Emergency ventilator with a common removable cover for simultaneously covering the filter compartment and the battery compartment

Abstract

The present invention relates to an emergency ventilator (10) for providing artificial ventilation to a patient in emergency medical care, the emergency ventilator (10) including a housing (12) having an ambient air inlet (40) and a respiratory gas outlet (76), a blower (42) disposed within the housing (12) configured to transport ambient air from the ambient air inlet (40) to the respiratory gas outlet (76), an air filter (29) disposed within the housing (12) in a flow path of the ambient air downstream of the ambient air inlet (40) configured to purify the drawn-in ambient air, and an energy storage device (34) for supplying energy for operation to the blower, the air filter (29) being disposed within the housing (12) in a flow path of the ambient air. The emergency ventilator (10) is characterized in that the air filter (29) and the energy storage device (34) are accommodated within the housing (12) so as to be closed by a bar (22) but accessible through an openable housing opening (24) and normally replaceable, and the energy storage device (34) is accommodated within the housing (12) so as to be closed by a housing cover (22) but accessible through an openable housing opening (24) and normally replaceable, and the emergency ventilator (10) is characterized in that the air filter (29) and the energy storage device (34) are accessible through a common housing opening (24) and the common housing opening (24) can be selectively opened and closed by the common housing cover (22).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an emergency ventilator for providing artificial respiration to a patient in emergency medical care, the emergency ventilator comprising: a housing having an ambient air inlet and a breathing gas outlet; a blower arranged within the housing and configured to transport ambient air from the ambient air inlet to the breathing gas outlet; an air filter arranged in the housing in the flow path of the ambient air downstream of the ambient air inlet, the air filter being adapted to purify the drawn-in ambient air; an energy storage device that supplies the blower with energy to operate; It contains The air filter is accommodated within the housing so as to be accessible and typically replaceable through an openable housing opening, although the air filter is closed by the housing cover; The energy storage device is received within the housing in a manner that is closed by the housing cover but accessible through an openable housing opening, and is typically replaceable. [Background technology]

[0002] Such an emergency ventilator is known as the "EVE" from Fritz Stephan GmbH in Gackenbach (Germany). IN " and the "Falco 202 Evo" ventilator from Siare Engineering International Group srl in Valsamoggia (Italy).

[0003] Emergency ventilators, especially those also called "intensive care ventilators," are used to rapidly provide breathing gas to patients outside of clinical settings, for example at the scene of an accident or / and during patient transport. Obviously, emergency ventilators can also be used in clinical settings, but more sophisticated ventilators are often available in hospitals.

[0004] As a ventilator that can be used outside of a clinical setting, the emergency ventilator has its own energy storage device, which allows the emergency ventilator to operate independently of the power grid, at least for a certain period of time. In addition, the emergency ventilator is designed as a portable ventilator in terms of its size and weight, so that an emergency physician, for example an emergency physician called to the scene of an accident, can move it over a distance of several tens of meters using only his or her own muscle strength without excessive physical strain.

[0005] Even without a supplementary special gas reserve, such as an oxygen reserve, emergency ventilators are designed to be able to provide at least ambient air as breathing gas based on their blower. If necessary, a special gas different from ambient air, most commonly pure oxygen, but also anesthetic or / and therapeutic gases and gas mixtures, can be added to the ambient air. For this purpose, emergency ventilators generally have a connection structure for connecting to a special gas reserve.

[0006] Ambient air drawn as breathing gas by emergency ventilators may be contaminated, for example in the case of accident victims requiring emergency medical care at construction sites or other dusty or sandy environments.

[0007] To ensure that a sufficient amount of clean breathing gas is available to a patient undergoing artificial respiration, an air filter is disposed in the flow path of ambient air from the intake to the patient, and the air filter removes contaminants from the inhaled ambient air according to its filtering characteristics so that the contaminants do not reach the patient. The air filter is disposed in the housing of the emergency ventilator between the ambient air intake and the breathing gas outlet.

[0008] Both the air filter and the energy storage device have a finite lifespan that is significantly shorter than the lifespan of the emergency ventilator. Therefore, the air filter and the energy storage device must be replaced frequently. It is important for the emergency ventilator to be ready for use in the shortest possible time. While the air filter or energy storage device is being replaced, the emergency ventilator is not ready for use. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the above-mentioned ventilator so that the time of outage is as short as possible when the air filter and / or the energy storage device needs to be replaced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention solves this problem with an emergency ventilator having the features set out above in that the air filter and the energy storage device are accessible through a common housing opening, which can be selectively opened and closed by a common housing cover.

[0011] Unlike the emergency ventilators described above, which have the air filter and energy storage device at different locations within each housing, whereby the air filter and energy storage device are accessible through different housing openings that can be closed by individual housing covers, in the emergency ventilator of the present invention, the air filter and energy storage device are accessible through one and the same common housing opening, which can be closed by one common housing cover.

[0012] This allows only one common housing cover to be removed to make both the air filter and the energy storage device accessible and replaceable when both need to be replaced, and only one common housing cover needs to be placed back into the common housing opening after replacement. Having both the air filter and the energy storage device accessible at all times when only one of these components needs to be replaced is not only harmless but even advantageous, since replacing one of these components already stops the emergency ventilator from operating. Because only one common housing cover is removed, there can be no time-consuming and undesirable mix-up of different housing covers disposed on different components, and thus the use of a common housing cover reduces the average time the emergency ventilator will stop operating over multiple replacement processes.

[0013] The energy storage device is typically an electrical energy storage device such as a battery or a rechargeable accumulator or "Akku" for short.

[0014] The state of the emergency ventilator referred to below as the "closed state" refers to a state in which the common housing cover closes, i.e., covers, the common housing opening, and therefore components and component parts located behind the housing opening from the outside are shielded by the common housing cover and are inaccessible.

[0015] To prevent the common housing cover from being unintentionally removed from the common housing opening, the common housing cover is preferably lockable to the rest of the housing, which preferably has the housing opening. For secure locking, the common housing cover preferably has a locking structure that can form-fittingly engage with a locking counter structure fixed to the housing. The form-fitting engagement provides a particularly secure locking of the common housing cover in the common housing opening, with the blocking of physical movement of the common housing cover relative to the common housing opening provided by the form-fitting engagement.

[0016] Hereinafter, in the constructions of "housing cover" and "housing opening", the prefix "common" will be omitted, since further reference to a housing cover and a housing opening refers to a common housing cover or a common housing opening.

[0017] The remainder of the housing, excluding the removed housing cover, will also be referred to below as the "remainder of the housing."

[0018] In this case, "fixed to the housing" does not necessarily mean that it is formed directly on the housing, but being formed directly on the housing is also included in the concept of "fixed to the housing." "Fixed to the housing" means that "it cannot normally be separated or removed from the housing or the rest of the housing, except for repair purposes that may occur."

[0019] One of the locking structure and the locking mating structure may be a protrusion that may protrude into the other of the locking structure and the locking mating structure, the other of the locking structure and the locking mating structure being formed as a recess, forming a form-locking engagement.

[0020] Basically, the locking structure may be fixedly arranged on the housing cover, and the locking counterpart may be arranged on the housing remainder so as to be movable between a locked position and an open position. In the locked position, the locking structure is in form-locking engagement with the locking counterpart, while in the open position, it is not in form-locking engagement. In an advantageous development of the invention, in order to make it possible to remove the housing cover from the housing remainder manually, more preferably with just one smooth movement, the locking structure is preferably, however, arranged on the housing cover so as to be movable between the locked position and the open position. An operating structure for a grip for operating the locking structure between the locked position and the open position is also preferably arranged on the housing cover.

[0021] In order to close the housing opening as reliably and firmly as possible with the housing cover when the housing cover can be handled with one hand to remove it from the housing opening and to place and lock it on the housing opening, it is preferably provided that the housing cover has a cover member that is immovable relative to the rest of the housing in the closed state of the emergency ventilator, and a locking member that is movable relative to the rest of the housing. The locking member supports the above-mentioned locking structure, preferably the same as the above-mentioned operating structure, and preferably is movable between a locked position in which the locking structure of the locking member locks the housing cover against removal from the housing opening by form-fitting engagement with a locking counterpart structure fixed to the housing in the rest of the ventilator, and an open position in which the locking member allows removal of the housing cover from the housing opening.

[0022] In order to keep the number of parts required for the procurement of the housing cover as small as possible, the locking member is preferably arranged and held on the cover member so as to be movable relative to the cover member.

[0023] Basically, the locking member is movable translationally relative to the cover member between a locked position and an open position. However, since the housing cover is generally removed translationally from the housing opening, it is advantageous for the locking member to be supported on the cover member so as to be rotatable about a locking axis relative to the cover member in order to handle the housing cover with one hand while at the same time providing the greatest possible operational security against undesired misoperation. Preferably, the housing cover can be removed from the housing opening along the locking axis. The housing cover that closes and locks the housing opening can be unlocked by rotating the locking member about the locking axis and removed away from the housing opening along the locking axis without changing the grip of the locking member with the hand.

[0024] Basically, the locking structure and the mating structure may each be a screw, which are mated with each other in the locked position and not mated with each other in the released position. The mating provides a particularly secure lock. However, disengaging and re-engaging takes a considerable amount of time. Preferably, the locking structure and the mating structure form a bayonet lock. Therefore, one of the locking structure and the mating structure has at least one radial protrusion relative to the locking axis, while the other has a recess with an axial portion relative to the locking axis that receives the protrusion and at least one circumferential edge extending circumferentially around the locking axis and engaged by the protrusion in the locked position. The edge may be a side surface of the circumferential portion of the recess. When the housing cover is moved toward the housing opening along the locking axis, the protrusion on the axial portion is slid axially relative to the recess until the circumferential edge axially passes the protrusion. The projection slides along and physically engages the circumferential edge by rotating the locking member about the locking axis to be displaced into the locked position, thus preventing the housing cover from moving axially away from the housing opening by the form-fitting.

[0025] The housing cover preferably includes an ambient air inlet to obtain an advantageously compact structure of the emergency ventilator, since the housing cover forms an inlet to an air filter arranged in the flow path of ambient air from the ambient air inlet to the breathing gas outlet. This also makes it possible to arrange the air filter near the housing cover, preferably immediately behind the housing cover, upstream of the blower, so that the blower is only circulated by purified air, which increases the service life of the blower.

[0026] In principle, the ambient air intake can be arranged in the cover element. In order to operate the locking element as reliably as possible even in very low light, the locking element is preferably made relatively large so that it can be easily and quickly found by feel. The ambient air intake can therefore easily penetrate the locking element.

[0027] If the ambient air intake passes through the locking member, the locking shaft preferably passes through the ambient air intake so that the position of the ambient air intake relative to the rest of the housing changes as little as possible when the locking member rotates around the locking shaft. For this reason, the ambient air intake is particularly preferably arranged in the center of the locking member and is passed through the center by the locking shaft. If the ambient air intake is preferably circular, the position of the ambient air intake does not change when the locking member rotates around the locking shaft, so that the emergency ventilator can continue to be used while the housing cover is unlocked.

[0028] According to a structurally preferred embodiment, in order to rotatably support the locking member, the cover member can have a bearing portion coaxial with the locking axis, which bearing portion surrounds the ambient air intake and extends along the locking axis and is surrounded by a bearing counterpart portion of the locking member that is coaxial with the locking axis. In this case, the bearing portion can serve as a kind of shaft member and support the locking member so that it can rotate around the locking axis. To obtain an advantageously large bearing length, the bearing portion can protrude from the rest of the cover member along the locking axis.

[0029] In order to enable the arrangement in the emergency ventilator of additional filters for purifying the drawn-in ambient air and / or measuring instruments for detecting physical and / or chemical properties of the drawn-in ambient air, such as temperature, load or composition with certain suspended substances or components, the bearing part has, on its radially inner side with respect to the locking axis, away from its bearing counterpart, a fastening structure, preferably a thread, in particular an internal thread, or part of a further bayonet-type lock, to which the additional filter and / or measuring instrument can be fastened.

[0030] Preferably, the housing cover is used not only to close the housing opening but also to fix the position of a functional component received in the housing behind the housing cover in the closed state. Thus, the housing cover according to a preferred further development has a cover-filter positioning portion facing the interior of the housing in the closed state, and when the emergency ventilator is operable, the cover-filter positioning portion cooperates with at least one housing-filter positioning portion fixed to the housing to fix a filter cartridge for filtering ambient air in its operable position in the closed state.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, the common housing cover may have a cover-storage device positioning portion that faces the interior of the housing in the closed state, and the cover-storage device positioning portion cooperates with at least one housing-storage device positioning portion secured to the housing in the closed state to secure the energy storage device body in its operable position when the emergency ventilator is operable. The energy storage device body may be a battery or a rechargeable accumulator as described above.

[0032] Preferably, the above-mentioned positioning portion on the housing side and the positioning portion on the provided cover side are abuttingly engaged with the positioned members, i.e., the filter cartridge and the energy storage device body, respectively, in the closed state, and form-fitting engagement between the positioning portion and the positioned member should not be excluded.

[0033] The filter cartridge preferably comprises a filter housing and a filter, in particular a HEPA filter, received in the filter housing, the filter cartridge being a component removable from or insertable into the remainder of the housing when the housing opening is open. Similarly, the energy storage device body is preferably the only energy storage device body, although it should not be excluded that the high energy demands of the emergency ventilator may require multiple energy storage device bodies.

[0034] The filter cartridge has an ambient air inlet that is accessible through the ambient air inlet when the emergency ventilator is operational. A protective grid may be provided at the ambient air inlet to prevent large contaminant particles from entering. The protective grid may be integral with a cartridge housing, for example, if the filter cartridge is formed by injection molding. As already mentioned, in many cases of artificial respiration, it may be necessary to provide a special gas different from the ambient air in addition to the ambient air. Therefore, in addition to the ambient air inlet, the filter cartridge may have a special gas connection for connection to a special gas supply.

[0035] In order for the special gas connection of the filter cartridge to be easily accessible through the ambient air inlet of the housing cover, it is advantageous for the special gas connection to be arranged radially spaced from the edge of the ambient air inlet with respect to an imaginary axis considered to pass through the center of the ambient air inlet. Therefore, the ambient air inlet and the special gas connection are preferably arranged coaxially with each other. Particularly preferably, the special gas connection is also arranged coaxially with respect to the locking axis in the operable closed state.

[0036] Many prior art emergency ventilators have complex shapes with many surfaces bent relative to one another. Such shapes are problematic in the chaos and hustle and bustle of emergency use, because hoses and wires can get caught in corners and gaps. Therefore, the housing of the emergency ventilator of the present invention preferably has a simple housing shape, preferably a prismatic or / and cylindrical basic shape. The housing preferably has two substantially parallel end faces and side faces connecting the end faces. The side faces wrap around an imaginary prismatic axis connecting the end faces. The side faces may be configured as polyhedrons with continuous flat surfaces in the direction of wrapping around the prismatic axis. To prevent injuries, the connection area between two directly adjacent flat side faces in the circumferential direction is rounded. Preferably, the radius of curvature of such connection is at least 0.5 cm. The axis of curvature is preferably parallel to the prismatic axis. The side surface may likewise be cylindrically configured, the cross section of the cylindrical basic shape being circular or elliptical.

[0037] The side surface may be prismatic or cylindrical, for example when configured as a polygon along a first circumferential portion and as a cylindrical or part-cylindrical along a second circumferential portion that connects to the first circumferential portion.

[0038] The housing member having a side surface is preferably a tubular housing member, the tube axis of which is a prismatic axis. The tubular housing member is preferably made of a light metal, such as an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy, for reasons of low weight and good thermal conductivity. Additionally or alternatively, it may be made of a copper alloy, such as brass or bronze, or an alloy containing copper. Alternatively, the tubular housing member may be made of a plastic, particularly a thermoplastic. To increase thermal conductivity, the plastic may be filled with particles that increase the thermal conductivity of the mixture relative to the unfilled plastic matrix. Such a filler is, for example, boron nitride.

[0039] For reasons of increased stability, the tubular housing members are preferably manufactured without joints, for example as extrusion pressed or extruded members.

[0040] Preferably, the housing cover forms the end face of the prismatic or / and cylindrical housing. The side face of the housing can be used to position the housing cover on the rest of the housing. Obviously, alternatively, the housing opening can also be formed in an existing housing wall by cutting out wall material. However, this workload is not necessary when using housing openings, such as end face openings, which arise anyway when manufacturing housings with a prismatic or / and cylindrical basic shape.

[0041] In order to provide clearer guidance to personnel operating the emergency ventilator, even in poor light, it is advantageous to arrange all connection structures and / or openings for introducing gas into and evacuating gas from the housing at only one end face of the prismatic or / and cylindrical housing, or separately at both end faces. Furthermore, protruding and therefore potentially breakable connection structures, such as side connection sockets, can be avoided. Possible connection structures can be sockets, in particular screw sockets, quick couplings, screw-in recesses, etc.

[0042] For operation and control of the emergency ventilator, the emergency ventilator preferably has an input / output device by which data and / or control commands can be input to the emergency ventilator and by which information regarding the operation of the emergency ventilator can be displayed to the operating personnel. Therefore, the input / output device preferably has a display device such as a screen and at least one switching device such as a push-button switch, a toggle switch, or a rotary switch. The screen is preferably a touch screen, which allows the number of keys, i.e., push-button switches, to be permanently mounted on the emergency ventilator to be kept to a minimum. The input / output device and further control and evaluation electronics of the emergency ventilator are also supplied with energy by an energy storage device.

[0043] More preferably, the prismatic or / and cylindrical housing has an input / output device with a display device and at least one switching device in the side area of ​​the housing, preferably only in the side area of ​​the housing.

[0044] Preferably, the majority of the housing wall visible from the outside, i.e., more than half, preferably more than 70%, is made of an impact-resistant material such as metal or plastic, especially filled plastic, so that the emergency ventilator is sufficiently robust to withstand the often harsh environments encountered during emergency use. For weight reasons, the metal housing wall is preferably made of an aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy. The emergency ventilator preferably has at least one impact-absorbing element on its outer surface to prevent impacts that may occur when the emergency ventilator is placed roughly from being transmitted undamped to the electronics inside the emergency ventilator. Preferably, the impact-absorbing element is made of an elastic plastic, such as natural rubber or rubber, especially silicone rubber, which has a much smaller elastic modulus than the rigid material that forms the majority of the housing wall. Thermoplastic elastomers are preferred elastic plastics due to their advantageous possibility of being molded in one go. Preferably, at least one impact-absorbing element is disposed on the outer surface of the housing cover. Preferably, when the housing cover is formed as the entire end face of a prismatic or / and cylindrical housing, at least one shock-absorbing element is arranged on the housing cover, preferably in the circumferential direction around the prismatic axis, particularly preferably in a completely closed manner surrounding the prismatic axis.

[0045] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0046] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an emergency ventilator according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the emergency ventilator of FIG. 1, with the cutting plane parallel to planes 14b and 14d of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the end face formed by the removable housing cover of the emergency ventilator according to FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a top view of the other, opposite end of the emergency ventilator according to FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the cutting plane VV of FIG. 7. [Figure 6] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a cutting plane VI-VI perpendicular to the prism axis P of FIG. 7. [Figure 7] 2 is a top view of the flat front face 14d with input / output devices 58 of the emergency ventilator according to FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] 1, an embodiment of an emergency ventilator according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Emergency ventilator 10 includes a housing 12 having a prismatic basic shape, here a rectangular parallelepiped basic shape.

[0048] The side surface 14 of the housing 12 includes four flat surface portions 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d, of which consecutive flat surface portions 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are oriented perpendicular to each other in the circumferential direction around the prismatic axis P. All flat surface portions 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are parallel to the prismatic axis P. The flat surface portions 14a, 14b, 14c, and 14d are connected to each other, preferably without joints, by quarter-cylindrical surface portions 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d. The cylindrical axes of the quarter-cylindrical curved surface portions 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d are parallel to the prismatic axis P. Preferably, the housing member 15 having the side surface 14 is an extruded aluminum tube.

[0049] 1 , the housing 12 includes a housing cover 22 that is removable from and positionable on the remaining housing part 20 along the prismatic axis P. The housing cover 22 thus serves to close a housing opening 24 formed in the longitudinal end 14e of the side surface 14 located closer to the viewer in FIG. 1 . The housing opening 24 is limited by the side surface 14 of the remaining housing part 20. Through the housing opening 24, a filter compartment 26 is accessible for an air filter cartridge 28 with an air filter 29, and a battery compartment 30 is accessible for a rechargeable battery as a grid-independent energy storage device 34.

[0050] The housing cover 22 has a cover member 36 and a locking member 38. The locking member 38 is supported by the cover member 36 so as to be rotatable about a locking axis V. The locking axis V extends coaxially with the prismatic axis P in the closed state, i.e., when the housing cover 22 is disposed on the housing remainder 20 and closes the housing opening 24.

[0051] Furthermore, the housing cover 22 has an ambient air intake port 40, which penetrates both the cover member 36 and the locking member 38. Through the ambient air intake port 40, ambient air can be drawn from the surroundings U, through the air filter 29, and into the housing 12 by a blower 42 (see FIG. 2).

[0052] The locking member 38 is shown in its locked position in FIG. 1 from which it can rotate counterclockwise about the locking axis V by approximately one-twelfth of a turn to an open position indicated by the reference numeral 43 in the form of an open padlock. The locking member 38 has a projection projecting radially away from the locking axis V, which projection is hidden in FIG. 1 by the cover member 36. The projection is part of a bayonet lock, through which the housing cover 22 closing the housing opening 24 can be form-locked to a locking counter structure 44 that cannot move relative to the rest of the housing 20. For this purpose, the locking counter structure 44 has a number of recesses 46, each having an axial recess portion 46a and a circumferential recess portion 46b around the locking axis V. When the protrusion of the locking member 38 is in the open position, it can be guided along the axial recessed portion 46a, parallel to the locking axis V and therefore parallel to the prismatic axis P, up to the recessed portion 46b, and after reaching the recessed portion 46b, can be moved along the recessed portion 46b in the circumferential direction.

[0053] The locking member 38 has a circumferentially extending recessed grip 48 that is interrupted by two handlebars 50a and 50b that are radially facing each other with the ambient air intake 40 located therebetween. By manually grasping the handlebars 50a and 50b, not only can the locking member 38 be rotated between an open position and a locked position, but the opened housing cover 22 can also be removed from or placed onto the remaining housing part 20 along the prismatic axis P. The handlebars 50a and 50b and the recessed grip 48 together form an operating structure 51 for operating the locking member 38.

[0054] Thus, the housing cover 22 can be removed from the remainder of the housing 20, placed on the remainder of the housing 20, locked in a closed position, and opened with a single hand operation.

[0055] The ambient air intake 40 is defined radially outward with respect to the locking axis V directly by a bearing portion 52 of the cover element 36. The bearing portion 52 has a fastening structure 52a in the form of an internal thread. An additional air filter can be arranged in the fastening structure 52a, for example, which performs a filtering function that the air filter 29 of the air filter cartridge 28 cannot perform. Alternatively or additionally, a measuring device can be arranged in the fastening structure 52a, which detects the ambient air drawn in through the ambient air intake 40 by means of a measuring technique and determines, for example, the chemical composition of the ambient air or, as the case may be, the extent to which the drawn in ambient air contains certain components or does not contain them.

[0056] The bearing portion 52 is surrounded radially outward by a mating bearing portion 54 of the locking member 38. The bearing portion 52 acts as a shaft, so to speak, and supports the locking member 38 by means of its mating bearing portion 54 so that the locking member 38 can rotate about the locking axis V. The mating bearing portion 54 forms the radially inner boundary of the recessed grip 48.

[0057] The air filter cartridge 28 has an ambient air inlet 56 on the side facing the housing cover 22 during operation, the ambient air inlet 56 being surrounded by a collar 28b that projects from the cartridge body 28a.

[0058] A cartridge insertion axis K, which is assumed to pass through the collar 28b at its center, is coaxial with the locking axis V when the emergency ventilator 10 is in an operable state, and is coaxial with an imaginary prismatic axis P, which is assumed to pass through the side surface 14 at its center. The ambient air inlet 56 is protected from the intrusion of relatively large contaminant particles such as stones and dust by a protective grille 57 (see FIG. 3). The protective grille 57 may be formed integrally with the housing member of the air filter cartridge 28, which includes the ambient air inlet, by injection molding.

[0059] Concentrically to the collar 28b and along the cartridge insertion axis K, a special gas auxiliary inlet 28c projects in the form of a connecting socket that tapers away from the cartridge body 28a. A special gas supply, e.g., an oxygen auxiliary supply, can be quickly and simply connected to the special gas auxiliary inlet 28c, for example, by pushing an elastic hose, the diameter of which is sufficiently small or large, into the special gas auxiliary inlet 28c and holding it in a frictional connection. Due to the shape of the special gas auxiliary inlet 28c, which tapers away from the cartridge body 28a, the hose can be connected to the special gas auxiliary inlet 28c with sufficient reliability and in a short time within a predetermined diameter range.

[0060] The energy storage device 34 has only one energy storage device body 33 in the illustrated preferred embodiment.

[0061] The emergency ventilator 10 has an input / output device 58 on the flat surface portion 14d extending from the flat surface portion to the adjacent partially cylindrical surface portions 16d and 16a. The input / output device 58 is used for information exchange between an operator and the emergency ventilator 10 and for the operator to control the emergency ventilator 10. The input / output device 58 has a screen 60 as an output device, and the screen 60 is preferably a touch screen that allows information to be input using a touch sensor. In addition, the input / output device 58 has an indicator LED 62 as a further output device, and includes, for example, a push button switch 64 and a rotary switch 66 as input means.

[0062] To protect against shock loads, the input / output device 58 may be surrounded by a frame member 67 configured as a shock-absorbing elastomeric ring 68 made of, for example, rubber, natural rubber, etc. However, the frame member 67 surrounding the input / output device 58 may also be formed as a plastic injection-molded part made of thermoplastic plastic.

[0063] The housing cover 22 is also surrounded by a shock-absorbing elastomeric ring 70 that wraps around the prismatic axis P. In the closed state, the elastomeric ring 70 covers portions of the side faces 14 as well as the end faces 18, so that the elastomeric ring 70 protects the emergency ventilator 10 in the area of ​​the housing cover 22 from both axial and radial shock loads.

[0064] Similarly, an equipment cover 72 (see FIG. 2 ) is arranged on the side surface 14 at the longitudinal end 14f opposite the housing cover 22. However, unlike the housing cover 22, the equipment cover 72 is preferably not removable from the side surface 14 of the housing 12. To protect the longitudinal end of the equipment cover 72 from axial and radial impact loads, the longitudinal end is also provided with an elastomer ring 74 that completely closes and surrounds the prismatic axis P in the circumferential direction, covering both part of the side surface 14 and part of the end surface 19. The end surface 19 is located opposite the end surface 18.

[0065] Elastomeric rings 68, 70 and 74 are preferably formed from the same flexible material for ease of manufacturing.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross section of emergency ventilator 10 along a cutting plane that includes prismatic axis P and extends parallel to flat surface portions 14d and 14b.

[0067] As can be seen in the operatively closed state of the emergency ventilator 10 shown in Figure 2, the cover member 36 has a cover-filter positioning portion 36a, which abuttingly engages with a portion of the air filter cartridge 28, particularly the cartridge body 28a, in the closed state and is used to determine the position of the air filter cartridge 28 and the air filter 29 within the housing 12. Furthermore, the emergency ventilator 10 has a housing-filter positioning portion 26a, for example, in the form of an inner wall of the filter storage portion 26. The cover-filter positioning portion 36a and the housing-filter positioning portion 26a cooperate to determine the operative position of the air filter cartridge 28 with sufficient precision.

[0068] Similarly, the cover member 36 has a cover-storage device positioning portion 36b which, in the closed state shown, abuts and engages with the energy storage device body 33 to secure the energy storage device body 33 in its operating position with sufficient precision in cooperation with the housing-storage device positioning portion 30a and, for example, the inner wall of the battery compartment 30.

[0069] The equipment cover 72 fixed to the housing has a breathing gas outlet 76 (see also Figure 4) located on the end surface 19, and the inhaled breathing gas transported by the blower 42 passes through the breathing gas outlet 76 and is released from the housing 12 toward the patient connected to the emergency ventilator 10.

[0070] 2, below the breathing gas outlet 76, is provided in the equipment cover 72, which is also fixed to the housing, with a special gas connection part 78, such as a special gas connection socket, through which a special gas different from ambient air can be introduced into the emergency ventilator 10. The special gas may also be, for example, oxygen.

[0071] Thus, the emergency ventilator 10 allows for the mixing of breathing gases consisting of three different gases: ambient air, a first special gas introduced through the special gas connection 78, and a second special gas introduced through the special gas auxiliary inlet 28c. If only one additional special gas different from ambient air is required to mix with the breathing gas, that special gas is preferably introduced through the special gas connection 78.

[0072] When ambient air UL is drawn in through ambient air inlet 40 and enters cartridge body 28a through ambient air inlet 56, as shown by the open arrow in Figure 2, it passes through air filter 29 and reaches mixing chamber 80, where blower 42 is located at its inlet. The gas present in mixing chamber 80 moistens most of the exterior surface of blower 42 and is used for convective cooling thereof.

[0073] A special gas, such as oxygen, guided through a special gas connection 78, whose mass flow rate can be appropriately adjusted by the input / output device 58 via an adjustable proportional valve 82, also reaches the mixing chamber 80 via a special gas supply pipe 84, where the ambient air UL and the special gas can be mixed before entering the blower 42. In this case, the blower 42 not only transports the breathing gas, but also mixes it as uniformly as possible, so that it is discharged from the breathing gas outlet 76 as uniformly as possible. The transport pipe that guides the breathing gas from the blower 42 to the breathing gas outlet 76 on the compression side is located behind the cross section in FIG. 2 and behind the electronics housing 86, which is completely physically shielded from the special gas supply pipe 84, thereby eliminating the risk of ignition that could occur in electronic devices accommodated in the electronics housing 86, or that could occur from pure oxygen or sufficient heat in an environment with a significantly increased oxygen content. The electronics compartment 86 receives controls for controlling the operation of the emergency ventilator 10 .

[0074] FIG. 3 shows a top view of end face 18 with removable housing cover 22, ie, along coaxial locking axis V, prismatic axis P, and cartridge insertion axis K.

[0075] 4 is a top view of the end face 19 with the device cover 72 fixed to the housing. The viewing direction in FIG. 4 is opposite to the viewing direction in FIG.

[0076] 1 and 2, Fig. 4 shows connecting sockets 88a and 88b to which pressure sensing hoses can be connected, which at their other ends remote from the connecting sockets 88a and 88b are connected to inner regions of differential pressure flow sensors for measuring the proximal inhaled and preferably also exhaled respiratory gas flow, both inner regions being separated from each other by a flow resistance which, as is known, is variable with the respiratory gas flow.

[0077] Via the power input 90, the emergency ventilator 10 can be operated with energy from the public power grid, if space for connection to the grid is available. All electrical functional units of the emergency ventilator 10 can be supplied with a supply voltage, usually via a power supply unit that transforms the voltage to a low voltage within the housing 12. Likewise, the accumulator 32 can be charged. A bushing 92 within the housing 12 is provided for the connection of an external sensor, in particular a CO2 sensor. Such a CO2 sensor can be installed, for example, in a flow sensor associated with the emergency ventilator 10 and can be connected to a sensor assembly.

[0078] In the cross-sectional views of Figures 2, 5 and 6, the heat conductor 94 is shown in cross section, and the blower 42 is fixed to the heat conductor 94.

[0079] As can be seen in FIG. 6, the lower part of the blower housing 42a accommodates an air conveying device 42b rotatably about a rotation axis D that is perpendicular to the flat surface portion 14c and parallel to the projection plane of FIGS. 2 and 6. An electric drive 42c arranged above the air conveying device 42b drives the air conveying device 42b, which is configured, for example, as an impeller, to rotate. The lower part of the blower housing 42a may be a separate conveying device housing member, made of, for example, plastic, for cost reasons. The conveying device housing member may also be made of multiple parts to facilitate installation.

[0080] The part of the blower housing 42a surrounding the drive part 42c is fixed by means of a blower connection surface 94a to the heat conductor 94 in a limited recess with a gap of less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.3 mm, particularly preferably no gap, by means of connecting means such as gluing, soldering, welding or screws. This part of the blower housing 42a may be made of, for example, an aluminum alloy or a metal alloy as a separate drive housing part for better heat conduction.

[0081] The blower housing 42a, preferably fabricated from aluminum in a die-casting process or by solid cutting, transfers heat from the blower 42 to the heat conductor 94. Because the drive section 42c is the most significant heat source within the blower 42 during operation of the emergency ventilator 10, the blower interface surface 94a preferably encompasses the area of ​​the blower housing 42a that encapsulates the drive section 42c.

[0082] The heat conductor 94, also preferably made of aluminum, has a housing connection surface 94b spaced apart from the fan connection surface 94a. By means of the housing connection surface 94b, the heat conductor 94 is connected over its entire surface to the housing 12, contacting the inner surface of the housing part having the flat surface portion 14b. Preferably, the heat conductor 94 is fixed to the corresponding housing part from the outside through through-holes with screws (not shown). The screws pass through the through-holes and screw into the internal threads of the heat conductor 94. The housing connection surface 94b may be connected to the housing part over its entire surface without any gaps.

[0083] As an alternative to the depictions in Figures 2 and 6, an intermediate layer that enhances thermal conductivity may be arranged between the fan connection surface 94a and the fan housing 42a and / or between the housing connection surface 94b and the housing 12, for example as a pasty layer of thermally conductive paste, or alternatively, preferably as a solid layer in the form of a thermally conductive mat.

[0084] The heat transferred from the fan 42 to the thermal conductor 94 follows a temperature gradient formed on the flat surface portion 14b during operation, and on the surface portion 14b, the lowest temperature generally exists at the interface with the external environment U, in the flow path from the fan 42 through the thermal conductor 94 to the housing 12. On the surface portion 14b, the heat conducted from the fan 42 to the housing 12 by the thermal conductor 94 is released to the external environment U by convection and radiation. Convection occurs naturally based on the temperature difference between the surface portion 14b and the external environment U, and becomes more pronounced as the temperature difference between the surface portion 14b and the external environment U increases. The tubular housing member 15 having the side surface 14 is preferably made of aluminum, a material with excellent thermal conductivity, so that the housing member 15 conducts heat from the surface portion 14b to the adjacent surface portions 14a, 16b, 16c, 14c, etc., so that the surface portions that are not in direct contact with the thermal conductor 94 can also be used to dissipate heat to the outside environment U.

[0085] The housing connecting surface 94b is more than twice as large as the fan connecting surface 94a.

[0086] 6, most of the outer surface 42a1 of the blower housing 42a protrudes into the mixing chamber 80, where the protruding portion of the outer surface 42a1 can be wetted by the breathing gas in the mixing chamber 80. The breathing gas transported by the blower 42 can also be used for convective cooling of the blower 42 and the entire emergency ventilator 10. The outer surface 42a1 completely surrounds the rotation axis D of the air transport device 42b in the circumferential direction.

[0087] Preferably, the cooling action of the breathing gas and heat conductor 94 is good enough that the emergency ventilator 10 does not have a dedicated cooling fan, so preferably the blower 42 for transporting the breathing gas is the only blower in the emergency ventilator 10.

[0088] 5, the breathing gas conduit 96 can be seen as the exhaust pipe of the blower 42. On the compression side of the blower 42, the blower 42 transports breathing gas through the breathing gas conduit 96 in the direction of the breathing gas outlet 76. In the illustrated embodiment, the breathing gas conduit 96 runs parallel to the special gas supply pipe 84 in a space-saving manner.

[0089] Within the heat conductor 94, tubes 94c and 94d may be configured that increase the surface of the heat conductor 94, and the tubes 94c and 94d are driven by the blower 42 and can be at least partially traversed by the breathing gas in the mixing chamber 80, thereby removing additional heat from the heat conductor 94 by convection, thereby additionally enhancing the cooling effect of the breathing gas and the heat conductor 94.

[0090] The surface 94e of the heat conductor defines the mixing chamber 80 and may be wetted by the breathing gas.

[0091] 5 and 6, the integral heat conductor 94 surrounds the mixing chamber 80 on five sides. The air conveying device 42b and the portion of the blower housing 42a that surrounds the air conveying device 42b are disposed within the mixing chamber 80. The portion of the blower 42 that protrudes into the mixing chamber 80 is spaced apart from the heat conductor 94 in all directions, thereby providing the largest possible surface from which heat can be removed from the breathing gas within the mixing chamber 80. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 Emergency respirator 12 Housing 14 Side 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d surface area 14e, 14f Longitudinal ends 15 Housing material 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d surface area 18, 19 End face 20 Remaining part of the housing, remaining part of the housing 22 Housing cover 24 Housing opening 26 Filter storage section 26a Housing-filter positioning part 28 Air filter cartridge 28a cartridge body 28b color 28c Special gas auxiliary inlet, special gas connection structure 29 Air Filter 30 Battery compartment 30a Housing-storage device positioning portion 32 Storage battery 33 Energy storage device body 34 Energy storage device 36 Cover member 36a Cover-filter positioning part 36b Cover-storage device positioning part 38 Locking member 40 Ambient air intake 42 Blower 42a Blower housing 42a1 External surface 42b Pneumatic conveying equipment 42c Drive unit 43 Open position 44 Locking counterpart structure 46 Recess 46a, 46b recessed part 48 Recessed Grip 50a, 50b handlebars 51 Operation structure 52 Bearing part 52a Fixed structure 54 Bearing mating part 56 Ambient air inlet 57 Protective grid 58 Input / Output Devices 60 Display devices, screens 62 Display LED 64 Push Button Switch 66 Rotary Switch 67 Frame members 68, 70, 74 Shock absorbing element, elastomer ring 72 Equipment cover 76 Breathing gas outlet 78 Special gas connection part 80 Mixing room 82 Proportional valve 84 Special gas supply pipe 86 Electronic equipment storage area 88a, 88b connection sockets 90 Power input section 92 Bush 94 Thermal Conductors 94a Blower connection surface 94b Housing connection surface 94c, 94d tube 94e surface 96 Breathing gas conduit D rotation axis K Cartridge insertion shaft P prism axis U Surroundings, outside environment UL Ambient Air V-lock shaft

Claims

1. An emergency ventilator (10) for providing artificial ventilation to a patient in emergency medical care, comprising: a housing (12) having an ambient air inlet (40), a breathing gas outlet (76) and a housing cover (22); a blower (42) arranged in said housing (12) and configured to transport ambient air from said ambient air inlet (40) to said breathing gas outlet (76); an air filter (29) arranged in said housing (12) in the flow path of the ambient air downstream of said ambient air inlet (40), and adapted to purify the drawn-in ambient air; an energy storage device (34) for supplying the fan with energy for its operation; It contains The air filter (29) is accommodated within the housing (12) so as to be accessible through an openable housing opening (24) that is closed by the housing cover (22) but is normally replaceable; In an emergency ventilator (10), the energy storage device (34) is closed by the housing cover (22) but is accessible through an openable housing opening (24), and is received within the housing (12) so as to be normally replaceable; The emergency ventilator (10) is characterized in that the air filter (29) and the energy storage device (34) are accessible through the common housing opening (24), and the common housing opening (24) can be selectively opened and closed by the common housing cover (22).

2. 2. The emergency ventilator of claim 1, wherein the common housing cover has a cover member that is immovable relative to the remainder of the housing in a closed state of the emergency ventilator in which the common housing cover closes the common housing opening, and a locking member that is movable relative to the remainder of the housing, the locking member being movable between a locked position in which a locking structure of the locking member locks the common housing cover against removal from the common housing opening by form-fitting engagement with a locking counterpart structure fixed to the housing in the remainder of the ventilator, and an open position in which the locking member allows removal of the common housing cover from the common housing opening.

3. 3. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 2, wherein the locking member (38) is supported on the cover member (36) so as to be rotatable about a locking axis (V) relative to the cover member (36).

4. 4. An emergency ventilator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the common housing cover (22) comprises the ambient air intake (40).

5. 5. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 4 when claim 2 or 3 is taken up, characterized in that the ambient air intake (40) passes through the locking member (38).

6. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 5 when claim 3 is recited, characterized in that the locking shaft (V) passes through the ambient air intake (40).

7. 7. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 6, wherein the cover member (36) has a bearing portion (52) coaxial with the lock axis (V), the bearing portion surrounding the ambient air intake port (40) and extending along the lock axis (V) and being surrounded by a bearing mating portion (54) of the lock member (38) coaxial with the lock axis (V).

8. 8. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 7, wherein the bearing portion (52) has a fixing structure (52a) on a radially inner side of the bearing portion (52) with respect to the lock axis (V), away from the bearing mating portion (54).

9. the common housing cover has a cover-filter positioning portion (36a) facing the interior of the housing (12) in a closed state, and the cover-filter positioning portion cooperates with at least one housing-filter positioning portion (26a) fixed to the housing in the closed state when the emergency ventilator (10) is operable to fix an air filter cartridge (28) for filtering ambient air in an operable position on the air filter cartridge; and / or 9. The emergency ventilator (10) of claim 1, wherein the common housing cover (22) has a cover-storage device positioning portion (36b) that faces the inside of the housing (12) in a closed state, and when the emergency ventilator (10) is operable, the cover-storage device positioning portion cooperates with at least one housing-storage device positioning portion (30a) fixed to the housing to fix the energy storage device body (33) in an operable position on the energy storage device body in the closed state.

10. 10. The emergency ventilator (10) of claim 9, wherein the air filter cartridge (28) has an ambient air inlet (56) accessible through the ambient air inlet (40) and a special gas connection (28c) for connection to a special gas supply.

11. 11. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the ambient air inlet (56) and the special gas connection structure (28c) are arranged coaxially with respect to each other.

12. The emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 11 when claim 3 is recited, characterized in that the ambient air inlet (56) and the special gas connection structure (28c) are arranged coaxially with respect to the lock axis (V) in an operable closed state.

13. 13. The emergency ventilator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the housing (12) has a basic shape of a prismatic or cylindrical shape, and the common housing cover (22) forms an end face (18) of the prismatic or cylindrical housing (12).

14. 14. The emergency ventilator (10) of claim 13, wherein all connection structures and / or openings (24) for introducing gas into the housing (12) and discharging gas from the housing (12) are located on one of the end faces (18, 19) of the prismatic or cylindrical housing (12).

15. 15. An emergency ventilator (10) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the prismatic or cylindrical housing (12) comprises, in the area of ​​the side surface (14) of the housing, an input / output device (58) with a display device (60) and at least one switching device (64, 66).

16. 16. The emergency ventilator (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the housing cover (22) comprises at least one shock absorbing element (68, 70, 74) on an outer surface of the housing cover.

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