ventilator

Abstract

containing a ventilation device - a breathing gas block (2) with a removable lid (3) on the top, - a heated distribution plate (4) made of a material with good thermal conductivity and - a first heating element (6), wherein the distributor plate (4) rests flat against the underside of the breathing gas block (2) and is designed to distribute the heat flow over the breathing gas block (2), wherein the first heating element (6) is attached to the distributor plate (4) by means of a flat, metallic heat distribution plate (5), wherein the breathing gas block (2) includes an inhalation port (12) on an inhalation channel (13) and an exhalation port (14) on an exhalation channel (15), wherein the distributor plate (4) includes first heating fins (21) and these first heating fins (21) heat the exhalation duct (15) and wherein the distributor plate (4) includes second heating fins (22) and these second heating fins (22) heat the inhalation channel (13).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a ventilation device with a breathing gas block through which breathing gas flows, and a heating element for heating this breathing gas.

[0002] A ventilation device of the type mentioned is known from DE 102 19 286 C1. The known ventilation device consists of a breathing gas block equipped with a plurality of breathing gas channels through which the breathing gas is passed. Below the breathing gas block is a carbon dioxide absorber that binds the carbon dioxide exhaled by the patient. Above the breathing gas block, a metallic valve plate with a heating element and a cover are arranged in a sandwich construction. To prevent condensation effects within the ventilation device, the centrally located valve plate is heated by the heating element, with the heating element being applied over its entire surface to the areas that are particularly susceptible to water vapor condensation.

[0003] While the heat flow within the ventilator is easily adjustable via the centrally located valve plate around which the breathing gas flows, the three-layer design of the ventilator is very expensive, and the electrical connection of the heating element requires an external plug connection. Since the ventilator must be disassembled for cleaning, the three-layer design results in numerous components that must be individually processed. This also carries the risk of damaging the exposed heating element during cleaning or corroding the electrical connections. Furthermore, the centrally located valve plate requires a seal against both the lid and the breathing gas block.

[0004] The heat exchanger of DE 36 18 614 A1 comprises a breathing gas section 1 with an inlet nozzle 2 and an outlet nozzle 3. A heating element 4 projects into the breathing gas section 1. The heating element 4 transfers heat to the breathing gas flowing through the breathing gas section 1 by means of a plurality of fins 27. A mounting plate 18 is detachably connected to the breathing gas section 1 and carries a heating element 5 as well as two temperature sensors 7 and 8. The heating element 5 engages with the heating element 4. Electrical contacts and a control amplifier 6 are arranged in a housing 10 above the mounting plate 16.

[0005] US 2009 / 0 090 363 A1 describes a mechanism for passing breathing air through a heat exchanger.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of improving a ventilation device of the aforementioned type in such a way that electrical components are protected and mounted within the breathing gas channels while ensuring good heat distribution.

[0007] The problem is solved using the features of claim 1.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the invention, a heated distribution plate rests flat against the underside of the breathing gas block and comprises first heating fins that heat an exhalation channel, and second heating fins that heat an inhalation channel. A first heating element is attached to the distribution plate by means of a heat distribution plate. The heat distribution plate is flat and metallic.

[0010] The advantage of the device according to the invention lies in the fact that a heated distribution plate, made of a material with good thermal conductivity and featuring heating fins that bear against the breathing gas channels, is attached to the underside of the breathing gas block. The distribution plate allows the heat flow to be distributed across the breathing gas block, with the heating fins bearing against the breathing gas channels enabling targeted heating of areas prone to condensation. The heat supply to the breathing gas channels can be precisely controlled by adjusting the number and cross-sectional area of ​​the heating fins. The heating fins are designed to bear against the breathing gas channels.

[0011] According to the invention, heat is supplied to the distribution plate by means of a flat, metallic heat distribution plate to which a heating element is attached. The heat distribution plate performs a heat distribution function in such a way that heat supplied locally via the heating element is distributed evenly.

[0012] Instead of a single heating element, multiple heating elements can be used to concentrate the heating power on specific areas or to supply other areas with precisely metered heating power. It is particularly advantageous to position one of the heating elements in the area of ​​an inhalation gas channel and equip it with a separate control circuit for adjusting the heating power. This allows the inhalation gas to be set to a predetermined temperature.

[0013] Advantageously, the distribution plate is provided with openings, material thickenings, or material recesses to locally increase or decrease the heat flow. This allows the heat flow to be directed precisely to areas requiring high heat output, or to other areas requiring lower heating output. Individual openings in the distribution plate allow the heat flow to be diverted around specific areas. The material thickenings serve to increase the heat flow in certain areas, while material recesses reduce it. In areas with increased heat flow, the heat rises from the distribution plate and also heats the areas above.

[0014] The heat distribution plate, located below the distribution plate, is also provided with openings to redirect the heat flow. These openings can be round, square, or free-form and can be combined in various configurations.

[0015] The ventilator is advantageously enclosed in an insulated housing with a protective cover, which minimizes heat loss from the ventilator to the environment or to any surrounding equipment. The insulated housing also reduces the heating power required by the heating elements. Within the breathing gas block, individual convection channels allow heat to rise towards the protective cover. These convection channels create a thermal cushion beneath the cover, further reducing heat loss from the ventilator.

[0016] The method relates to the heating of a ventilation device which has breathing gas channels in a breathing gas block. The process steps consist of attaching a heated distribution plate made of a material with good thermal conductivity to the underside of the breathing gas block, and providing heating fins on this plate that make contact with at least some of the breathing gas channels.

[0017] An embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in the figure and explained in more detail below.

[0018] They show: Fig. 1. A ventilation device in perspective view, Fig. 2 individual gas channels of the ventilation device after the Fig. 1.

[0019] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows the structure of a ventilation device 1 according to the invention in a perspective view. The ventilation device 1 consists of a breathing gas block 2 with a removable cover 3 on the top and a heated distribution plate 4 on the bottom, which rests flat against a heat distribution plate 5 with a first heating element 6 and a second heating element 7.

[0020] The lid 3 contains an adjustable overpressure valve 8 and three locking levers 9, 10, 11, with which the lid 3 can be clamped against the breathing gas block 2.

[0021] The breathing gas block 2 includes an inhalation port 12 on an inhalation channel 13 and an exhalation port 14 on an exhalation channel 15. Individual partitions 16 within the breathing gas block 2 form breathing gas channels 17. Directional valves 18, 19 serve to direct the breathing gas flow within the breathing gas block 2 from the exhalation port 14 to the inhalation port 12. A connection adapter 20 for a carbon dioxide absorber (not shown) is arranged below the breathing gas block 2.

[0022] The distributor plate 4 located below the breathing gas block 2 is designed such that the heat flow can be directed specifically to designated areas of the breathing gas block 2. For this purpose, heating fins 21 are provided, which bear against the wall of the exhalation channel 15 and heat it. The exhalation channel 15 is arranged so that it connects directly to the exhalation port 14. (A further description is not provided in the...) Fig. The flow sensor shown in Figure 1 is located at the end of the exhalation channel 15. By heating the exhalation gas in the exhalation channel 15 upstream of the flow sensor, condensation effects in the flow sensor are prevented.

[0023] Second heating fins 22 are located in the area of ​​the inhalation channel 13 and temper the inhaled gas. Material thickenings 23 are provided at points where increased heating power is required. Differently designed openings 24, 25, 26 serve to redirect the heat flow. A material recess 27 on the front of the distributor plate 4 serves to reduce the heat flow between the first heating fins 21 and the second heating fins 22. This is intended to prevent the second heating fins 22, which face the inhalation channel 13, from being heated by the first heating fins 21.

[0024] The heat distribution plate 5, located below the distribution plate 4, is preferably made of aluminum, although other metals or ceramics with good thermal conductivity and low heat capacity are also suitable. A material with low heat capacity enables rapid temperature control of the system. The first heating element 6, located below the heat distribution plate 5, heats the area around the exhalation channel 15 and the central area of ​​the breathing gas block 2, while the second heating element 7 is assigned to the inhalation channel 13. The heat distribution plate 5 and the distribution plate 4 are positioned close to each other in the installed position and ideally lie directly on top of each other.

[0025] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows three breathing gas channels 28, 29, 30 within the breathing gas block 2, the ventilation device 1, which are heated differently via the distributor plate 4. The heat distribution plate 5 with the first heating element 6 is located below the distributor plate 4.

[0026] A first breathing gas channel 30 requires a higher heating output, so the distribution plate 4 is designed to closely surround the first breathing gas channel 30, thus providing a larger heat-radiating surface area. Due to its thin wall thickness, the underside of the first breathing gas channel 30 is designed so that the heat is conducted directly into the interior via the distribution plate 4.

[0027] A second breathing gas channel 29 heats up less because the distribution plate 4 is located further away from the second breathing gas channel 29 compared to the first breathing gas channel 30. In the case of the third breathing gas channel 28, heat dissipation is further reduced by a material recess 31, which reduces the heat flow within the distribution plate 4 to the third breathing gas channel 28.

[0028] The ventilation device 1 is surrounded by an insulating housing 32 with a protective cover 33, which is intended to minimize heat loss from the ventilation device 1 to the environment or to a surrounding device housing (not shown). The insulating housing also reduces the heating power supplied via the heating elements 6, 7. Within the breathing gas block 2, individual convection channels 34 are provided, of which in the Fig. 2 is shown only as an example, through which heat can rise upwards towards the protective cover 33. A heat cushion forms below the protective cover 33 via the convection channels 34, further reducing heat loss from the ventilation device 1. The cover 3, Fig. 1 is in the for better clarity Fig. 2 not shown. The insulating housing 32 and the protective cover 33 are preferably made of a plastic with low thermal conductivity. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 ventilator 2 Breathing gas block 3 lids 4 distribution plate 5 Heat distribution plate 6 first heating element 7 second heating element 8 Overpressure valve 9, 10, 11 Locking levers 12 Inhalation port 13 Inhalation channel 14 Exhalation port 15 Exhalation channel 16 Partition wall 17 Breathing gas channel 18, 19 Directional valve 20 connection adapters 21 first heating fins 22 second heating fins 23 Material thickening 24, 25, 26 Breakthrough 27, 31 Material recess 28, 29, 30 Breathing gas channel 32 Insulation housings 33 protective covers 34 Convection channel

Claims

[1] containing a ventilator - a breathing gas block (2) with a removable lid (3) on the top, - a heated distribution plate (4) made of a material with good thermal conductivity and - a first heating element (6), wherein the distributor plate (4) rests flat against the underside of the breathing gas block (2) and is designed to distribute the heat flow over the breathing gas block (2), wherein the first heating element (6) is attached to the distributor plate (4) by means of a flat, metallic heat distribution plate (5), wherein the breathing gas block (2) includes an inhalation port (12) on an inhalation channel (13) and an exhalation port (14) on an exhalation channel (15), wherein the distributor plate (4) includes first heating fins (21) and these first heating fins (21) heat the exhalation duct (15) and wherein the distributor plate (4) includes second heating fins (22) and these second heating fins (22) heat the inhalation channel (13). [2] Ventilation device according to claim 1, characterized by , that a second heating element (7) is arranged in the area of ​​the inhalation channel (13), wherein the second heating element (7) is attached to the distribution plate (4) by means of the heat distribution plate (5). [3] Respiratory device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heat distribution plate (5) and the distribution plate (4) lie directly on top of each other. [4] Respiratory device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that individual partitions (16) within the breathing gas block (2) form breathing gas channels (17) and the breathing gas block (2) includes directional valves (18, 19), wherein the directional valves (18, 19) are designed to direct the breathing gas flow within the breathing gas block (2) from the exhalation port (14) to the inhalation port (12). [5] Respiratory device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the distributor plate (4) is provided with openings (24, 25, 26), material thickenings (23) or material recesses (27, 31) for redirecting the heat transport. [6] Ventilation device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the distributor plate (4) has differently designed openings (24, 25, 26), which serve to redirect the heat flow. [7] Respiratory device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a front side of the distribution plate (4) points towards the inhalation port (12) and the exhalation port (14) and A material recess (27) on the front of the distributor plate (4) serves the purpose of reducing the heat flow between the first heating fins (21) and the second heating fins (22). [8] Respiratory device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that within the breathing gas block (2) three breathing gas channels (28, 29, 30) are arranged, which are heated differently via the distribution plate (4). [9] Respiratory device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the breathing gas block (2) preferably has vertically extending convection channels (34) for heat equalization. [10] Ventilation device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the breathing gas block (2) is surrounded by an insulating housing (32).

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