulator, is used to perform closed-loop control of the power of the gas temperature-changing module based on the preset temperature and the real-time temperature data collected by the temperature sensor.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the hot and cold gas injection nozzle, vestibular hot and cold stimulator, and hot and cold gas injection system of this utility model have the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0019] 1. The extension tube can be inserted deep into the external auditory canal near the tympanic membrane to directly deliver hot and cold gas, ensuring that the temperature and flow rate accurately reach the target position, reducing energy loss, and improving the accuracy and diagnostic reliability of vestibular stimulation.

[0020] 2. Independent exhaust channel design, with the cavity and extension tube separated to avoid mixing of blowing and exhaust, prevent heat exchange or gas short-circuiting and escape, and ensure the stability of temperature stimulation at the tympanic membrane.

[0021] 3. The distal end of the air nozzle body is provided with an abutment part, which is blocked by the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, thereby limiting the depth of the extension tube inserted into the external auditory canal, avoiding damage to the tympanic membrane caused by excessive insertion of the extension tube, and ensuring that the exhaust hole is always located on the outside of the external auditory canal. Combined with the unobstructed design of the concave cavity, it effectively avoids the risk of increased air pressure in the ear canal.

[0022] 4. The vent is located on the outside of the ear canal, allowing air in the ear to be directly discharged outside the ear canal; the large-diameter vent channel is less prone to dirt residue, reducing the risk of secretions clogging the ear canal.

[0023] 5. The abutment part is connected to the tapered part with a gradually decreasing outer diameter, and an exhaust hole is opened on the tapered part, so that the gas is blown out in a diagonal and rearward direction along the exhaust hole. The exhaust channel is reasonably designed so that the air flows out more smoothly and is not blocked by other structures.

[0024] 6. The integrated temperature sensor provides real-time feedback data, and the power of the variable temperature module is dynamically adjusted through real-time temperature monitoring to achieve closed-loop temperature control, prevent overheating or overcooling stimulation, improve treatment safety, and ensure that the gas temperature quickly reaches the preset value and remains stable. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the vestibular thermo-cold stimulator in this utility model;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the air nozzle for hot and cold gas injection according to this utility model.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view of the air nozzle body;

[0028] Figure 4 This is the front view of the air nozzle body;

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Sectional view along line AA in the middle;

[0030] Figure 6 An exploded view of the assembly structure of the nozzle for injecting hot and cold gas;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a 3D view of the air nozzle connector;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a side view of the air nozzle connector;

[0033] Figure 9 for Figure 8 CC-direction section view;

[0034] Figure 10 for Figure 8 DD section view in the middle;

[0035] Figure 11 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of part B in the image;

[0036] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of another embodiment of the air nozzle connector;

[0037] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the air nozzle body;

[0038] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the gas temperature control module;

[0039] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram showing the usage state of the vestibular hot and cold stimulator of this utility model.

[0040] In the diagram: 1. Nozzle body; 1a. Mounting part; 1b. Abutting part; 1c. Neck; 100. Gap; 100a. Annular air inlet; 101. Exhaust port; 102. V-shaped annular groove; 103. Beveled surface; 104. Sealing ring groove; 105. Slot; 106. Hole-shaped exhaust channel; 106a. Hole-shaped exhaust port; 11. Air inlet chamber; 12. Recessed cavity; 13. Air inlet channel; 2. Extension tube; 3. Sealing ring; 4. Nozzle connector; 41. Mounting groove; 410. Inner recess Surface; 410a, Gap; 42, Mounting block; 420, Air blowing hole; 401, Locking boss; 402, Air nozzle mounting slot; 403, Central air hole; 404, Outer peripheral air hole; 5, Air supply handle; 501, Air supply pipe; 502, Air inlet pipe; 503, Gas temperature control module; 503a, Semiconductor cooling chip; 503b, Heat exchange chamber; 503c, Radiator; 504, Control button; 505, Indicator light; 506, Air pump connection pipe; 507, Temperature sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0042] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, this utility model provides a vestibular hot and cold stimulator, including an air delivery handle 5 and an air nozzle for injecting hot and cold air.

[0043] An air inlet pipe 502, a gas temperature control module 503, and an air blowing pipe 501 are provided inside the air supply handle 5. An air nozzle connector 4 is provided at the end of the air supply handle 5. The air nozzle connector 4 is fixed to the air supply handle by a locking boss 401. The hot and cold gas injection nozzle includes an air nozzle body 1 and an extension pipe 2 disposed on the air nozzle body 1. The air nozzle body 1 is detachably inserted into the air nozzle connector 4. The gas temperature control module 503 is located between the air inlet pipe 502 and the air blowing pipe 501. The air inlet pipe 502 is connected to an external gas source through a connecting pipe 506. Gas enters the gas temperature control module 503 through the air inlet pipe 502 for heating or cooling, and then is blown into the air nozzle body 1 through the air blowing pipe, finally being blown out into the ear from the extension pipe 2. Figure 14 As shown, the gas temperature control module 503 includes a thermoelectric cooler 503a and a heat exchange chamber 503b. The thermoelectric cooler typically comprises a thermocouple pair consisting of an N-type semiconductor material and a P-type semiconductor material connected together. When current flows through it, heat transfer occurs between the two surfaces of the thermoelectric cooler, creating a temperature difference and forming hot and cold surfaces. The hot and cold surfaces switch when the current direction is changed. The two ends of the heat exchange chamber 503b are connected to an air inlet pipe 502 and an air blowing pipe 501, respectively. One side of the thermoelectric cooler 503a is the working surface, and the other side is the heat dissipation surface. The working surface is located inside the heat exchange chamber 503b, and the heat dissipation surface is located outside the heat exchange chamber 503b and is attached to a heat sink 503c.

[0044] The nozzle body 1 has a mounting part 1a at its proximal end, and a nozzle mounting groove 402 is provided on the distal end face of the nozzle connector 4. The mounting part 1a is inserted into the nozzle mounting groove 402. A sealing ring groove 104 is provided on the mounting part 1a, and a sealing ring 3 is installed in the sealing ring groove 104 to seal the nozzle body 1 and the nozzle connector 4, preventing gas leakage. At the same time, the elasticity of the sealing ring 3 itself increases the connection damping between the nozzle body 1 and the nozzle connector 4, making the nozzle body 1 not easy to fall off and easy to disassemble and rotate.

[0045] An air inlet chamber 11 is provided on the end face of the mounting part 1a, and a vent hole opposite to the air inlet chamber 11 is provided at the bottom of the air nozzle mounting groove 402. In this embodiment, as... Figures 6-10 As shown, the vent includes a central vent and a plurality of peripheral vents 404 surrounding the central vent 403. A mounting groove 41 is provided on the proximal end face of the nozzle connector 4. The bottom of the mounting groove 41 has an inner concave surface 410, and the central vent 403 and peripheral vents 404 are located on the inner concave surface 410. A mounting block 42 is provided within the mounting groove 41, pressing against the bottom of the mounting groove 41. A gap 410a is formed between the end face of the mounting block 42 and the inner concave surface 410. A blowing hole 420 is provided on the mounting block 42, which is connected to a blowing pipe. Gas blown out by the blowing pipe 501 can enter the gap 410a through the blowing hole 420, and then pass through the central vent 403 and peripheral vents 404 into the air intake chamber 11. By configuring the aforementioned air intake chamber 11, peripheral air holes 404, intermediate air holes 403, and the gap 410a in a mutually cooperating structure, the air intake chamber 11 has sufficient cross-sectional area to receive the direct airflow from the peripheral air holes 404 and intermediate air holes 403. Simultaneously, the air intake chamber 11 serves as an airflow buffer zone, effectively stabilizing the gas flow before it enters the extension pipe 2. Furthermore, a pipe connector 421 is provided on the mounting block 42. One end of the pipe connector 421 is inserted into the air blowing hole 420, and the other end is connected to the air blowing pipe 501. A temperature sensor 507 is installed on the pipe connector 421. The probe of the temperature sensor 507 is positioned within the intermediate air hole 403, thus placing it as close as possible to the center of the airflow, improving the accuracy of gas temperature detection. The peripheral air holes 404 effectively compensate for the probe's obstruction of the airflow within the intermediate air hole 403, increasing the overall ventilation area, reducing airflow loss, and improving ventilation efficiency.

[0046] like Figure 12 As shown, in another embodiment, the distal end of the air nozzle connector 4 is inserted into the mounting portion 1a.

[0047] like Figures 3-6 As shown, in this embodiment, a V-shaped annular groove 102 is formed in the middle of the nozzle body 1. A distally open cavity 12 is provided within the nozzle body 1, located on one side of the V-shaped annular groove 102, and a proximal open air inlet chamber 11 is provided on the other side. The cavity 12 and the air inlet chamber 11 are connected by an air inlet channel 13, and the extension tube 2 is inserted into the air inlet channel 13. The extension tube 2 is a flexible tube, such as a silicone tube or a rubber tube, which can effectively reduce mechanical stimulation to the ear canal and improve the patient's experience. Simulation verification shows that at the same gas temperature of 50°C, the discomfort of the silicone tube contacting the ear canal skin is significantly lower than that of the hard plastic tube.

[0048] The far end of the air intake duct 13 is provided with a slot 105 for locking the extension tube 2. The outer diameter of the extension tube 2 is similar to the inner diameter of the slot 105, and the inner diameter of the extension tube 2 is similar to the inner diameter of the air intake duct 13. The inner surface of the slot 105 is provided with a protruding ridge that is interference-fitted with the extension tube 2 to lock the extension tube 2 so that it will not easily fall off and can be easily replaced.

[0049] The distal end of the nozzle body 1 is provided with an abutment portion 1b, which abuts against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, thereby limiting the depth of insertion of the extension tube 2 into the external auditory canal. Simultaneously, multiple vent holes 101 are provided on the nozzle body 1, proximal to the abutment portion 1b, ensuring that the vent holes 101 are always located outside the external auditory canal. A gap 100 exists between the extension tube 2 and the inner wall of the cavity 12, and the vent holes 101 communicate with the cavity 12. In use, the extension tube 2 can be inserted into the patient's external auditory canal, with its distal end extending close to the patient's tympanic membrane. When the abutment portion abuts against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, the distance between the distal end of the extension tube and the tympanic membrane is 5mm-20mm. Figure 15 As shown, the gas blown out of the extension tube 2 reaches the tympanic membrane and gathers in the ear. As the extension tube 2 continues to blow outward, there is a gap 100 between the extension tube 2 and the inner wall of the cavity 12. The gap 100 forms an annular exhaust channel through which airflow can pass. The distal end of the gap 100 is an annular air inlet 100a. The gas in the ear can enter the cavity 12 through the annular air inlet 100a. After passing through the gap 100, the airflow is discharged outward through the exhaust hole 101.

[0050] A conical outer wall is provided at the distal end of the nozzle body 1, forming the abutment portion 1b, and the distal end face of the nozzle body 1 is a beveled surface 103. The structure of the conical outer wall can adapt to the ear canal diameter of different patients, and the beveled surface 103 can correspond to the edge structure of the external auditory canal, making the nozzle body 1 more adaptable to the external auditory canal.

[0051] The proximal side of the abutment portion 1b is connected to the constricted neck 1c with a decreasing outer diameter. In this embodiment, the constricted neck 1c includes a conical surface (i.e., the conical surface on the distal side of the V-shaped annular groove 102) connected to the abutment portion 1b and with a gradually decreasing outer diameter. The exhaust port 101 is opened on the conical surface, so that when exhausting, the gas can be blown out in a diagonal rearward direction along the exhaust port 101. The exhaust channel is reasonably designed, and the air flows out more smoothly and is not blocked by other structures.

[0052] In the above embodiments, a recess 12 is provided, and an extension tube 2 is inserted into the recess 12 and connected to the air intake duct 13, so that an annular exhaust passage (i.e., gap 100) is formed between the extension tube 2 and the inner wall of the recess 12. This structure makes the processing structure of the nozzle body 1 relatively simple and the exhaust efficiency high. However, in other embodiments, such as Figure 13 As shown, the distal end of the nozzle body 1 may not have a recessed cavity, but instead the air intake duct 13 extends to the distal end face of the nozzle body 1, and the extension tube 2 is inserted into the air intake duct 13. Multiple perforated exhaust ducts 106 communicating with the exhaust holes 101 are provided inside the nozzle body 1, and a perforated exhaust port 106a communicating with the perforated exhaust ducts 106 is provided on the distal end face of the nozzle body 1.

[0053] In addition, this utility model also provides a hot and cold air injection system, including the vestibular hot and cold stimulator as described above, as well as an air pump, a control module, a display and operation interaction module, and a heat dissipation module.

[0054] The air pump connection pipe 506 is connected to the air inlet pipe 502 in the vestibular thermo-cooling stimulator. The vestibular thermo-cooling stimulator is also equipped with an indicator device (in this embodiment, an indicator light 505) and a control button 504. The control module is connected to the temperature sensor 507, the gas temperature control module 503, the indicator device, the control button 504, and the air pump. The control module is used to control the air pump to deliver gas at a controlled flow rate to the gas delivery handle 5, typically between 4 L / min and 12 L / min; it is also used to perform closed-loop control of the power of the gas temperature control module 503 based on a preset temperature and real-time temperature data collected by the temperature sensor 507; it is also used to control the indicator device to issue an indication message and simultaneously unlock the control button 504 when the temperature data collected by the gas temperature sensor 507 reaches a preset temperature value; and it is also used to start a timer after triggering the control button 504 and turn off the air pump after a preset timeout. The display and interaction module is mainly used to display gas flow rate, temperature, status, and to allow users to set temperature, flow rate, etc. Because the gas temperature-changing module 503 uses a semiconductor cooling chip for temperature regulation, the working surface of the semiconductor cooling chip is heated and conducted to the patient's ear through the heat exchange cavity 503b, which connects the air inlet pipe 502 and the air blowing pipe 501. The heat dissipation surface of the semiconductor cooling chip can be heated through the heat dissipation module. There are two common heat exchange methods for the heat dissipation module: air cooling and water cooling. In air cooling, a heat sink 503c can be attached to the outside of the heat dissipation surface, and a fan (not shown in the figure) can be used to directly blow heat onto the heat sink 503c. In water cooling (not shown in the figure), a water circulation chamber, an inlet pipe, a return pipe, a circulating water pump, and heat dissipation fins are provided. The water circulation chamber is connected to the heat dissipation surface attached to the semiconductor cooling chip. The circulating water pump pumps water into the water circulation chamber through the inlet pipe, and then into the heat dissipation fins through the return pipe. Heat is transferred to the water through the water circulation chamber, and the heat in the water is naturally cooled by the heat dissipation fins. Because water has a specific heat capacity 4.15 times that of air, it has a higher heat dissipation efficiency and is quieter. The circulating water pump and heat dissipation fins can be installed inside the main unit, and the air delivery handle can be made lightweight.

[0055] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A nozzle for injecting hot and cold gas, characterized in that: The device includes a nozzle body and an extension tube disposed on the nozzle body; the nozzle body is provided with an air inlet channel communicating with the extension tube, the extension tube can be inserted into the patient's external auditory canal, and the distal end of the extension tube can extend to a position close to the patient's tympanic membrane; the distal end of the nozzle body is provided with an abutment portion, the abutment portion can abut against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal to limit the depth of insertion of the extension tube into the external auditory canal.

2. The air nozzle for injecting hot and cold gas as described in claim 1, characterized in that: When the abutting part abuts against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, the distance between the distal end of the extension tube and the tympanic membrane is 5mm-20mm.

3. The air nozzle for hot and cold gas injection as described in claim 2, characterized in that: At least one vent is provided on the nozzle body and on the proximal side of the abutment portion. When the abutment portion abuts against the edge of the patient's external auditory canal, the vent is always located on the outside of the external auditory canal. An exhaust channel communicating with the vent is provided in the nozzle body, and an exhaust port communicating with the exhaust channel is provided on the distal end face of the nozzle body.

4. The air nozzle for hot and cold gas injection as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A tapered outer wall is provided at the distal end of the air nozzle body, and the tapered outer wall forms the abutment portion.

5. The air nozzle for injecting hot and cold gas as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The proximal side of the abutment portion is connected to the constricted neck with a reduced outer diameter, and the vent is opened in the constricted neck.

6. The air nozzle for injecting hot and cold gas as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The constricted neck includes a tapered section connected to the abutment portion and having a gradually decreasing outer diameter, and the vent is opened on the tapered section.

7. The hot and cold gas injection nozzle as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: A cavity is formed on the distal end face of the air nozzle body, and the proximal end of the extension tube is inserted into the cavity. There is a gap between the extension tube and the inner wall of the cavity, and the gap forms an exhaust passage.

8. The hot and cold gas injection nozzle as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The distal end face of the air nozzle body is a beveled surface.

9. A vestibular thermo-cold stimulator, characterized in that: It includes a gas delivery handle and a gas nozzle for hot and cold gas injection as described in any one of claims 1-8, an air inlet pipe, and a gas temperature control module, wherein the gas temperature control module is connected between the air inlet pipe and the gas nozzle for hot and cold gas injection and is used to heat or cool the gas.

10. A hot and cold gas injection system, characterized in that: include: The vestibular thermo-cold stimulator as described in claim 9; An air pump, with connecting pipes, is connected to the vestibular hot and cold stimulator; The control module, connected to the temperature sensor and gas temperature-changing module in the vestibular thermo-stimulator, is used to perform closed-loop control of the power of the gas temperature-changing module based on the preset temperature and the real-time temperature data collected by the temperature sensor.

Images