FR3066697A1 - HOT WATER GAS HUMIDIFIER WITH REMOVABLE TANK WITH PERIPHERAL FLANGE - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable tank gas humidifier (24) includes a housing (14) with a reservoir housing (1) having an opening (16) configured to receive a removable reservoir (4) . The reservoir (4) comprises a front panel (10) having a flange (11) arranged on the periphery (12) of the front panel (10), and projecting away from said periphery (12). The housing (1) of the housing (14) comprises a shoulder (13) bordering the opening (16) of the housing (1). The flange (11) is housed in abutment in the shoulder (13) and the front panel (10) of the reservoir (4) forms a part of the outer casing (23) of the housing (14), when the reservoir (4) ) is inserted into the reservoir housing (1). Humidifier / medical ventilator assembly (24, 25) comprising a ventilator (25) equipped with an electric micro-blower and a humidifier (24) according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to a heated gas humidifier incorporating a removable tank comprising a water tank used for humidifying a gas from a medical respiratory assistance device, i.e. a medical ventilator, as well as 'an assembly formed by such a heated gas humidifier and a medical ventilator.

Usually, a heating gas humidification device, generally called a humidifier, comprises a removable tank containing a tank intended to contain a volume of water.

This tank is configured to allow the passage of an air flow between an inlet port and an outlet port. Its bottom has a metal plate intended to transmit to the water, heat coming from a heating box, in which the tank is housed. The bottom of the housing has a heating element connected to or in contact with another metal plate, the role of which is to transmit the heat produced by the heating element of the housing to the metal plate of the reservoir, via the second metal plate. .

During the operation of the humidifier, the air coming from a medical ventilatory assistance device, commonly called a “ventilator”, enters the tank, heats up and is charged there with humidity thanks to the water which is heated in the tank. The humidified hot air is then conveyed to the respiratory tract of a patient, in particular via a flexible gas conduit supplying a respiratory interface, such as a respiratory mask or the like.

In order to obtain efficient operation of the humidifier, it is essential to ensure: - good mechanical contact between the heating plate of the housing and the metal plate of the tank, without which heat conduction is ineffective. Indeed, any contact failure between these plates generates significant losses in terms of gas humidification performance. - And a sealing of the air path in the tank, without which the treatment by administration to the patient of gas delivered by the ventilator is no longer respected.

However, it has been found in practice that the contact between the plates is not always correctly ensured and / or that the air path in the reservoir is not always airtight.

However, these inadequacies in contact and / or sealing generally result from poor positioning by the patients of the removable reservoir within the humidifier housing. In fact, patients using a humidifier / ventilator assembly in their home must regularly fill the water tank of the humidifier tank, so they have to extract themselves, then reinsert the tank into the housing of the humidifier.

The problem that arises is therefore to ensure correct positioning of the reservoir in the humidifier housing when the reservoir is inserted therein by a patient, and this, in a repeatable manner, that is to say each time that the patient inserts the reservoir into the housing, so as to guarantee correct positioning of the plates used for heating the water and good fluid tightness within the humidifier.

The solution of the invention therefore relates to a gas humidifier, in particular an air humidifier, with a removable reservoir comprising: a case comprising a reservoir housing, said reservoir housing comprising an opening configured to receive a removable reservoir, and a first metal plate arranged in the bottom of said housing, and - a removable tank comprising a water tank comprising a peripheral wall and a bottom provided with a second metal plate, characterized in that: - the tank comprises a front panel having a flange arranged on the periphery of said front panel, said collar projecting away from said periphery of said front panel, and - the reservoir housing of the housing comprises a shoulder bordering the opening of said reservoir housing, and in which the collar of the front panel of the tank is housed in abutment in the shoulder bordering the opening of the housing, and the front panel of the tank forms part of the external carcass of the gas humidifier case, when the tank is inserted in the tank housing of the case, and the first metal plate is in contact with the second metal plate. The gas humidifier according to the present invention makes it possible to guarantee a good positioning of the tank in the gas humidifier case thanks to the flange disposed on the front wall or front of the removable tank which cooperates with the shoulder arranged around the opening of the housing. More specifically, the collar comes to rest and abut on the shoulder of the housing of the housing so as to interrupt the stroke of the reservoir when it is inserted into its housing by a user, such as a patient. This then results in holding the tank in a position where the fluid tightness at the air inlet and outlet is controlled and where the metal plates of the housing and of the tank are well positioned relative to each other, of so as to guarantee good contact between them and therefore good conduction of heat from the heating plate to the tank, therefore efficient heating of the water in the tank.

Depending on the case, the gas humidifier of the invention may include one or more of the following technical characteristics: - a cover is arranged on the tank, preferably a removable cover. - The cover includes means or a fixing system for securing it to the peripheral wall of the tank, for example a socket system. - The cover is made of polymer and / or the water tank is made of polymer, for example plastic of the polypropylene type (PP). - The water tank is parallelepiped, that is to say of square or rectangular section, preferably rectangular. - The water tank is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped. - the water tank includes a bottom fitted with a metal plate made of aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel. the housing of the gas humidifier comprises a heating element, such as a resistor or the like, in contact with the first metal plate which is itself in contact with the second metal plate located in the bottom of the tank, when the tank is inserted into the humidifier housing. - The peripheral wall of the tank comprises a front panel of generally rectangular or square shape, preferably rectangular. - The peripheral wall of the tank includes a front panel carrying water level markings in the water tank. - The collar extends over the entire rectangular periphery of the front panel of the tank. - The collar has a width (lc) of between 1 and 6 mm, typically between 2 and 5 mm, for example between 3 and 4 mm. - The collar and the front panel of the tank are formed in one piece, for example by molding. - the thickness (E) of the flange is approximately equal to the depth (P) of the shoulder. - The thickness (E) of the flange and / or the depth (P) of the shoulder are between 1 and 4 mm, typically between 2 and 3 mm, for example between 2.2 and 2.4 mm. - The housing comprises a reservoir housing having an opening of generally rectangular shape. - It comprises an additional removable wall piece, called a "plastron", arranged around the opening of the housing and forming at least part of the shoulder bordering the opening of the housing of the housing, that is to say around at least part of the periphery of said opening. - The additional wall piece is fixed to the housing carcass, preferably by interlocking. - the collar secured to the front panel of the tank abuts in a shoulder delimited by the carcass and the additional wall piece.

Furthermore, the invention further relates to a humidifier / medical ventilator assembly comprising a medical ventilator equipped with an electric micro-blower and a humidifier according to the invention, said gas humidifier serving to humidify the gas, typically air , supplied by the electric micro-blower thanks to water vapor generated in humidifier by heating by means of the heating element and the two metal plates. The invention will now be better understood thanks to the following detailed description, given by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the appended figures in which: - Figure 1 shows schematically a ventilator / humidifier set of medical gas, - Figure 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a water tank according to the invention, - Figure 3 shows the insertion of the water tank of Figure 2 into the housing of a gas humidifier, - Figure 4 shows diagrammatically the insertion in abutment of the flange of the tank into the shoulder of the gas humidifier case, - Figure 5 shows the water tank of Figure 2 inserted in the gas humidifier case, and - Figure 6 shows schematically an embodiment of the faceplate which is fixed around the opening of the housing of the gas humidifier.

Figure 1 shows schematically an embodiment of a medical ventilator / medical gas humidifier assembly comprising a medical ventilator 25, that is to say an apparatus for supplying respiratory assistance gas, and a gas humidifier 24 in fluid (21) and electrical (19) communication with each other.

More specifically, the medical ventilator 25 comprises means for supplying gas, such as an electric micro-blower, also called a "turbine" or "compressor", making it possible to supply a gas flow, for example air, to the humidifier 24, and control means 20, 22, namely an electronic card 20 with (micro) processor 22. The gas flow delivered by the gas supply means of the medical ventilator 25 is routed, via an internal gas circuit of the ventilator comprising one or more gas conduits or the like, up to a gas outlet 21, such as a pneumatic connector, ensuring fluid communication between the medical ventilator 25 and the gas humidifier 24.

Furthermore, the gas humidifier 24 comprises a housing 14 delimited by an external carcass 23 (cf. FIG. 3), and including a housing with an internal tank 1 intended to receive a removable water tank 4, such as that of FIG. 2, comprising a tank or tank 8 intended to contain water 4d used to humidify the flow of gas coming from the fan 25. The tank 8 comprises a cover 9, preferably removable, that is to say detachable, closing the top of the tank 8. The cover 9 arranged on the tank 8 is made integral with the peripheral wall 4b of the tank 8, by means of a suitable fixing system, for example a system by interlocking or the like. The fixing system also ensures a fluid tight seal between the lower peripheral rim of the cover 9 and the upper peripheral rim of the tank 8. To this end, the lower peripheral rim of the cover 9 and the upper peripheral rim of the tank 8 preferably come from 'nest one inside the other.

The tank 8 of the water tank 4 comprises an inlet 2 for dry gas through which the gas to be humidified coming from the fan 25 enters the water tank 4 and an outlet 3 for humidified gas through which the gas humidified within the tank 8 comes out of the water tank 4 and is then sent to the patient, via a flexible gas line, for example connected to a patient gas distribution interface, such as a respiratory mask or the like. The gas humidifier 24 further comprises a heating element 7, such as an electrical resistance or the like, and a first metal plate 6 which are arranged in the bottom 15 of the humidifier case 24. The heating element 7 of the gas humidifier 24 is controlled by the control means 20, 22 of the medical ventilator 25 and is also in contact with the first metal plate 6 so as to heat the first metal plate 6 in response to a heating control signal delivered by the control means 20, 22 of the medical ventilator 25.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the water tank 4 is inserted into the housing 14 of the gas humidifier 24. The tank of the tank 4 comprises a second metal plate 5 which is itself in contact with the first metal plate 6 of the housing 14 so that the calories generated by the heating element 7 and transmitted to the first metal plate 6 can then pass to the second metal plate 5, then to the water 4d of the tank 8 so as to heat this water.

More specifically, the second metal plate 5 is arranged in the bottom 4a of the tank 8 of the tank 4, which bottom 4a defines with the peripheral wall 4b of the tank 8 of the tank 4, an internal volume 4c containing the water 4d to be heated which is used to humidify the gas supplied by the medical ventilator 25. The water 4d contained in the tank 4 is therefore vaporized by heating in contact with the second metal plate 5.

The metal plates 5, 6 are for example made of aluminum, aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

The medical ventilator 25 is supplied with electric current by an electric power supply 17, for example the sector delivering a current having a voltage between 110 and 230 V. The current supplied by the electric current source 17 is conveyed by an electric cable coming from electrically connect to the ventilator 25 at an upstream electrical connector 18. The medical ventilator 25 is electrically connected to the gas humidifier 24 by a downstream electrical connector 19 or the like. The electric current is then conveyed from the downstream electrical connector 19 to the heating element 7 by one or more electrical cables 23.

In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the water tank 8 is rectangular, that is to say here of rectangular section. It therefore comprises 4 walls facing 2 to 2, ie parallel 2 to 2 and perpendicular 2 to 2, including two small walls and two large walls, the small walls having a width less than that of the large walls, the height of the small and large walls being equal. As an indication but not limiting, the small walls of the water tank 4 can have a width lR between 3 and 8 cm, for example between 4 cm and 6 cm, and the large walls of the tank 4 can have a length LR between 10 and 15 cm, for example between 11 and 13 cm, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the height HR of the small and large walls can be between 9 and 15 cm, for example of the order of 10 to 12 cm.

According to the present invention, in order to ensure precise positioning of the reservoir 4 in the housing 1 of the housing 14, therefore good contact between the first and second plates 5, 6 and moreover effective seals at the inlet and the air outlet from the tank 4, a flange 11 is provided arranged around the periphery 12, that is to say over all or part of the external periphery of the front panel 10 of the tank 4, which flange 11 projects away relative to the periphery 12 of the front panel 10, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The flange 11 forms a rim having a width lc of, for example, of the order of 3 to 4 mm, bordering the front panel, that is to say the facade, of the reservoir 4. The flange 11 therefore protrudes away from the front wall or front panel 10 and therefore constitutes a sort of extension of the front panel 10 arranged along its periphery, ie the perimeter of the front panel 10 which is here rectangular in shape, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Preferably, the collar 11 is arranged around the entire periphery 12 of the front panel 10 of the reservoir 4, that is to say along the entire periphery of said front panel 10. However, the collar can be continuous or discontinuous along from the periphery 12 of said front panel 10.

It should also be noted that the front panel 10 also includes one or more markings 26 (cf. FIG. 3) which are indicators of the level (ie height) of water 4d in the water tank 8, in particular of maximum level , of minimum level and of one or more intermediate water levels.

Furthermore, there is provided on the housing 14 of the gas humidifier 24, a shoulder 13 bordering the opening 16 of the reservoir housing 1, that is to say that the shoulder 13 is arranged at the peripheral edge. , that is to say of the periphery, of the opening 16 of the reservoir housing 1, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. The housing 14 comprises a reservoir housing 1 having here an opening 16 of rectangular shape.

When the tank 4 is inserted, like a drawer in a cabinet, by a user, for example a patient, in the tank housing 1 of the case 14 of the gas humidifier 24 (cf. FIG. 3) , the flange 11 of the front panel 10 comes to cooperate with the shoulder 13 of the housing 14 which then constitutes a stop stopping the stroke in insertion of the reservoir 4. In other words, the flange 11 of the front panel 10 comes to be housed in the stop in the shoulder 13 of the housing 14, which guarantees correct insertion of the reservoir 4 into the housing 1 of the housing, therefore an adequate positioning of the plates 5, 6, one in contact with the other, as well as good fluid tightness.

Furthermore, when the tank 4 is fully inserted into the housing 1, the front panel 10 of the tank 4 is in line with the external wall of the case 14 of the humidifier 24, that is to say that it forms part of the external carcass 23 of the gas humidifier housing 14 24, generally conforming to said external carcass 23.

In other words, the shoulder 13 bordering the opening 16 of the reservoir housing 1 so that the flange 11 of the front panel 10 are shaped and dimensioned so that the flange 11 of the front panel 10 can come into abutment and completely fit into the shoulder 13 bordering the opening 16 of the housing 1 of the housing 14. In particular, the thickness E of the flange 11 is equal or approximately equal to the depth P of the shoulder 13, for example E and P are approximately 2 to 2.5 mm, as illustrated in Figure 4, which shows schematically the insertion into abutment of the flange 11 of the front panel 10 of the reservoir 4 in the shoulder 13 located around the periphery of the opening 16 of the case 14 of the humidifier 24 of gas.

In the context of the present invention, there are several ways of producing the shoulder 13 bordering the opening 16 of the housing 1 of the housing 14.

According to one embodiment, the shoulder 13 can be directly integrated into the external carcass 23 of the case 14 of the humidifier 24, for example formed by molding within said carcass 23.

According to another embodiment, the shoulder 13 can be produced, in whole or in part, on one (or more) piece of additional detachable wall Tl which is fixed to the rest of the carcass 23 of the housing 13. Thus, FIG. 6 shows schematically an embodiment where an additional wall piece Tl, called a "faceplate", is fixed by interlocking or the like around the opening 16 of the housing 14 of the gas humidifier.

Once fixed on the carcass 23, this additional wall piece Tl or plastron borders the opening 16 and thus forms part of the shoulder 13, as illustrated in FIG. 5 which shows the water tank 4 of the humidifier 24 of the invention, inserted in the housing 14 of the gas humidifier 24.

It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the flange 11 comes to bear on a part of the carcass 23 which then constitutes the bottom of the shoulder 13, while the additional wall piece Tl fits into the carcass 23 while forming the portion lateral of the shoulder 13. The flange 11 secured to the front panel 10 of the reservoir 14 therefore abuts both against the carcass 23 and the additional wall piece Tl.

According to other embodiments, the additional wall piece T1 could carry the entire shoulder 13, namely its lateral portion and its bottom, or the shoulder 13 could be formed, in whole or in part, of several additional Tl wall pieces.

A removable water tank 4 according to the invention is intended to equip a gas humidifier 24 with a humidifier 24 / medical ventilator 25 assembly, the ventilator 25 is equipped with an electric micro-blower supplying the humidifier 24 with gas to moisten.

Claims (12)

Claims 1. Gas humidifier (24) with removable reservoir (4) comprising: - a housing (14) comprising a reservoir housing (1), said reservoir housing (1) comprising an opening (16) configured to receive a reservoir ( 4) removable, and a first metal plate (6) arranged in the bottom of said housing (14), and - a removable tank (4) comprising a water tank (8) comprising a peripheral wall (4b) and a bottom (4a ) provided with a second metal plate (5), characterized in that: - the reservoir (4) comprises a front panel (10) having a flange (11) arranged on the periphery (12) of said front panel (10), said collar (11) projecting away from said periphery (12) of said front panel (10), and - the reservoir housing (1) of the housing (14) comprises a shoulder (13) bordering the opening (16) of said tank housing (1), and in which: - the flange (11) of the front panel (10) of the tank (4) vi ent fit into abutment in the shoulder (13) bordering the opening (16) of the housing (14), - and the front panel (10) of the tank (4) forms a part of the external carcass (23) of the housing (14), when the tank (4) is inserted into the tank housing (1) of the housing (14), and the first metal plate (6) is in contact with the second metal plate (5) · 2. Humidifier according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a cover (9) is arranged on the tank (8) and integral with the peripheral wall (4b) of said tank (8), preferably a removable cover (9) . 3. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water tank (8) is parallelepiped, preferably a rectangular parallelepiped. 4. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral wall (4b) of the tank (4) comprises a front panel (10) of generally rectangular shape. 5. Humidifier according to claim 4, characterized in that the collar (11) extends over the entire rectangular periphery of the front panel (10) of the tank (4). 6. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (11) and the front panel (10) of the tank (4) are formed in one piece, for example by molding. 7. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness (E) of the collar (11) is approximately equal to the depth (P) of the shoulder (13). 8. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an additional removable wall piece (27) arranged around the opening (16) of the housing (14) and forming at least part of the shoulder (13) bordering the opening (16) of the housing (1) of the housing (14). 9. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional removable wall piece (27) is fixed to the carcass (23) of the housing (14), preferably by interlocking. 10. Humidifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collar (11) integral with the front panel (10) of the tank (14) abuts in a shoulder (13) delimited by the carcass (23) and the part additional wall (27). 11. removable tank (4) comprising a water tank (8) comprising a peripheral wall (4b) and a bottom (4a) provided with a second metal plate (5), said tank (4) further comprising a front panel (10) having a collar (11) arranged on the periphery (12) of said front panel (10), said collar (11) projecting away from said periphery (12) of said front panel (10), for a humidifier of gas according to one of the preceding claims. 12. Humidifier / medical ventilator assembly (24, 25) comprising a ventilator (25) equipped with an electric micro-blower and a humidifier (24) according to one of claims 1 to 10.