Breathing Assistance Device Comprising an Independent Secondary Unit
The invention relates to a breathing assistance device ( 1 ) comprising: —a first gas inlet ( 5 ) for receiving a primary respiratory gas and a first regulating means for regulating said primary respiratory gas, both being located in a central unit ( 2 ); —a second gas inlet ( 6 ) for receiving a secondary respiratory gas and a second regulating means ( 7 ) for regulating said secondary respiratory gas; —a controlling means for controlling said first and second regulating means in order to mix said primary and secondary respiratory gases in controlled respective proportions into a controlled mix of gases; —a feeding means ( 4 ) for feeding a patient with said controlled mix of gases, characterised in that said second gas inlet ( 5 ) and second regulating means ( 7 ) are both located in a secondary unit ( 8 ) removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ).
1 . Breathing assistance device for a patient, comprising:
a first gas inlet ( 5 ) for receiving a primary respiratory gas and a first regulating means for regulating said primary respiratory gas, said first gas inlet ( 5 ) and first regulating means being both located in a central unit ( 2 ) of the breathing assistance device;
a second gas inlet ( 6 ) for receiving a secondary respiratory gas and a second regulating means ( 7 ) for regulating said secondary respiratory gas;
a controlling means for controlling said first and second regulating means in order to mix said primary and secondary respiratory gases in controlled respective proportions into a controlled mix of gases;
a feeding means ( 4 ) for feeding said patient with said controlled mix of gases, said feeding means being located between the central unit ( 2 ) and the patient;
characterised in that said second gas inlet ( 5 ) and second regulating means ( 7 ) are both located in a secondary unit ( 8 ) of the breathing assistance device, said secondary unit ( 8 ) being removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ).
2 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) is removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ) via a male and female joint.
3 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) is removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ) by a connection duct ( 9 ) for the secondary respiratory gas.
4 . Breathing assistance device according any one of claim 1 to 3 , characterised in that the second gas inlet ( 6 ) comprises a connection means ( 14 ) being adapted to be connected to an external pressurised gas source.
5 . Breathing assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterised in that the second regulating means ( 7 ) comprises a pressure reducing means ( 15 ).
6 . Breathing assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterised in that the second regulating means ( 7 ) comprises a proportional means ( 16 ).
7 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 6 , characterised in that the proportional means ( 16 ) is a proportional valve being electrically operated.
8 . Breathing assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , characterised in that the controlling means is located within the central unit ( 2 ).
9 . Breathing assistance device according to any one of claim 1 to 8 , characterised in that the second regulating means ( 7 ) is controlled by the controlling means.
10 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 9 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) comprises a data link ( 12 ) allowing a transmission of data between the second regulating means ( 7 ) and the controlling means of the central unit ( 2 ).
11 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 10 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) comprises a power supply link ( 13 ) for transmitting power from the central unit ( 2 ) to the second regulating means ( 7 ).
12 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 11 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) comprises a controlling electronic board ( 17 ) being interposed between the regulating means ( 7 ) and the data and power supply links ( 12 , 13 ), and being adapted to process data for controlling the second regulating means ( 7 ).
13 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 12 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) comprises at least a gas flow sensor ( 18 ) and a pressure sensor ( 19 ), both being connected to the controlling electronic board ( 17 ).
14 . Breathing assistance device according any one of claims 3 to 13 , characterised in that the connection duct ( 9 ) between the secondary unit ( 8 ) and the central unit ( 2 ) has a diameter of 4 to 8 mm.
15 . Breathing assistance device according any one of claims 3 to 14 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) comprises a central groove ( 20 ) for storing said connection duct ( 9 ).
16 . Breathing assistance device according to claim 15 , characterised in that the secondary unit ( 8 ) has a diabolo shape.
17 . Secondary unit for a breathing assistance device ( 1 ), the breathing assistance device being capable of feeding a patient with a mix of at least two respiratory gases and comprising a central unit, characterised in that the secondary unit is removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ), and is adapted to feed the central unit ( 2 ) with a regulated flow of a respiratory gas coming from an external pressurised gas source.
18 . Secondary unit according to claim 17 , characterised in that said secondary unit is removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ) via a male and female joint.
19 . Secondary unit according to claim 17 , characterised in that said secondary unit is removably connected to the central unit ( 2 ) by a connection duct ( 9 ).
20 . Secondary unit according to any one of claim 17 to 19 , characterised in that said secondary unit comprises a single inlet ( 6 ) having a connection means ( 14 ) adapted to be connected to an external pressurised gas source.
21 . Secondary unit according to any one of claims 17 to 20 , characterised in that said secondary unit comprises a power supply link ( 13 ) for transmitting power from the central unit ( 2 ) to secondary unit ( 2 ).
22 . Secondary unit according to any one of claims 17 to 21 , characterised in that said secondary unit comprises a single inlet ( 6 ) having a connection means ( 14 ) adapted to be connected to an external pressurised gas source.
23 . Secondary unit according to any one of claim 17 to 22 , characterised in that said secondary unit comprises a regulating means ( 7 ) for regulating said respiratory gas.
24 . Secondary unit according to claim 23 , characterised in that said regulating means ( 7 ) comprises a pressure reducing means ( 15 ).
25 . Secondary unit according to claim 23 or 24 , characterised in that said regulating means ( 7 ) comprises a proportional means ( 16 ).
26 . Secondary unit according to any one of claim 23 to 25 , characterised in that said secondary unit comprises a controlling electronic card ( 17 ) for controlling the regulating means ( 7 ).
27 . Secondary unit according to claim 26 , characterised in that the data and power supply links ( 12 ; 13 ) are connected to the controlling electronic card ( 17 ).
28 . Secondary unit according to any one of claims 19 to 27 , characterised in that said secondary unit comprises a central groove ( 20 ) for storing the connection duct ( 9 ).
29 . Secondary unit according to claim 28 , characterised in that said secondary unit has a diabolo shape.
30 . Central unit for a breathing assistance device ( 1 ), the breathing assistance device ( 1 ) being capable of feeding a patient with a mix of gases comprising a primary respiratory gas and a secondary respiratory gas, characterised in that the central unit comprises a gas inlet ( 11 ) for receiving a regulated flow of the secondary respiratory gas, and a mixing means for selectively mixing said regulated flow of the secondary gas with said primary gas in order to obtain the desired mix of gases.
31 . Central unit according to claim 30 , characterized in that said mixing means is a three way valve.
32 . Central unit according to any one of claim 30 or 31 , characterised in that the central unit comprises a controlling means for controlling a regulating means located outside said central unit, said regulating means ( 7 ) regulating the flow of the secondary respiratory gas that reaches the inlet ( 11 ) of the central unit.
33 . Central unit according to any one of claims 30 to 32 , characterised in that the inlet ( 11 ) is adapted for receiving ducts having diameters from 4 to 8 mm.