Gas dispensing valve for medical oxygen cylinder

Abstract

Title of the Invention: Gas Dispensing Valve for Medical Oxygen Cylinder. The invention relates to a gas dispensing valve (1) for a medical oxygen cylinder, comprising a valve body (2) with an internal gas circuit (10) connecting a gas inlet (3) to a gas outlet (4) and an electronic device (5) including processing means (6). It further comprises a proportional solenoid valve (7) for controlling the gas flow rate; a flowmeter (8) for measuring the gas flow rate; and a pulse oximeter cooperating with the processing means (6) to provide them with a measurement of the patient's blood oxygen content. The proportional solenoid valve (7) is controlled according to the processing of said flow rate and blood oxygen content measurements in order to adjust the gas flow rate. Abstract Figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Gas distribution valve for medical oxygen cylinder

[0001] The invention relates to a gas distribution tap with integrated saturator for medical oxygen cylinder.

[0002] A gas distribution valve, in particular with an integrated regulator, fitted to a pressurized medical oxygen cylinder usually comprises a flow selector which allows the flow of oxygen to be administered to the patient to be manually selected.

[0003] The oxygen is conditioned in the bottle at a high pressure, that is to say generally at least 150 bar abs, and possibly reaching 250 bar abs.

[0004] The pressure reducing valve allows the gas contained in the cylinder to be expanded, i.e. to reduce its pressure to a usage pressure compatible with administration by inhalation, for example a pressure of the order of atmospheric pressure or slightly above, and then to deliver it to the patient.

[0005] It is therefore up to the operator of the oxygen cylinder, i.e. hospital staff, emergency personnel, etc., to select the appropriate gas flow rate according to the patient's needs.

[0006] Not only can the flow rate required by the patient change depending on the treatment, which requires a flow rate change operation on the part of the bottle operator, but in addition the number of available flow rates is limited by the number of positions of the flow rate selector.

[0007] It would be appropriate to be able to automatically adjust the gas flow rate according to the patient's needs, without operator intervention.

[0008] To do this, according to the invention, a gas distribution tap for a medical oxygen cylinder is proposed, comprising:

[0009] - a valve body with an internal gas circuit connecting a gas inlet to a gas outlet and

[0010] - an electronic device comprising processor means,

[0011] In addition, the faucet includes:

[0012] - a proportional solenoid valve arranged on the internal gas circuit, for control the gas flow

[0013] - a flowmeter for measuring the gas flow in the internal circuit, and

[0014] - a saturator arranged in the electronic device cooperating with the means processors to provide them with at least one measurement of the patient's blood oxygen content,

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020] and in which the processing means are configured to: - process the gas flow measurement(s) from the flowmeter and the blood oxygen content measurement(s) from the pulse oximeter, and - control the proportional solenoid valve according to the processing carried out on said flow rate and blood oxygen content measurements to adjust the flow rate of gas exiting through the gas outlet, i.e. the flow rate of gaseous oxygen. Depending on the embodiment considered, the tap of the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: - the processor means include a microprocessor, in particular a microcontroller. - it further comprises gas expansion means arranged on the internal circuit. - the proportional solenoid valve is arranged downstream of the gas expansion means. - the gas expansion means comprise an expansion valve cooperating with a valve seat. - the electronic device comprises an input port, i.e. a probe input, for connecting an external oxygen measuring probe, said probe input being electrically connected to the saturator. - the external oxygen measuring probe is a finger oximeter. - the pulse oximeter is integrated into the processor means. - the flow rate of oxygen exiting through the gas outlet is between 0 and 30 L / min, preferably between 0 and 25 L / min. The invention will now be better understood thanks to the following detailed description, given for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended figure, namely: [Fig.l] which shows a diagram of a gas distribution tap with integrated saturator for an oxygen cylinder according to the invention. [Fig.l] shows a diagram of a gas distribution tap 1 according to the invention intended to be mounted, typically screwed via its threaded fixing end 11, on a medical oxygen cylinder (not shown) under pressure (eg > 100 bar abs for a full cylinder). The tap 1 is shown partially dissociated in order to better highlight its components. The gas distribution valve 1 comprises a valve body 2 crossed by an internal gas circuit 10 conveying the gaseous oxygen between a gas inlet 3 arranged on the fixing nozzle 11 through which the oxygen coming from the oxygen cylinder enters the internal gas circuit 10, and a gas outlet 4 arranged on an outlet connection 12.

[0021] Preferably, the gas distribution valve 1 is a valve with an integrated pressure regulator or RDI, that is to say that it comprises gas pressure regulator means arranged on the internal gas circuit 10 to reduce the oxygen pressure therein.

[0022] The gas distribution tap 1 is equipped with an electronic device 5, such as an autonomy measuring device, which usually comprises processor means 6, namely a microprocessor typically carried by an electronic card, typically a microcontroller. Such an electronic device 5 makes it possible to determine the gas autonomy of the bottle from pressure and temperature measurements in particular. It is supplied with electric current by one or more batteries arranged in a battery compartment 13.

[0023] According to the invention, the gas distribution valve 1 is also equipped with a proportional solenoid valve 7 arranged on the internal gas circuit 10. It is controlled by the processor means 6. This proportional solenoid valve 7 is used to control the gas flow in the gas circuit 10, downstream of the expansion means.

[0024] It further comprises a flowmeter 8 for measuring the gas flow rate in the internal circuit 10, downstream of the expansion means, and a saturometer arranged in the electronic device cooperating with the processor means 6, or integrated into said processor means 6 to provide them with one (or more) measurement of the patient's blood oxygen content.

[0025] This measurement of the blood oxygen content of the patient P is provided by a measuring probe 9, such as a finger oximeter, which is electrically connected to an input port of the electronic device 5. Alternatively, the measurements could be transmitted by a wireless communication system, for example Bluetooth®, equipping these devices.

[0026] According to the invention, the processor means which receive the measurements of gas flow rate coming from the flowmeter 8 and of blood oxygen content coming from the saturator, process them and control the proportional solenoid valve 7 according to the processing carried out on these measurements in order to adjust the gas flow rate leaving via the gas outlet 4 of the RDI 1.

[0027] In other words, according to the invention, the pressure reducing valve 1 comprises an integrated saturator and a solenoid valve 7 which makes it possible to adjust the oxygen flow rate according to the patient's needs, i.e. according to his blood oxygen content (e.g. his oxygen saturation).

[0028] As can be seen, the saturometer, the flow meter 8, the solenoid valve 7, the processor means 6, i.e. the microcontroller, and the nozzle 12 carrying the gas outlet 4 are an integral part of the valve 1.

[0029] The saturator integrated into the tap makes it possible to measure the oxygen content in the patient's blood via a probe placed 9 on the patient's finger P and connected to the tap 1 via an analog or digital input port.

[0030] The processor means 6, i.e. the microcontroller, make it possible to process the data coming from the saturator as well as from the flow meter 8, and to control the proportional solenoid valve 7 accordingly in order to obtain a flow control corresponding to the patient's needs.

[0031] The proportional solenoid valve 7 makes it possible to adjust the value of the oxygen flow delivered to the patient P and thus to obtain a continuous adjustment range of flow values, unlike a discrete range with a manual selector.

[0032] For example, the flow rate of oxygen exiting through the gas outlet 4 of the outlet connector 12 may be between 0 and 30 L / min.

[0033] The flow meter 8 makes it possible to measure the flow rate of oxygen supplied to the patient outlet P in order to return the information to the processor means 6, i.e. to the microcontroller, for controlling the solenoid valve 7.

[0034] The pressure reducing valve 1 of the invention can be fitted to any bottle or container for conditioning oxygen under pressure.

[0035] In order to protect the pressure reducing valve 1 of the invention when it is fitted to a gas bottle or container, a rigid cover is used, arranged around the valve and protecting it.

Claims

Claims

1. Gas distribution tap (1) for a medical oxygen cylinder comprising: - a tap body (2) with an internal gas circuit (10) connecting a gas inlet (3) to a gas outlet (4) and - an electronic device (5) comprising processor means (6), characterized in that it further comprises: - a proportional solenoid valve (7) arranged on the internal gas circuit (10), to control the gas flow therein, - a flowmeter (8) for measuring the gas flow in the internal circuit (10), - and a saturator arranged in the electronic device (5) cooperating with the processor means (6) to provide them with at least one measurement of the patient's blood oxygen content, and in which the processor means (6) are configured to: - process the gas flow measurement(s) from the flowmeter (8) and the blood oxygen content measurement(s) from the saturator,and - control the proportional solenoid valve (7) as a function of the processing carried out on said flow rate and blood oxygen content measurements to adjust the flow rate of gas exiting through the gas outlet (4).,

2. Tap according to claim 1, characterized in that the processor means (6) comprise a microcontroller.

3. Tap according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises gas expansion means arranged on the internal circuit (10).

4. Pressurized oxygen bottle, characterized in that it is equipped with a tap (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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