Medical humidifier operable in ac and DC

Abstract

To provide a medical humidifier operable in AC and DC.SOLUTION: A medical humidifier comprises: a water tank mountable to the medical humidifier, having an air inlet through which air is introduced and an air outlet through which humidified air is discharged; a heating unit that heats the water tank; and a housing on which the water tank is mounted. The housing includes an alternating current inlet and a direct current inlet and has a conversion circuit that is mounted inside and converts the alternating current applied to the alternating current inlet into a first direct current voltage and outputs it and a control unit mounted inside. The control unit controls the heating unit to heat, where the heating unit is heated by any one of the first direct current voltage and a second direct current voltage provided to the direct current inlet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to medical humidifiers that are AC and DC operable. [Background technology]

[0002] A typical ultrasonic humidifier stores water in a tank and vibrates a vibration plate located in the tank to forcibly vaporize water molecules. The generated water vapor is then discharged to the outside through the humidifier's outlet, generally humidifying the indoor environment.

[0003] Conventional humidifiers generally use a power source to provide power for vibrating a diaphragm, and control the amount of water vapor discharged by adjusting the vibration intensity and / or vibration frequency of the diaphragm using a handle, etc. Prior art for ultrasonic humidifiers is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2020-0095586.

[0004] Another type of humidifier is the evaporative humidifier, which uses a cloth or nonwoven fabric as an evaporation source that is wetted by the water in the tank at its end and the water flows down through the water by capillary action to evaporate the moisture and humidify the room. Prior art for evaporative humidifiers is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2052177. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Prior art humidifiers provide humidified air to users using only a wall-mounted AC power source, which has the drawback of not being able to provide humidified air when an emergency occurs and a patient needs to be moved from one location to another, requiring humidified air to be provided while in transit.

[0006] One of the problems to be solved in this embodiment is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This embodiment is a medical humidifier comprising: a water tank that can be attached to the medical humidifier and has an air inlet through which air is drawn and an air outlet through which humidified air flows out; a heating unit that heats the water tank; and a housing in which the water tank is attached. The housing has an AC inlet and a DC inlet and is internally fitted with a conversion circuit that converts AC applied to the AC inlet into a first DC voltage and outputs the first DC voltage, and a control unit. The control unit controls the heating unit to be heated, and the heating unit is heated to either the first DC voltage or a second DC voltage provided to the DC inlet.

[0008] According to one aspect of any of the present embodiments, the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage are provided to a switch unit including one or more switches, and the control unit controls the switch unit to control the heating unit.

[0009] According to any one aspect of this embodiment, when the AC is not applied to the AC inlet and the second DC is applied to the DC inlet, the medical humidifier heats the heating section with the second DC.

[0010] According to one aspect of any of the present embodiments, the heating unit includes a first heating line to which the first direct current is applied and a first plate on which the first heating line is formed, and a second heating line to which the second direct current is applied and a second plate on which the second heating line is formed, and the first plate and the second plate are stacked to be electrically insulated from each other.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the first plate heats the water tank with higher electric power than the second plate.

[0012] According to any one aspect of this embodiment, the control unit controls the heating unit by a PWM method.

[0013] According to one aspect of any of the present embodiments, the medical humidifier further includes a guide hose coupled to the air outlet to guide the humidified air to a user.

[0014] According to any aspect of this embodiment, the medical humidifier further includes a temperature sensor coupled to an end of the induction hose to detect the temperature of the humidified air, and the housing further includes a temperature sensor coupling port coupled to the temperature sensor.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the induction hose is equipped with a heating wire for heating the induction hose, and the housing is further formed with an induction hose heating port for providing heating power to the heating wire.

[0016] According to any aspect of this embodiment, the housing further includes a display positioned thereon that displays the current temperature of the humidified air. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to this embodiment, a medical humidifier that can be driven by both AC and DC is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a medical humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B show either side of the housing of the medical humidifier. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows another side view of the housing of the medical humidifier. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the medical humidifier of the present embodiment is used. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1(a) is a diagram illustrating the structure of a first plate, and FIG. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating the structure of a second plate. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an overview of a medical humidifier 1 according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is a view showing one side of a housing 300 of the medical humidifier, Fig. 3 is a view showing the other side of the housing 300 of the medical humidifier, and Fig. 4 is a view showing the medical humidifier of the present embodiment in use. 1 to 4, the medical humidifier 1 according to this embodiment includes an attachable water tank 100, a heating unit 200 for heating the water tank 100, and a housing 300 in which the water tank 100 is attached. The housing 300 has an AC inlet 310, a DC inlet 320, and a temperature display 330 located therein. The housing 300 is equipped with an SMPS 510 (see FIG. 5) for converting AC applied to the AC inlet 310 into first DC, and a control unit 500. The control unit 500 controls the heating unit 200 to heat with either the second DC or the first DC provided to the DC inlet 320.

[0020] The water tank 100 stores water and is heated by contacting the heating unit 200. In one embodiment, the surfaces where the water tank 100 and the heating unit 200 contact each other may have corresponding shapes. In the illustrated example, the water tank 100 and the heating unit 200 directly contact each other with a circular cross section. However, in an embodiment not shown, the water tank and the heating unit may contact each other with a cross section of a square, rectangle, or the like.

[0021] The aquarium 100 includes an air inlet 110 through which air is drawn in, and an air outlet 120 through which air humidified with water vapor formed by heating water in the aquarium 100 flows out. In one embodiment, the air inlet 110 is connected via a hose to a ventilator that provides air to be inhaled by a user, allowing air to flow into the aquarium. The air outlet 120 is also connected to a hose 122 to provide humidified air to a user.

[0022] The housing 300 is formed with a fixing jaw L2 and a pushing member L1 for mounting and fixing the water bath 100. First, one end of the water bath 100 is sandwiched between the fixing jaw L2 and the heating unit 200. The water bath 100 is positioned taking into consideration the positions of the air inlet 110 and the air outlet 120 formed in the water bath 100 and the position of the patient to whom humidified air is to be provided. Next, the end of the pushing member L1 is pushed to insert the opposite end of the water bath 100 so that the bottom of the water bath 100 directly contacts the heating unit 200. The pushing member L1 pushes the water bath 100 with the elastic force of a spring so that it comes into contact with the heating unit 200 and is heated without separating from it.

[0023] In one embodiment, the medical humidifier 1 may further include a limit switch 250. The limit switch 250 is a switch that is turned on or off when the water tank is attached, and the control unit 500 can heat the heating unit 200 only when the water tank is attached.

[0024] When the water tank 100 is not attached, the heating unit 200 is exposed from the housing 300. The heating unit 200 may be formed by stacking the first plate 210 and the second plate 220 so that they are insulated from each other. For example, the heating unit 200 may include a heating unit cover that covers the stacked first and second plates.

[0025] FIG. 5(a) illustrates the structure of the first plate 210, and FIG. 5(b) illustrates the structure of the second plate 220. The first plate 210 illustrated in FIG. 5(a) is a heater in which a conductor pattern is formed on a mica plate. In one embodiment, the conductor pattern is made of a conductor such as nickel or chromium, and generates Joule heat when an electric current is supplied to heat the water bath 100. As an example, the first plate 210 is supplied with 24V DC, which is formed by converting AC voltage, and heats the water bath 100 with 140W of power.

[0026] 5(b) is a heater in which a conductor pattern is formed on a mica plate. In one embodiment, the conductor pattern is made of a conductor such as nickel or chromium, as with the first plate 210, and is heated by Joule heat when an electric current is supplied, thereby heating the water tank 100. For example, the second plate 220 is supplied with a DC voltage of 12V provided to the DC inlet 320, and heats the water tank 100 with a power of 70W.

[0027] When the medical humidifier 1 of this embodiment is driven by an AC power supply, the control unit 500 drives the first plate 210 with a first DC converted from the AC power supply. However, when the medical humidifier 1 is driven by a DC power supply, the control unit 500 drives the second plate 220 with a second DC, which is a DC voltage provided to the DC inlet.

[0028] When the second plate 220 is driven by the second DC, the driving power is provided from a battery or the like, so it is necessary to reduce the power consumption. Therefore, the second plate 220 is designed so that it can be driven with lower power than the power that drives the first plate 210.

[0029] On the other hand, when the first plate 210 is driven by the first DC, power consumption is more flexible than when power is supplied from a battery or the like. Therefore, the first plate can be driven with higher power than the second plate 220. As an example, the resistance values ​​of the heating lines formed on the first plate 210 and the second plate 220 are set so that the first plate 210 can heat the aquarium 100 with more than twice the power of the second plate 220.

[0030] The humidifier of this embodiment can be operated using power from a DC voltage provided via a battery, and therefore has the advantage of being able to provide humidified air even when the patient is moving.

[0031] The housing 300 is equipped with an AC inlet 310, a DC inlet 320, and a temperature display 330. The AC inlet 310 can be supplied with a voltage of 110V to 240V AC from a wall-mounted AC power source. The DC inlet 320 can be supplied with a 12V DC power source, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. This provides the advantage that DC voltage can be supplied from the vehicle battery during patient transport, allowing for continuous provision of humidified air to the patient. In other examples not shown, the DC inlet can be supplied with a DC voltage of 18V, 24V, etc.

[0032] A power button P is formed on the housing 300, and when the power button P is pressed to operate the medical humidifier 1, an alternating current LED (AC LED) or a direct current LED (DC LED) lights up depending on the power source driving the medical humidifier 1. Therefore, the user can easily identify whether the power source driving the humidifier is AC or DC.

[0033] A mode button 340 for controlling the temperature of the air to be provided may be located on the housing 300. In one embodiment, the medical humidifier 1 of this embodiment can provide humidified air by having one end connected to the air outlet 120 and the other end connected to a hose intubated into the patient's airway. When the mode button 340 is pressed to select the mode of supplying humidified air through an intubated hose, the intubation mode LED (I) lights up. When providing humidified air through an intubated hose, the humidifier 1 forms humidified air at a temperature of 35°C to 39°C, which is similar to the temperature of the human body, and provides it to the patient.

[0034] In another embodiment, the medical humidifier 1 of this embodiment can provide humidified air by connecting one end to the air outlet 120 and the other end to a hose connected to the patient's mask. When the mode button 340 is pressed to select supplying humidified air through a hose connected to the mask, the mask mode LED (M) lights up. When supplying humidified air through a hose connected to the mask, it is preferable to maintain an air temperature of 30 to 35 degrees.

[0035] The housing 300 is provided with a temperature sensor connection port 340 that is connected to a temperature sensor 352 located in the induction hose 122 that induces humidified air. The temperature sensor 352 detects the temperature of the humidified air, and the control unit 500 displays the temperature of the humidified air provided to the user from the temperature sensor on the display 330. The temperature of the humidified air detected by the control unit 500 can be displayed on the temperature display 330.

[0036] The housing 300 is formed with a hose heating indicator H and a hose heating connection port 350 that connects to a hose heating wire 342 located on the hose. As humidified air moves through the hose, its temperature may drop, causing water vapor to condense inside the hose. When the hose heating wire 342 is connected to the heating connection port 350 to prevent condensation, the hose heating wire receives heating power from the hose heating connection port 350 of the housing 300 and heats the hose. When the hose heating wire 342 is connected to heat the hose, the hose heating indicator H lights up to notify the user that the hose is heating.

[0037] 6 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical connections of the medical humidifier 1 according to this embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, when an AC voltage is applied to an SMPS (switching mode power supply) 510 via an AC inlet 310, the SMPS 510 generates and outputs a desired first DC voltage. In one embodiment, the first DC voltage output by the SMPS 510 may be 24 V, which may be a higher voltage than the second DC voltage provided via the DC inlet 320.

[0038] The first DC or the second DC provided through the DC inlet 320 is provided to the first plate 210 and the second plate 220 of the heating section 200 through the temperature control section 230 and the switch section 260 including a switch controlled by a control signal from the control section 500.

[0039] 6, when no AC voltage is applied to AC inlet 310 and a second DC voltage is applied to DC inlet 320, the second DC voltage is supplied to heating unit 200 via temperature control unit 230 and switch unit 260 to heat first plate 210 and second plate 220. In one embodiment, temperature control unit 230 may be a thermostat, and cuts off the first DC and / or second DC power supply when first plate 210 or second plate 220 is heated above a set temperature.

[0040] The control unit 500 detects the temperature of the humidified air provided to the user from the temperature sensor 352 attached to the induction hose 122, and controls the conduction and / or cut-off of the switches included in the switch unit 260 to control the temperature of the heating unit 200. In one embodiment, the control unit 500 may control the temperature by controlling the conduction and / or cut-off of the switches included in the switch unit 260 using a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) method.

[0041] The DC voltage provided through the temperature control unit 230 is applied to the DC / DC converter 520, and the hose heating wire 342 is heated by the voltage output from the DC / DC converter 520. As described above, the control unit 500 can determine the temperature of the humidified air provided to the user through the induction hose 122 from the temperature sensor 352 and control the temperature at which the heating unit 200 heats the water tank.

[0042] By controlling in this manner, it is possible to provide humidified air that is heated to a temperature suitable for the patient.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention, these are merely illustrative and practical embodiments, and those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1: Medical humidifier 100: Water tank 110: Air inlet 120: Air outlet 122: Hose 200: Heating section 210: First plate 220: Second plate 230: Temperature control unit 240: Temperature sensor 250: Limit switch 260: Switch section 300: Housing 310: AC inlet 320: DC inlet 342: Hose heating wire 350: Hose heating wire connection port 352: Temperature sensor 500: Control unit 520: DC / DC converter

Claims

1. A medical humidifier, comprising: a water tank that can be attached to the medical humidifier and has an air inlet through which air is drawn and an air outlet through which humidified air flows out; a heating unit that heats the water tank; a housing to which the water tank is attached; The housing includes: an AC inlet and a DC inlet; a conversion circuit and a control unit are installed inside the power supply to convert the AC applied to the AC inlet into a first DC voltage and output the first DC voltage; The control unit controls the heating unit to be heated, The medical humidifier, wherein the heating unit is heated by one of the first DC voltage and a second DC voltage provided to the DC inlet.

2. the first DC voltage and the second DC voltage are provided to a switch unit including one or more switches; The medical humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the switch unit to control the heating unit.

3. The medical humidifier comprises: The medical humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein when the AC is not applied to the AC inlet and the second DC is applied to the DC inlet, the heating unit is heated by the second DC.

4. The heating unit is a first heating line to which the first direct current is applied and a first plate on which the first heating line is formed; a second heating line to which the second direct current is applied and a second plate on which the second heating line is formed, The medical humidifier according to claim 1 , wherein the first plate and the second plate are laminated to be electrically insulated from each other.

5. The first plate is 5. The medical humidifier of claim 4, wherein the water tank is heated with a higher power than the second plate.

6. The control unit 2. The medical humidifier according to claim 1, wherein the heating unit is controlled by a PWM method.

7. The medical humidifier comprises:

10. The medical humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a guide hose coupled to the air outlet for directing the humidified air to a user.

8. The medical humidifier comprises: a temperature sensor coupled to an end of the induction hose to detect the temperature of the humidified air; The housing includes: The medical humidifier according to claim 7 , further comprising a temperature sensor connection port connected to the temperature sensor.

9. The induction hose has: A heating wire is attached to the induction hose, The housing includes: The medical humidifier of claim 7 , further comprising an induction hose heating port for providing heating power to the heating wire.

10. The housing includes:

10. The medical humidifier of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying the current temperature of the humidified air.

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