Ventilation apparatus, and method for operating a ventilation apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a ventilation apparatus (2) comprising: an air inlet (10) which is designed to supply ambient air to the ventilation apparatus (2); an oxygen inlet (8) which is designed to supply oxygen gas to the ventilation apparatus (2); a mixing section (34) which is designed to receive ambient air from the air inlet (10) and oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet (8), to mix the ambient air and the oxygen gas with each other, and to output oxygen-enriched air as a ventilation gas flow into a ventilation gas flow path (39); an oxygen regulation valve (30) which is provided between the oxygen inlet (8) and the mixing section (34) and which makes it possible to regulate a flow of the oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet (8) into the mixing section (34); and an integrated combination sensor (60) which is designed to measure a thermal conductivity, a pressure, a temperature, and a humidity of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing section (34), to determine the oxygen content of the ventilation gas flow based on the thermal conductivity taking into consideration the measured pressure, the measured temperature, and the measured humidity, and to provide the oxygen content as measurement results. The ventilation apparatus (2) also has a monitoring device (66) which is designed: to receive the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b), by the ventilation gas pressure sensor (45), by the ventilation gas temperature sensor (42), and / or by the ventilation gas humidity sensor (43) and by the integrated combination sensor (60); to compare the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow received from the integrated combination sensor (60) with a predefined oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow; and to control the oxygen regulation valve (30) in order to adjust the oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow if the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow, which measurement result is received from the integrated combination sensor (60), differs from the predefined oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow.

Description

[0001] Ventilation device and method of operating a ventilation device

[0002] The invention relates to a ventilation device for ventilating a patient and a method for operating such a ventilation device. In particular, the invention relates to a high-flow ventilation device and a ventilation device preferably intended for nasal ventilation of a patient.

[0003] Ventilation devices for ventilating patients provide a ventilation gas flow at a ventilation gas outlet, which preferably has predetermined parameters. These parameters include, for example, the flow, oxygen content, pressure, temperature, and / or humidity of the provided ventilation gas flow.

[0004] A multitude of different sensors are required to measure the parameters of the ventilation gas flow so that the components of the ventilation device can be controlled so that the parameters of the ventilation gas flow provided at the ventilation gas outlet of the ventilation device remain within specified value ranges. Providing and installing the required sensors makes the manufacture of such a ventilation device complex and expensive.

[0005] Some of the sensors required in a ventilator, especially oxygen sensors, are maintenance-intensive and often have a relatively short lifespan. This makes the maintenance and upkeep of ventilators equipped with such sensors complex and expensive.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to simplify and make more cost-effective the manufacture and maintenance of a ventilation device which, during operation, provides a ventilation gas flow for ventilating a patient.

[0007] A ventilator according to the invention has an air inlet provided for supplying ambient air to the ventilator; an oxygen inlet provided for supplying oxygen gas to the ventilator; and a mixing region configured to receive ambient air from the air inlet and oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet, mix the ambient air and the oxygen gas, and discharge oxygen-enriched air as a ventilator gas stream into a ventilator gas flow path.

[0008] A ventilator according to the invention also has an oxygen control valve provided between the oxygen inlet and the mixing area, which makes it possible to regulate a flow of the oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet into the mixing area.

[0009] A ventilation device according to the invention further comprises an integrated combination sensor which is designed to measure a thermal conductivity, a pressure, a temperature and a humidity of the ventilation gas flow which is discharged from the mixing region into the ventilation gas flow path, to determine an oxygen content of the ventilation gas flow from the measured thermal conductivity taking into account the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the measured humidity, and to provide the oxygen content, the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the measured humidity thus determined as measurement results.

[0010] Document WO 2017 / 189 546 A1 describes a device for analyzing breath air with an oxygen sensor whose function is based on measuring the thermal conductivity of the breath air. It also describes that the device can have additional sensors for measuring the air humidity and temperature in order to compensate for any influence of changes in air humidity and / or temperature on the measurement results.

[0011] A ventilation device according to the invention also has a monitoring device designed to receive the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream provided by the integrated combination sensor; to compare the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream received by the integrated combination sensor with a predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream; and to control the oxygen control valve in order to adjust the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream if the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream received by the integrated combination sensor differs from the predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream.

[0012] The invention also encompasses a method for operating a ventilation device according to the invention. A method according to the invention for operating a ventilation device comprises using the integrated combination sensor to measure a thermal conductivity, an oxygen content, a pressure, a temperature, and a humidity of the ventilation gas stream output from the mixing area of ​​the ventilation device; determining the oxygen content of the ventilation gas stream from the measured thermal conductivity, taking into account the measured pressure, the measured temperature, and the measured humidity; and providing the thus determined oxygen content, the measured pressure, the measured temperature, and the measured humidity as measurement results.

[0013] The method further comprises comparing the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream provided by the integrated combination sensor with a predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream, and controlling the oxygen control valve in order to adjust the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream if the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream received by the integrated combination sensor differs from the predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream.

[0014] A ventilation device which is designed according to the invention with an integrated combination sensor and a method according to the invention for operating such a ventilation device make it possible to provide a ventilation gas flow which has a predetermined oxygen content using only a single integrated combination sensor.

[0015] Although the use of only a single integrated combination sensor is sufficient to provide a ventilation gas flow having a predetermined oxygen content, a ventilation device according to the invention can also be provided with several combination sensors in order to further increase the operational reliability of the ventilation device through redundancy of the combination sensors.

[0016] A ventilation device according to the invention can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively, as the provision and installation of various sensors designed to measure different properties of the ventilation gas flow can be dispensed with. Using a single integrated combination sensor instead of a multitude of sensors also simplifies maintenance of the ventilation device, as multiple sensors do not need to be checked, maintained, and replaced as needed.

[0017] An integrated combination sensor according to the invention has a longer service life than conventional oxygen sensors previously used in ventilators. This makes the operation and maintenance of a ventilator according to the invention simpler and more cost-effective than the operation and maintenance of a ventilator equipped with conventional oxygen sensors.

[0018] In one embodiment, a ventilation device according to the invention additionally comprises an oxygen measuring device designed to determine an oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region and to provide it as a measurement result, and / or a ventilation gas pressure sensor designed to determine a pressure of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region and to provide it as a measurement result, and / or a ventilation gas temperature sensor designed to determine a temperature of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas humidity sensor designed to determine a humidity in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region and to provide it as a measurement result.

[0019] In such an embodiment, the monitoring device can be configured to receive the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device and / or the respiratory gas pressure sensor and / or the respiratory gas temperature sensor and / or the respiratory gas humidity sensor; to compare the measurement results received by the oxygen measuring device and / or the respiratory gas pressure sensor and / or the respiratory gas temperature sensor and / or the respiratory gas humidity sensor with the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor;and to issue an alarm signal if at least one of the measurement results received by the oxygen measuring device and / or the respiratory gas pressure sensor and / or the respiratory gas temperature sensor and / or the respiratory gas humidity sensor differs from the corresponding measurement result provided by the integrated combination sensor by more than a predetermined maximum difference value. The maximum difference value can be specified by a specialist and entered via a suitable input device, for example, a keyboard, a touchscreen, and / or an electronic interface.

[0020] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises using an oxygen measuring device to determine the oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing area and making it available as a measurement result, and / or using a ventilation gas pressure sensor to determine the pressure of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing area and making it available as a measurement result, and / or using a ventilation gas temperature sensor to determine the temperature of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing area and making it available as a measurement result, and / or using a ventilation gas humidity sensor to determine the humidity in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing area and making it available as a measurement result.The method further comprises comparing the measurement results received by the oxygen measuring device and / or the respiratory gas pressure sensor and / or the respiratory gas temperature sensor and / or the respiratory gas humidity sensor with the corresponding measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor, and issuing an alarm signal if at least one of the measurement results received by the oxygen measuring device, the respiratory gas pressure sensor, the respiratory gas temperature sensor, and the respiratory gas humidity sensor differs from the corresponding measurement result received by the integrated combination sensor by more than a predetermined maximum difference value. The maximum difference value can be specified as an absolute value or as a percentage. The maximum difference value can be, for example, 5% of the respective measurement result.If the maximum difference value is set to 5% of the respective measurement result, the measurement results received by the combined sensor may deviate by a maximum of 5% from the measurement results received by the other sensors without triggering an alarm. If the difference between a measurement result of the combined sensor and a measurement result of the other sensors exceeds 5% of the measurement result, an alarm is triggered.

[0021] Such a ventilation device, which is equipped with an integrated combination sensor and at least one further sensor, makes it possible to compare the measurement results for parameters of the ventilation gas flow, which have been determined and made available by the integrated combination sensor and by the at least one further sensor, and to determine deviations between the measurement results.

[0022] In this way, the operational reliability of the ventilation device can be increased, as malfunctions of the integrated combination sensor and / or the at least one additional sensor that lead to incorrect measurement results can be reliably and early detected. This can prevent a patient from being ventilated with an incorrect ventilation gas flow, in particular with an incorrect oxygen content, due to a malfunction of one of the sensors.

[0023] In one embodiment, an air control valve is provided between the air inlet and the mixing area, which allows the flow of ambient air flowing from the air inlet into the mixing area to be regulated. In such an embodiment, the monitoring device can, in particular, be configured to also control the air control valve based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor and / or the other sensors.

[0024] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises controlling the air control valve on the basis of the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor and / or by the other sensors in such a way that the ventilation device provides a ventilation gas flow that has a predetermined flow, a predetermined oxygen content, a predetermined pressure, a predetermined temperature and / or a predetermined humidity.

[0025] In a ventilation device that has an oxygen control valve as well as an air control valve, the mixing of oxygen gas and ambient air can be controlled particularly efficiently in order to provide a ventilation gas flow with the desired parameters.

[0026] In one embodiment, a ventilation device according to the invention comprises a humidification device configured to receive the ventilation gas flow discharged from the mixing region into the ventilation gas flow path, to humidify it, and to provide the humidified ventilation gas flow. In such an embodiment, the monitoring device can be configured to control the humidification device based on the measurement results received from the integrated combination sensor and / or from the other sensors such that the ventilation device provides a ventilation gas flow having a predetermined humidity.

[0027] In one embodiment, the ventilation device comprises a blower, and the monitoring device is configured to control the blower based on the measurement results provided by the sensors. In such an embodiment, the monitoring device can be configured to control the blower based on the measurement results received from the integrated combination sensor and / or from the other sensors in such a way that the ventilation device provides a ventilation gas flow having a predetermined flow and / or a predetermined pressure.

[0028] With the aid of a blower, the flow and pressure of the provided ventilation gas stream can be adjusted within a wide range. In particular, the pressure and / or flow of the ventilation gas stream provided by the ventilation device can be increased. In particular, the pressure and / or flow of the ventilation gas stream can be adjusted to predefined target values ​​based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor and / or the other sensors.

[0029] In one embodiment in which the ventilation device has a fan, the mixing area can be formed upstream or downstream of the fan. In another embodiment, the mixing area can be formed as part of the fan in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0030] If a discrepancy is detected between at least one of the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor and at least one of the measurement results provided by the other sensors, the oxygen control valve and / or air control valve and / or the fan and / or the humidification device can be initially controlled based on the measurement results of the integrated combination sensor to provide an appropriate ventilation gas flow. If the discrepancy between the measurement results exceeds a predetermined limit, an alarm signal can be issued to indicate the discrepancy between the measurement results, which may be caused by a malfunction of at least one of the sensors.

[0031] In one embodiment, the integrated combination sensor comprises a heated silicon membrane, which allows for the measurement of changes in thermal conductivity resulting from changes in the oxygen content of the gas flowing through the integrated combination sensor. An integrated combination sensor comprising a heatable silicon membrane exhibits minimal wear and a long service life. In particular, such an integrated combination sensor has a significantly longer service life than conventional oxygen sensors previously used in ventilators.

[0032] In one embodiment, the integrated combination sensor is a "MEMS thermal conductivity sensor." MEMS, or microelectromechanical systems, are usually tiny sensors. Among other things, they can detect thermal changes and convert them into electrical information. A "MEMS thermal conductivity sensor" can be configured using various measurement methods. Both plate methods that measure the transition ("transient phase") and the steady-state phase can be used. For example, a transition method can include the heat flow sensor measurement method ("heat flow meter" - HFM), the "guarded heat plate method," or the "thermal interface material tester method."

[0033] In one embodiment, a ventilation device according to the invention is a high-flow ventilation device intended for ventilating, preferably nasally, a patient. The advantages of a ventilation device according to the invention are particularly noticeable in a high-flow ventilation device.

[0034] In one embodiment, the ventilation device is particularly designed to provide a ventilation gas flow of at least 15 l / min, in particular a ventilation gas flow of up to 100 l / min.

[0035] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises providing a ventilation gas flow with a flow rate of at least 15 l / min, in particular a flow rate of up to 100 l / min. A ventilation device that provides a ventilation gas flow of at least 15 l / min is suitable for use as a so-called high-flow ventilation device.

[0036] In one embodiment, the integrated combination sensor is embodied in a combination sensor housing arranged within a housing of the ventilator. An integrated combination sensor embodied in its own combination sensor housing can be particularly easily installed within the housing of the ventilator and removed and replaced as needed.

[0037] In one embodiment, the ventilation device comprises a sensor gas flow line that branches off from the ventilation gas flow path downstream of the mixing region, so that a portion of the ventilation gas flow discharged from the mixing region flows through the sensor gas flow line as a partial ventilation gas flow. In such an embodiment, the integrated combination sensor is arranged in or on the sensor gas flow line, so that the oxygen content, pressure, temperature, and thermal conductivity of the partial ventilation gas flow can be determined by the integrated combination sensor.

[0038] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises guiding a portion of the ventilation gas flow output from the mixing region through a sensor gas flow line, wherein the integrated combination sensor is provided on or in the sensor gas flow line.

[0039] Such a sensor gas flow line allows only a portion of the ventilation gas flow to flow through the integrated combo sensor. In particular, the integrated combo sensor can be flowed through by a portion of the ventilation gas flow that has a flow rate lower than the ventilation gas flow.

[0040] The integrated combination sensor can thus be designed for a maximum flow that is lower than the maximum flow of the ventilation gas flow. The integrated combination sensor can thus be designed in a simpler, more reliable, and more cost-effective manner than a sensor designed to be passed through by the entire ventilation gas flow.

[0041] A flow limiter can be provided in the sensor gas flow line, which is designed to limit the flow of the partial ventilation gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line. The flow limiter can, in particular, be designed to limit the flow of the partial ventilation gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line to no more than 150 ml / min. The flow limiter can preferably be designed to limit the flow of the partial ventilation gas flow through the sensor gas flow line to no more than 100 ml / min, in particular to no more than 50 ml / min.

[0042] The flow restrictor can be located upstream or downstream of the integrated combination sensor in the sensor gas flow line.

[0043] The sensor gas flow line itself can also be designed as a flow restrictor. The sensor gas flow line can be designed as a flow restrictor, in particular by having a reduced or small inner diameter. In this case, an additional flow restrictor in the sensor gas flow line can be omitted.

[0044] In one embodiment, the sensor gas flow line is designed to discharge the partial ventilation gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line downstream of the integrated combination sensor into the environment of the ventilation device. Such a sensor gas flow line is particularly simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the sensor gas flow line is designed as a return line extending from an outlet or other location downstream of the mixing region to an inlet or other location upstream of the mixing region, so that the partial respiratory gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line is returned to the mixing region after it has flowed through the integrated combination sensor.

[0046] In one embodiment of a method according to the invention, a portion of the ventilation gas flow discharged from the mixing region is returned to an inlet or another location upstream of the mixing region through a sensor gas flow line designed as a return line, on or in which the integrated combination sensor is provided.

[0047] With a sensor gas flow line designed as a return line, the release of oxygen-containing gas into the environment can be avoided. This saves oxygen-containing gas. Furthermore, the increased fire hazard in the vicinity of the ventilator, which can be caused by the release of oxygen-rich gas into the environment, can be avoided.

[0048] In one embodiment, the integrated combination sensor comprises a program-controlled microcontroller configured to determine the oxygen content of the ventilation gas stream from the thermal conductivity of the ventilation gas stream, taking into account the measured pressure, temperature, and humidity of the ventilation gas stream. The combination sensor measures the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the gas in the sensor gas flow line and uses these measurement results to determine the oxygen content by means of the thermal conductivity measurement, particularly more accurately than without measuring temperature, pressure, and humidity. Using a program-controlled microcontroller, the desired functionality of the integrated combination sensor can be implemented particularly efficiently and cost-effectively.

[0049] In one embodiment, the monitoring device comprises a program-controlled microcontroller configured to receive and evaluate the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor, and to control the oxygen control valve and / or the humidification device based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor such that the ventilation device provides a ventilation gas flow having a predetermined flow rate, a predetermined oxygen content, a predetermined pressure, a predetermined temperature, and / or a predetermined humidity. By using a program-controlled microcontroller, the desired functionality of the monitoring device can be implemented particularly efficiently and cost-effectively.

[0050] In one embodiment, the program-controlled microcontroller is designed to determine the oxygen content of the ventilation gas flow from the flow measured by a flow sensor in the ventilation device and the flow measured by an oxygen flow sensor in the ventilation device and to compare it with the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor, and then, depending on the result of this comparison, to control the oxygen control valve and / or the humidification device either on the basis of the oxygen content determined from the measured flows or on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor.

[0051] The program-controlled microcontroller can in particular be designed to control the oxygen control valve and / or the humidification device on the basis of the oxygen content determined from the measured flows if the oxygen content determined from the flow of the ventilation gas flow measured by the flow sensor and the flow of the oxygen gas measured by the oxygen flow sensor and the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor do not differ from one another.

[0052] The program-controlled microcontroller can also be designed to control the oxygen control valve and / or the humidification device on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the combination sensor if the oxygen content determined from the flow of the ventilation gas flow measured by the flow sensor and the flow of the oxygen gas measured by the oxygen flow sensor and the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor differ from each other.

[0053] The combination sensor of a ventilation device according to the invention can thus be used both as a redundancy system for the existing sensors and as a standalone device for controlling the ventilation device.

[0054] In one embodiment, the oxygen measuring device comprises at least one flow sensor provided at an outlet of the mixing region and configured to measure the flow of the ventilation gas stream discharged from the mixing region into the ventilation gas path and to provide the measurement result to the monitoring device.

[0055] In one embodiment, the oxygen measuring device comprises two flow sensors provided downstream of the mixing region in or on the ventilation gas flow path. The two flow sensors can, in particular, be arranged parallel to one another in or on the ventilation gas flow path. Two flow sensors arranged parallel to one another in or on the ventilation gas flow path provide redundancy, which further increases the operational reliability of the ventilation device.

[0056] In one embodiment, the oxygen measuring device comprises at least one oxygen flow sensor, which is provided between the oxygen inlet and the mixing region and is designed to measure the flow of oxygen flowing into the mixing region through the oxygen inlet and to provide the measurement result to the monitoring device. This enables the monitoring device, based on the measurement results provided by the at least one flow sensor and the oxygen flow sensor, to control the ventilation device such that the ventilation device provides a ventilation gas flow having a predetermined flow and a predetermined oxygen content.

[0057] In one embodiment, the oxygen measuring device comprises at least one oxygen sensor configured to measure the oxygen content in the respiratory gas stream. The at least one oxygen sensor may, for example, be an optical oxygen sensor. Other types of oxygen sensors suitable for measuring the oxygen content in the respiratory gas stream may also be used.

[0058] In one embodiment, at least one ventilation gas temperature sensor is provided downstream of the mixing region. This sensor is designed to measure the temperature of the ventilation gas flow exiting the mixing region into the ventilation gas flow path and to provide the measurement result to the monitoring device. Such a ventilation gas temperature sensor enables the monitoring device to control the components of the ventilation device based on the temperature of the ventilation gas flow exiting the mixing region into the ventilation gas flow path, in order to provide a ventilation gas flow with predetermined parameters, in particular with a desired temperature, at the ventilation gas outlet.

[0059] In one embodiment, at least one ventilation gas humidity sensor is provided at the outlet of the mixing area, which is designed to measure the humidity of the ventilation gas stream exiting the mixing area and to provide the measurement result to the monitoring device. Such a ventilation gas humidity sensor enables the monitoring device to control the components of the ventilation device, in particular the humidification device, based on the humidity of the ventilation gas stream exiting the mixing area into the ventilation gas flow path, in order to provide a ventilation gas stream with predetermined parameters, in particular with a desired humidity, at the ventilation gas outlet.In one embodiment, the ventilation device also comprises an ambient temperature sensor configured to measure the ambient temperature of the ventilation device and provide the measurement result to the monitoring device. Such an ambient temperature sensor enables the monitoring device to control the components of the ventilation device, also based on the ambient temperature, in order to provide a ventilation gas flow with predetermined parameters, in particular with a desired temperature and a desired humidity.

[0060] In one embodiment, the ventilation device also comprises an ambient pressure sensor configured to measure the air pressure in the environment of the ventilation device and to provide the measurement result to the monitoring device. Such an ambient pressure sensor enables the monitoring device to determine the overpressure in the ventilation gas path and in the ventilation tube relative to the air pressure in the environment of the ventilation device and to control the components of the ventilation device, also based on the air pressure in the environment of the ventilation device, in order to provide a ventilation gas flow with predetermined parameters, in particular with a desired pressure difference relative to the air pressure in the environment of the ventilation device.

[0061] In one embodiment, the oxygen inlet of the ventilator is a high-pressure oxygen inlet designed for connection to a high-pressure oxygen source. The high-pressure oxygen inlet can in particular be designed to receive gaseous oxygen from the high-pressure oxygen gas source at a pressure in the range of 2.8 bar to 6 bar. The high-pressure oxygen gas source can be a gas cylinder in which the oxygen is stored at a pressure of 200 bar to 300 bar. A pressure limiter can be attached to the gas cylinder so that the oxygen is made available to the ventilator at a pressure of 2.8 bar to 6 bar. In one embodiment, the oxygen inlet of the ventilator is a low-pressure oxygen inlet designed for connection to a low-pressure oxygen source.The low-pressure oxygen inlet can be designed, in particular, to receive gaseous oxygen at a pressure of up to 6 bar from the low-pressure oxygen gas source. The low-pressure oxygen gas source can, for example, be a stationary oxygen outlet that provides gaseous oxygen at a pressure of up to 6 bar in a treatment room. The stationary oxygen outlet can have an adjustable valve that allows the pressure of the oxygen gas provided by the stationary oxygen outlet to be adjusted.

[0062] The ventilator may also include a high-pressure oxygen inlet and a low-pressure oxygen inlet so that the ventilator may be selectively operated in conjunction with a high-pressure oxygen source or in conjunction with a low-pressure oxygen source.

[0063] The low-pressure oxygen inlet can be located downstream of the oxygen control valve so that gaseous oxygen supplied to the ventilator through the low-pressure oxygen inlet does not flow through the oxygen control valve. In this case, the low-pressure oxygen supply can be controlled via a valve provided on the low-pressure oxygen source.

[0064] In one embodiment, the humidification device comprises a water reservoir for storing a supply of water used to humidify the ventilation air flow.

[0065] In one embodiment, the humidification device comprises at least one heating element for heating the water reservoir to evaporate water from the water reservoir so that it humidifies the ventilation airflow. The heating of the water reservoir with the at least one heating element can be adjustable, so that the humidification of the ventilation airflow by the humidification device is variable by varying the heating of the water reservoir with the at least one heating element. In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises controlling the heating element based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor or based on the measurement results provided by one of the temperature sensors.As a result, the humidification of the ventilation air flow by the humidification device is variable by varying the heating of the water reservoir with the at least one heating element based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor.

[0066] In one embodiment, the humidification device further comprises at least one water reservoir temperature sensor, and the monitoring device of the ventilation device is designed to receive measurement results from the at least one water reservoir temperature sensor and to control the heating element on the basis of the measurement results provided by the water reservoir temperature sensor in order to achieve a desired humidification of the ventilation air flow by the humidification device.

[0067] In one embodiment, the ventilator device comprises a ventilation tube connected to the ventilation gas outlet of the ventilator device in order to receive and forward the ventilation gas flow provided at the ventilation gas outlet.

[0068] In one embodiment, the ventilation tube has a ventilation tube heating device that allows the ventilation gas flow in the ventilation tube to be heated. This can prevent the ventilation gas flow in the ventilation tube from cooling down and / or ensure that the ventilation gas flow reaches a patient at a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, a heater in the tube can prevent the humidified ventilation gas from condensing on the tube wall. In one embodiment, the ventilation tube heating device can also be controlled by the monitoring device.

[0069] In one embodiment, the ventilation device comprises at least one ventilation tube temperature sensor arranged on or in the ventilation tube. The ventilation tube temperature sensor is designed to measure the temperature of the ventilation gas flow in the ventilation tube and to provide the measurement result to the monitoring device. A ventilation device equipped with such a ventilation tube temperature sensor makes it possible to provide a ventilation gas flow with a predetermined temperature in the ventilation tube. To increase the operational reliability of the ventilation device, at least two ventilation tube temperature sensors can be provided on or in the ventilation tube, which measure the temperature of the ventilation gas flow in the ventilation tube independently of one another.

[0070] In one embodiment, an air supply device is provided at an end of the ventilation tube facing away from the ventilation device, which is designed to supply ventilation gas from the ventilation tube to a patient. With the aid of an air supply device, the ventilation gas from the ventilation tube can be supplied to a patient particularly efficiently. Losses of respiratory gas that do not reach the patient can thus be reduced.

[0071] In one embodiment, the air supply device is a nasal air supply device, in particular a nasal cannula, which is designed to supply ventilation gas from the ventilation tube to a patient's nose. With the aid of a nasal air supply device, the ventilation gas can be supplied to a patient particularly efficiently without intubating the patient.

[0072] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention comprises determining the oxygen content of the ventilation gas flow from the flow measured by a flow sensor in the ventilation device and the flow measured by an oxygen flow sensor in the ventilation device and comparing it with the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor, and then, depending on the result of this comparison, controlling the oxygen control valve either on the basis of the oxygen content determined from the measured flows or on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor.

[0073] The method may in particular comprise controlling the oxygen control valve on the basis of the oxygen content determined from the measured flows if the oxygen content determined from the flow of the ventilation gas flow measured by the flow sensor and the flow of the oxygen gas measured by the oxygen flow sensor and the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor do not differ from one another.

[0074] The method may also include controlling the oxygen control valve based on the oxygen content determined by the combination sensor when the oxygen content determined from the flow of the ventilation gas flow measured by the flow sensor and the flow of the oxygen gas measured by the oxygen flow sensor and the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor differ from each other.

[0075] In this way, the ventilator can be operated very reliably and with a high level of operational safety.

[0076] In the following, an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the attached figures:

[0077] Figure 1 shows an external view of a ventilation device designed according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0078] Figure 2 shows a schematic functional representation of a ventilation device 2 which is designed according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0079] Figure 1 shows a ventilation device 2, in particular a ventilation device 2 for nasal ventilation of a patient. The ventilation device 2 can, for example, be a so-called "high-flow ventilation device" that provides a ventilation gas flow of at least 15 l / min, in particular a ventilation gas flow of up to 100 l / min.

[0080] Further embodiments of the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures, may also include other types of ventilation devices.

[0081] The ventilation device 2 has a housing 4 with a display 6 and an on / off switch 5. The display 6 can comprise a touchscreen, so that the display 6 can also serve as an input device. Alternatively or additionally, a keyboard (not shown in Figure 1) can also be provided as an input device.

[0082] On the rear side of the housing 4, facing away from the viewer of Figure 1, there is an oxygen inlet (not visible in Figure 1) designed to supply oxygen gas to the ventilation device 2. The ventilation device 2 also has an air inlet 10 (not visible in Figure 1) designed to supply air from the environment ("ambient air") to the ventilation device 2.

[0083] Details of the supply of oxygen through the oxygen inlet 8 and of ambient air through the air inlet 10 will be described later with reference to Figure 2.

[0084] On the front side of the housing 4 facing the viewer there is a ventilation gas outlet 12. During operation of the ventilation device 2, an oxygen-rich ventilation gas is output through the ventilation gas outlet 12 for ventilating a patient.

[0085] A water reservoir 14 is located below the ventilation gas outlet 12. The water reservoir 14 is part of a humidification device 16 which is formed within the housing 4 and which is intended to humidify the oxygen-rich ventilation gas before it is discharged through the ventilation gas outlet 12.

[0086] A ventilation tube 18 is connected to the ventilation gas outlet 12 to receive the ventilation gas discharged through the ventilation gas outlet 12 and to pass it on to a patient.

[0087] The ventilation tube 18 is equipped with a ventilation tube heating device 20, which allows the ventilation gas flowing through the ventilation tube 18 to be heated. This makes it possible to provide the patient with ventilation gas at a predetermined temperature. Ventilation tube temperature sensors 21a, 21b are also provided on or in the ventilation tube 18, which allow the temperature of the ventilation gas flowing through the ventilation tube 18 to be measured in order to adjust the ventilation tube heating device 20 accordingly.

[0088] At an end of the ventilation tube 18 facing away from the ventilation gas outlet 12 there is an air supply device 22 which is designed to supply the ventilation gas from the ventilation tube 18 to the patient.

[0089] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the air supply device 22 is designed as a nasal cannula with two nasal tubes 24, which are intended to introduce the ventilation gas from the ventilation tube 18 into the nose of the patient, not shown in Figure 1.

[0090] In further embodiments not explicitly shown in the figures, the ventilation device 2 can also be equipped with another type of air supply device 22, for example with a breathing mask or with a tube intended to be inserted into the trachea of ​​a patient.

[0091] Figure 2 shows a schematic functional representation of a ventilation device 2 which is designed according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0092] In an upper area of ​​Figure 2, the oxygen inlet 8 and the air inlet 10 are shown.

[0093] For operation of the ventilation device 2, the oxygen inlet 8 is connected to an oxygen source (not shown in Figure 1), for example to an oxygen gas cylinder or to an oxygen supply line, which provides oxygen gas, ie gas with a high proportion of oxygen.

[0094] Downstream of the oxygen inlet 8, an oxygen filter 9, for example a HEPA filter, may be provided to filter the oxygen gas supplied to the ventilator 2 through the oxygen inlet 8. Downstream of the oxygen filter 9 is an oxygen control valve 30, which allows the flow of oxygen gas supplied to the ventilator 2 through the oxygen inlet 8 to be regulated.

[0095] Downstream of the oxygen control valve 30, an oxygen flow sensor 32 is provided, which is designed to measure the flow of oxygen gas supplied to the ventilation device 2 through the oxygen inlet 8 and the oxygen control valve 30 and to make the measurement result available to a monitoring device 66 of the ventilation device 2.

[0096] Optionally, an oxygen sensor (not shown in Figure 2), e.g. an optical oxygen sensor, can be provided downstream of the oxygen control valve 30, which is designed to measure the oxygen content in the oxygen gas supplied to the ventilation device 2 through the oxygen inlet 8 and the oxygen control valve 30, and to make the measurement result available to a monitoring device 66 of the ventilation device 2.

[0097] The air inlet 10 can be configured to receive air from the environment. The air inlet 10 can also be configured to be connected to an air supply line (not shown in Figure 1) that provides breathing air to the ventilation device 2.

[0098] Downstream of the air inlet 10, an air filter 11, which may be designed, for example, as a HEPA filter, may be provided to filter the air supplied to the ventilation device 2 through the air inlet 10.

[0099] Downstream of the air filter 11 there is an air control valve 17 which makes it possible to regulate the flow of air supplied to the ventilator 2 through the air inlet 10.

[0100] The oxygen gas supplied to the ventilator 2 through the oxygen inlet 8 and the air supplied to the ventilator 2 through the air inlet 10 both flow into a mixing region 34 of the ventilator 2. In the mixing region 34, the oxygen gas and the air are mixed to provide an oxygen-rich ventilator gas. The mixing region 34 may be a region where an oxygen gas line 13 extending from the oxygen inlet 8 to the mixing region 34 and an air line 15 extending from the air inlet 10 to the mixing region 34 are converged.

[0101] The mixing area 34 can, for example, be part of a T-piece or a Y-piece in which the oxygen gas line 13 and the air line 15 are brought together, so that the oxygen gas supplied to the ventilation device 2 through the oxygen gas line 13 mixes in the T-piece or in the Y-piece with the air supplied to the ventilation device 2 through the air line 15 to generate the oxygen-rich ventilation gas.

[0102] The mixing area 34 can optionally be designed with an extended volume, for example as a volume-expanded mixing chamber, in order to enable better mixing of the oxygen gas with the air.

[0103] An outlet 35 of the mixing region 34 is fluidically connected to a ventilation gas flow path 39, so that an oxygen-rich ventilation gas stream, which is formed in the mixing region 34 by mixing the oxygen gas supplied to the mixing region 34 through the oxygen gas line 13 with the air supplied to the mixing region 34 through the air line 15, is discharged into the ventilation gas flow path 39.

[0104] Optionally, the ventilation device 2 may additionally comprise a blower 36, which is intended to increase the pressure and / or the flow of the ventilation gas stream discharged from the mixing region 34 into the ventilation gas flow path 39.

[0105] In a ventilation device 2 which is equipped with a blower 36, the mixing area 34 can be formed, e.g. in the form of a mixing chamber, upstream, downstream or, in a particularly space-saving manner, within the blower 36.

[0106] At the outlet 35 of the mixing area 34, a flow conditioner 38, e.g., a grid, can be provided, which is designed to reduce turbulence in the ventilation gas flow flowing out of the mixing area 34 into the ventilation gas flow path 39. Downstream of the mixing area 34, and downstream of any flow conditioner 38 present, two ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b are provided in or on the ventilation gas flow path 39. These sensors are designed to measure the flow of the ventilation gas flow discharged from the mixing area 34 into the ventilation gas flow path 39 and to provide the measurement results to the monitoring device 66.

[0107] To increase the operational reliability of the ventilation device 2, the two ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b are provided as redundant ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b parallel to each other on or in the ventilation gas flow path 39. Ideally, both ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b provide the same measurement result or two measurement results that differ only insignificantly from each other, i.e., within a predetermined tolerance range.

[0108] If the difference between the measurement results provided by the two ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b exceeds a predetermined threshold value that lies outside the specified tolerance range, this indicates a malfunction of at least one of the two ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b. In this case, a corresponding error message can be displayed on the display device 6.

[0109] Optionally, an oxygen sensor (not shown in Figure 2), e.g., an optical oxygen sensor, can be provided in the ventilation gas flow path 39, which is designed to measure the oxygen content of the ventilation gas flow flowing through the ventilation gas flow path 39 and to make the measurement result available to the monitoring device 66.

[0110] Also provided on or in the ventilation gas flow path 39 are a ventilation gas temperature sensor 42, a ventilation gas humidity sensor 43, and a ventilation gas pressure sensor 45, which are designed to measure the temperature, humidity, and pressure of the ventilation gas flow flowing through the ventilation gas flow path 39, respectively, and to provide the measurement results to the monitoring device 66. Through a one-way valve 44, which is arranged downstream of the aforementioned sensors 40a, 40b, 42, 43, 45 in the ventilation gas flow path 39, the ventilation gas passes from the ventilation gas flow path 39 into a humidification device 16. The humidification device 16 is designed to humidify the ventilation gas flow in order to increase the humidity in the ventilation gas.

[0111] The humidification device 16 comprises, in particular, the water reservoir 14 already shown in Figure 1 for storing a water supply and at least one heating element 50, for example, a heating plate. The at least one heating element 50 makes it possible to heat the water supply stored in the water reservoir 14 in order to evaporate water from the water supply. The water reservoir 14 can, for example, be designed as a removable water tank that can be easily removed from the ventilation device 2 to be refilled with water outside the ventilation device 2.

[0112] The ventilation gas flow from the ventilation gas flow path 39 is passed through the water reservoir 14 to absorb water from the water reservoir 14 and thus increase the humidity of the ventilation gas flow.

[0113] In order to further increase the efficiency of the absorption of water from the water reservoir 14 into the ventilation gas flow, an additional nebulizing device 48 can be provided at an inlet of the water reservoir 14 through which the ventilation gas flow flows into the water reservoir 14.

[0114] At least one fill level sensor 54 is provided in or on the water reservoir 14, which is designed to measure the water level in the water reservoir 14 and transmit the measurement result to the monitoring device 66. The monitoring device 66 can output a warning or alarm signal, e.g., via the display device 6 or an acoustic output device, if the water level in the water reservoir 14 falls below a predetermined limit and water must be refilled into the water reservoir 14 in order to maintain the operability of the humidification device 16.

[0115] Temperature sensors 52a, 52b are provided in the water reservoir 14 and / or on the at least one heating element 50 of the humidification device 16. These temperature sensors are designed to measure the temperature of the water in the water reservoir 14 and / or the temperature of the at least one heating element 50 and to transmit the measurement results to the monitoring device 66. Like the ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b, the temperature sensors 52a, 52b in the humidification device 16 can also be redundant, i.e., at least twice, in order to increase the operational reliability of the ventilation device 2.

[0116] The oxygen-rich ventilation gas, which has been humidified in the humidification device 16, flows from the humidification device 16 through the ventilation gas outlet 12 into the ventilation tube 18. The ventilation gas flow is supplied to the air supply device 22 through the ventilation tube 18, as described in connection with Figure 1.

[0117] The ventilation tube heating device 20 and ventilation tube temperature sensors 21a, 21a are provided on or in the ventilation tube 18.

[0118] The ventilation tube temperature sensors 21a, 21a are also preferably redundant, i.e., at least duplicated. The ventilation tube temperature sensors 21a, 21a measure the temperature of the ventilation gas flow in the ventilation tube 18 and deliver the measurement results to the monitoring device 66. This enables the monitoring device 66 to specifically control the ventilation tube heating device 20 based on the measurement results delivered by the ventilation tube temperature sensors 21a, 21a in order to heat the ventilation gas flow flowing through the ventilation tube 18 to a predetermined temperature, so that a ventilation gas at the predetermined temperature can be supplied to the patient.

[0119] Along the flow direction of the ventilation gas flow, a sensor gas flow line 62 branches off from the ventilation gas flow path 39 between the ventilation gas flow sensors 40a, 40b and the one-way valve 44.

[0120] During operation of the ventilator 2, a portion of the ventilation gas flow flowing through the ventilation gas flow path 39 is diverted from the ventilation gas flow path 39 through the sensor gas flow line 62 and fed to an integrated combination sensor 60 of the ventilator 2. The integrated combination sensor 60 provides multiple sensor functions in a single ("integrated") combination sensor housing 61, which is arranged within the housing 4 of the ventilator 2. The sensor functions provided by the integrated combination sensor 60 make it possible, in particular, to measure or determine various properties of the ventilation gas flow flowing through the integrated combination sensor 60. These properties can include, in particular, the thermal conductivity L, the pressure p, the temperature, and / or the humidity of the ventilation gas flow flowing through the integrated combination sensor 60.

[0121] In the embodiment shown, the integrated combination sensor 60 is designed in particular to measure the thermal conductivity L, the pressure p, the temperature θ and the humidity of the portion of the ventilation gas flow that is supplied to the integrated combination sensor 60 through the sensor gas flow line 62, to determine the oxygen content P02 of the ventilation gas flow from the measured thermal conductivity L taking into account the measured pressure p, the measured temperature θ and the measured humidity, and to make these measurement results available to the monitoring device 66.

[0122] The integrated combination sensor 60 can in particular have a microcontroller which executes a program which makes it possible to determine the oxygen content po2 of the ventilation gas flow from the measured thermal conductivity taking into account the measured pressure p, the measured temperature T and the measured humidity of the ventilation gas flow flowing through the integrated combination sensor 60 and to make it available to the monitoring device 66.

[0123] To ensure the long-term functionality of the integrated combination sensor 60 and to prevent damage to the integrated combination sensor 60 due to an excessive gas flow through the integrated combination sensor 60, the flow of the partial ventilation gas stream flowing through the sensor gas flow line 62 and the integrated combination sensor 60 is limited to a maximum value. The maximum value can be predetermined, in particular, by the design of the integrated combination sensor 60. The flow of the partial ventilation gas stream flowing through the sensor gas flow line 62 and the integrated combination sensor 60 can, for example, be limited to a maximum of 150 ml / min, preferably to a maximum of 100 ml / min, in particular to a maximum of 50 ml / min.

[0124] To limit the flow of the partial ventilation gas stream flowing through the sensor gas flow line 62 and the integrated combination sensor 60, a flow restrictor 64 can be arranged in the sensor gas flow line 62, as shown schematically in Figure 2. Such a flow restrictor 64 can be arranged upstream and / or downstream of the integrated combination sensor 60 in the sensor gas flow line 62.

[0125] It is also possible for the sensor gas flow line 62 itself to be designed as a flow restrictor 64, in particular by means of a reduced inner diameter. In this case, a flow restrictor 64 additionally arranged in the sensor gas flow line 62 can be omitted.

[0126] In a possible embodiment, which is not explicitly shown in the figures, the sensor gas flow line 62 is designed such that the partial ventilation gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line 62 and the integrated combination sensor 60 is discharged downstream of the integrated combination sensor 60 as exhaust air into the environment of the ventilation device 2.

[0127] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the sensor gas flow line 62 is designed as a return line that extends from a point on the ventilation gas flow path 39 downstream of the mixing region 34 to an inlet 33 of the mixing region 34. The partial ventilation gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line 62 and the integrated combination sensor 60 is returned to the mixing region 34 via a sensor gas flow line 62, which is designed as a return line, as shown in Figure 2.

[0128] By recirculating the partial ventilation gas flow into the mixing area 34, the oxygen consumption of the ventilation device 2 can be reduced, since no oxygen-rich gas is released into the environment as exhaust air. Furthermore, by recirculating the partial ventilation gas flow into the mixing area 34, the risk of fire can be reduced, since no oxygen-rich, highly flammable gas is released into the environment.

[0129] In one exemplary embodiment, the monitoring device 66 is designed to receive and evaluate the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor 60, and to control the oxygen control valve 30 and / or the humidification device 16, in particular the at least one heating element 50 of the humidification device 16, based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor 60 such that a ventilation gas flow is output through the ventilation gas outlet 12 of the ventilation device 2, which flow has a predetermined flow F, a predetermined oxygen content PO2, a predetermined pressure p, a predetermined temperature T, and / or a predetermined humidity. If the ventilation device 2 is equipped with a fan 36, the monitoring device 66 can furthermore be designed to also control the fan 36 based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor 60.

[0130] In such an embodiment, the measurement results determined and made available by the oxygen measuring device 32, 40a, 40b, the ventilation gas temperature sensor 42 and the ventilation gas humidity sensor 43 serve to monitor the operation of the ventilation device 2.

[0131] During normal, trouble-free operation of the ventilator 2, the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor 60 agree, within predetermined tolerances, with the corresponding measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device 32, 40a, 40b, the ventilation gas temperature sensor 42 and the ventilation gas humidity sensor 43, and with the oxygen content of the ventilation gas calculated from these measurement results.

[0132] If at least one of the measured values ​​for the oxygen content P02, the temperature T and the air humidity supplied by the integrated combination sensor 60 deviates by more than a predetermined threshold value from the corresponding value determined on the basis of the measured values ​​supplied by the oxygen measuring device 32, 40a, 40b and / or by the ventilation gas temperature sensor 42 and / or by the ventilation gas humidity sensor 43, this indicates an error and a corresponding error message is output on the display device 6.

[0133] The monitoring device 66 can further be designed such that, as soon as a deviation that exceeds at least one predetermined threshold value has been detected, it controls the oxygen control valve 30, the humidification device 16, the air control valve 17 and / or the fan 36, if present, on the basis of the values ​​determined on the basis of the measured values ​​supplied by the oxygen measuring device 32, 40a, 40b and / or by the respiratory gas temperature sensor 42 and / or by the respiratory gas humidity sensor 43.

[0134] In an alternative embodiment, the monitoring device 66 is designed to control the oxygen control valve 30, the humidification device 16, the air control valve 17 and / or the fan 36, if present, in trouble-free normal operation on the basis of the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device 32, 40a, 40b and / or by the ventilation gas temperature sensor 42 and / or by the ventilation gas humidity sensor 43.

[0135] At the same time, the oxygen content P02 in the ventilation gas flow and / or the humidity and / or the temperature T of the ventilation gas flow are determined regularly or continuously with the integrated combination sensor 60, as previously described.

[0136] At least one of the values ​​for the oxygen content poz, the humidity, and the temperature T of the ventilation gas stream determined with the aid of the integrated combination sensor 60 can be compared with the corresponding value determined on the basis of the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device 32, 40a, 40b and / or the ventilation gas temperature sensor 42 and / or the ventilation gas humidity sensor 43. If, for at least one of the oxygen content PO2, the humidity, and the temperature θ of the ventilation gas stream, a difference is detected between the value determined on the basis of the measurement results of the integrated combination sensor 60 and the value determined on the basis of the measurement results of the other sensors 40a, 40b, 42, 43, 45, which difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value, a corresponding error message is output on the display device 6.

[0137] Furthermore, the monitoring device 66 can be designed to control the oxygen control valve 30, the humidification device 16, the air control valve 17 and / or the fan 36, if present, on the basis of the measured values ​​provided by the integrated combination sensor 60 as soon as at least one such difference that exceeds a predetermined threshold value has been detected.

[0138] In this way, the ventilator 2 can continue to operate safely even if a deviation in the measurement results has been detected until the detected error has been remedied.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A ventilation device (2), preferably a high-flow ventilation device (2), for ventilating, preferably for nasal ventilation, a patient, comprising: an air inlet (10) provided to supply ambient air to the ventilation device (2); an oxygen inlet (8) provided to supply oxygen gas to the ventilation device (2); a mixing region (34) designed to receive ambient air from the air inlet (10) and oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet (8), to mix the ambient air and the oxygen gas with one another, and to output oxygen-enriched air as a ventilation gas stream into a ventilation gas flow path (39); an oxygen control valve (30) provided between the oxygen inlet (8) and the mixing region (34) and which enables the flow of oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet (8) into the mixing region (34) to be regulated;an integrated combination sensor (60) designed to measure a thermal conductivity, a pressure, a temperature, and a humidity of the ventilation gas stream downstream of the mixing region (34), to determine an oxygen content of the ventilation gas stream from the measured thermal conductivity, taking into account the measured pressure, the measured temperature, and the measured humidity, and to provide the oxygen content, the measured pressure, the measured temperature, and the measured humidity thus determined as measurement results; and a monitoring device (66) designed to receive the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream provided by the integrated combination sensor (60); to compare the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream received by the integrated combination sensor (60) with a predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream; and to control the oxygen control valve (30) in order to adjust the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream if the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream received by the integrated combination sensor (60) differs from the predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream.

2. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 1, additionally comprising: an oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) designed to determine an oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas pressure sensor (45) designed to determine a pressure of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas temperature sensor (42) designed to determine a temperature of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas humidity sensor (43) designed to determine a humidity in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result;wherein the monitoring device (66) is additionally designed to receive the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b), by the respiratory gas pressure sensor (45), by the respiratory gas temperature sensor (42) and / or by the respiratory gas humidity sensor (43); to compare the measurement results received by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b), the respiratory gas pressure sensor (45), the respiratory gas temperature sensor (42), and / or the respiratory gas humidity sensor (43) with the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60); and to output an alarm signal if at least one of the measurement results received by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b), the respiratory gas pressure sensor (45), the respiratory gas temperature sensor (42), or the respiratory gas humidity sensor (43) differs from the corresponding measurement result provided by the integrated combination sensor (60) by more than a predetermined maximum difference value.

3. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation device (2) is designed to provide a ventilation gas flow of at least 15 l / min, in particular a ventilation gas flow of up to 100 l / min.

4. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the integrated combination sensor (60) is formed in a combination sensor housing (61) which is arranged in a housing (4) of the ventilation device (2).

5. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation device (2) has a fan (36), wherein the mixing region (34) is formed upstream, downstream or as part of the fan (36), wherein the monitoring device (66) is designed in particular to also control the fan (36) on the basis of the measurement results provided by the sensors (30, 40a, 40b, 42, 43, 60), in particular on the basis of the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60).

6. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an air control valve (17) is provided between the air inlet (10) and the mixing area (34), which makes it possible to regulate a flow of ambient air flowing from the air inlet (10) into the mixing area (34); wherein the monitoring device (66) is in particular designed to also control the air control valve (17) based on the measurement results provided by the sensors (30, 40a, 40b, 42, 43, 60), in particular based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60).

7. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation device (2) has a sensor gas flow line (62) which branches off from the ventilation gas flow path (39) downstream of the mixing region (34), so that a part of the ventilation gas flow output from the mixing region (34) flows as a ventilation gas partial flow through the sensor gas flow line (62), wherein the integrated combination sensor (60) is arranged in or on the sensor gas flow line (62) so that the oxygen content, the pressure, the temperature and the thermal conductivity of the ventilation gas partial flow can be determined by the integrated combination sensor (60).

8. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 7, wherein a flow limiter (64) is provided in the sensor gas flow line (62), wherein the flow limiter (64) is designed in particular to limit the flow of the ventilation gas partial flow through the sensor gas flow line (62) to no more than 150 ml / min, preferably to no more than 100 ml / min and particularly preferably to no more than 50 ml / min.

9. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the flow restrictor (64) is arranged upstream or downstream of the integrated combination sensor (60) in the sensor gas flow line (62).

10. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the sensor gas flow line (62) itself is designed as a flow limiter (64), wherein the sensor gas flow line (62) is designed as a flow limiter (64) in particular by a reduced inner diameter.

11. Ventilation device (2) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the sensor gas flow line (62) is designed to discharge the partial ventilation gas flow flowing through the sensor gas flow line (62) into the environment downstream of the integrated combination sensor (60).

12. Ventilation device (2) according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the sensor gas flow line (62) is a return line which extends from an outlet of the mixing region (34) to an inlet of the mixing region (34), so that the partial ventilation gas flow from the sensor gas flow line (62) is returned to the mixing region (34).

13. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the integrated combination sensor (60) comprises a program-controlled microcontroller and / or wherein the monitoring device (66) comprises a program-controlled microcontroller.

14. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) comprises at least one flow sensor (40a, 40b) provided downstream of the mixing region (34) which is designed to measure the flow of the ventilation gas stream discharged from the mixing region (34) into the ventilation gas flow path (39).

15. The ventilation device (2) according to claim 14, wherein the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) comprises two flow sensors (40a, 40b) provided downstream of the mixing region (34) in or on the ventilation gas flow path (39), wherein the two flow sensors (40a, 40b) are arranged in particular parallel to one another in or on the ventilation gas flow path (39); and / or wherein the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) comprises an oxygen flow sensor (32) provided between the oxygen inlet (8) and the mixing region (34) and configured to measure the flow of oxygen flowing into the mixing region (34) through the oxygen inlet (8).

16. Ventilation device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) comprises an oxygen sensor, in particular an optical oxygen sensor, which is designed to measure the oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow.

17. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an ambient temperature sensor which is designed to measure the ambient temperature of the ventilation device (2) and to make the measurement result available to the monitoring device (66).

18. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation device (2) comprises a high-pressure oxygen inlet (8) and / or a low-pressure oxygen inlet (8).

19. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation device (2) comprises a humidification device (16) configured to receive the ventilation gas flow discharged from the mixing region (34) into the ventilation gas flow path (39), to humidify it, and to provide a humidified ventilation gas flow; wherein the humidification device (16) in particular comprises a water reservoir (14).

20. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 19, wherein the humidification device (16) has at least one heating element (50) for heating the water reservoir (14) and at least one water reservoir temperature sensor (52a), and wherein the monitoring device (66) is designed to receive measurement results from the at least one water reservoir temperature sensor (52a) and to control the heating element (50).

21. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation device (2) has a ventilation tube (18) which is attached to a ventilation gas outlet (12) of the ventilation device (2) in order to receive and forward the ventilation gas flow provided at the ventilation gas outlet (12).

22. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 21, wherein the ventilation tube (18) has a ventilation tube heating device (20) which makes it possible to heat the ventilation gas flow in the ventilation tube (18), wherein the ventilation tube heating device (20) is in particular controllable by the monitoring device (66).

23. Ventilation device (2) according to claim 21 or 22, wherein an air supply device (22) is provided at an end of the ventilation tube (18) facing away from the ventilation device (2), which air supply device is designed to supply ventilation gas from the ventilation tube (18) to a patient, wherein the air supply device (22) is in particular a nasal air supply device (22), for example a nasal cannula.

24. Ventilation device (2) according to one of claims 21 to 23, with at least one ventilation tube temperature sensor (21 a, 21 b) which is arranged on or in the ventilation tube (18) and which is designed to measure the temperature of the ventilation gas flow provided at the ventilation gas outlet (12) and to make the measurement result available to the monitoring device (66), wherein in particular two ventilation tube temperature sensors (21 a, 21 b) are provided on or in the ventilation tube (18).

25. Ventilation device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitoring device (66) is designed to control the oxygen control valve (30) on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) if the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) and the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the integrated combination sensor (60) differ from one another by no more than the predetermined difference value; and to control the oxygen control valve (30) on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor (60) if the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) and the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the integrated combination sensor (60) differ from one another by more than the predetermined difference value.

26. A method for operating a ventilation device (2) comprising: an air inlet (10) intended to supply ambient air to the ventilation device (2); an oxygen inlet (8) intended to supply oxygen gas to the ventilation device (2); a mixing region (34) designed to receive ambient air from the air inlet (10) and oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet (8), to mix the ambient air and the oxygen gas with one another, and to output oxygen-enriched air as a ventilation gas stream into a ventilation gas flow path (39); an oxygen control valve (30) provided between the oxygen inlet (8) and the mixing region (34) and which enables the flow of oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet (8) into the mixing region (34) to be regulated;and an integrated combination sensor (60) which is designed to measure a thermal conductivity, a pressure, a temperature and a humidity of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34), to determine an oxygen content of the ventilation gas flow from the measured thermal conductivity taking into account the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the measured humidity, and to provide the oxygen content, the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the measured humidity thus determined as measurement results, wherein the method comprises using the integrated combination sensor (60) to measure a thermal conductivity, an oxygen content, a pressure, a temperature and a humidity of the ventilation gas flow which is output from the mixing region (34); to determine the oxygen content of the ventilation gas stream from the measured thermal conductivity, taking into account the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the measured humidity, and to make the oxygen content, the measured pressure, the measured temperature and the measured humidity thus determined available as measurement results; and to compare the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream provided by the integrated combination sensor (60) with a predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream, and to control the oxygen control valve (30) in order to adjust the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream if the measurement result of the oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream received by the integrated combination sensor (60) differs from the predetermined oxygen content in the ventilation gas stream.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the ventilation device (2) additionally comprises: an oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) designed to determine the oxygen content in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas pressure sensor (45) designed to determine the pressure of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas temperature sensor (42) designed to determine the temperature of the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; and / or a ventilation gas humidity sensor (43) configured to determine the humidity in the ventilation gas flow downstream of the mixing region (34) and to provide it as a measurement result; wherein the method additionally comprises: comparing the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) and / or by the ventilation gas pressure sensor (45) and / or by the ventilation gas temperature sensor (42) and / or by the ventilation gas humidity sensor (43) with the corresponding measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60);and to output an alarm signal if at least one of the measurement results provided by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b), the respiratory gas pressure sensor (45), the respiratory gas temperature sensor (42) and the respiratory gas humidity sensor (43) differs from the corresponding measurement result provided by the integrated combination sensor (60) by more than a predetermined maximum difference value; 28. The method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the ventilation device (2) has a humidification device (16) for humidifying the ventilation gas flow, wherein the humidification device (16) comprises a water reservoir (14), at least one heating element (50) for heating the water reservoir (14) and at least one water reservoir temperature sensor (52a), and wherein the method comprises controlling the heating element (50) either on the basis of the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60) or on the basis of the measurement results provided by the ventilation gas temperature sensor (42) and / or the water reservoir temperature sensor (52a).

29. The method according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the monitoring device (66) is designed to control the oxygen control valve (30) either on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) or on the basis of the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor (60).

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the method comprises: controlling the oxygen control valve (30) based on the oxygen content determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) when the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) and the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the integrated combination sensor (60) do not differ from one another by more than the predetermined difference value; and controlling the oxygen control valve (30) based on the oxygen content determined by the integrated combination sensor (60) when the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the oxygen measuring device (32, 40a, 40b) and the oxygen content of the ventilation gas determined by the integrated combination sensor (60) differ from one another by more than the predetermined difference value.

31. The method according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein the ventilation device (2) comprises an air control valve (17) provided between the air inlet (10) and the mixing area (34), which makes it possible to regulate a flow of ambient air flowing from the air inlet (10) into the mixing area (34); and wherein the method comprises controlling the air control valve (17) based on the measurement results provided by the sensors (30, 40a, 40b, 42, 43, 60), in particular based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60).

32. The method according to any one of claims 27 to 31, wherein the ventilation device (2) comprises a blower (36); and wherein the method comprises controlling the blower (36) based on the measurement results provided by the sensors (30, 40a, 40b, 42, 43, 60), in particular based on the measurement results provided by the integrated combination sensor (60).

33. A method according to any one of claims 27 to 32, wherein the method comprises providing a ventilation gas flow having a flow of at least 15 l / min, in particular a flow of up to 100 l / min.

34. The method according to claim 27 to 33, wherein the method comprises guiding a portion of the ventilation gas stream output from the mixing region (34) as a ventilation gas partial stream through a sensor gas flow line (62), wherein the integrated combination sensor (60) is provided on or in the sensor gas flow line (62) so that the oxygen content, the pressure, the temperature and the thermal conductivity of the ventilation gas partial stream can be determined by the integrated combination sensor (60).

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the method comprises returning a portion of the ventilation gas partial flow through a sensor gas flow line (62) designed as a return line to an inlet of the mixing region (34).

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