Gas sensor kit and gas supply unit

A gas sensor kit includes a gas sensor that measures a gas concentration of an exhalation gas of a subject and a gas supply unit that supplies a therapeutic gas, supplied through a tube, to the subject. In the gas sensor, the gas sensor has a convex portion that is supported when connected with the gas supply unit, and the gas supply unit has at least one locking claw that supports the convex portion when connected with the gas sensor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gas sensor kit and a gas supply unit, and particularly to a gas sensor kit which performs an exhalation gas concentration measurement and a therapeutic gas administration, and a gas supply unit.

BACKGROUND ART

As a symptomatic therapy with respect to a subject in a low-oxygen state, a method administering high concentration oxygen gas with an oxygen mask or an oxygen cannula is used. In the case of performing a treatment with respect to the subject in the low-oxygen state, it is necessary to perform both the administration of the high concentration oxygen gas and the measurement of a respiratory state (exhalation gas concentration) of the subject.

PTL 1 discloses a bite block which accurately measures the respiratory state of the subject by avoiding an effect of secretion such as saliva. The bite block includes a cylindrical first wall having a hole into which a conduit is inserted, a second wall which encloses the first wall and opposes an oral cavity, and a gas flow path to a sample port which is configured by a gap between the first wall and the second wall (FIGS. 1 and 2 in PTL 1). The bite block is configured such that the respiration information collection adapter is attachable therein and detachable therefrom, and a prong is attached in the respiration information collection adapter (FIG. 4 in PTL 1). Further, oxygen is supplied to the prong from an oxygen supplying source (paragraph [0024] in PTL 1).

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Non Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

In a medical field, an oxygen administration into a nostril may be performed or be suspended in the middle of a therapy according to a purpose of the therapy or a change of a condition. However, in the configuration of PTL 1, since the oxygen administration is performed through a prong which is a fine pipe, it is difficult to perform attachment and detachment in the middle of the therapy. In addition, there is a risk that the prong is erroneously closed at the time of attaching and detaching. For this reason, a gas supply unit is needed which can be simply attached to and detached from a respiration information collection adapter including a gas sensor.

The above case is not limited to the oxygen administration, and commonly occurs in a case where another therapeutic gas such as a hydrogen gas is used.

In this regard, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above case, and a main object thereof is to provide a gas supply unit which can be simply attached to and detached from a gas sensor and a gas sensor kit provided with the gas supply unit.

Solution to Problem

According to an aspect of the invention, a gas sensor kit includes a gas sensor that measures a gas concentration of an exhalation gas of a subject and a gas supply unit that supplies a therapeutic gas, supplied through a tube, to the subject. In the gas sensor, the gas sensor has a convex portion that is supported when connected with the gas supply unit, and the gas supply unit has at least one locking claw that supports the convex portion when connected with the gas sensor.

With the above-described configuration of the gas sensor kit, the gas supply unit is connected with the gas sensor with through the locking claw. By the operation of fitting the locking claw and the convex portion, it is possible to easily attach and detach the gas supply unit to/from the gas sensor.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can provide a gas sensor kit including a gas supply unit which can be simply attached to and detached from a gas sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the same names, and the redundant explanation is not repeated. In addition, the size or the shape of each of components is described with a suitable adjustment in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention.

FIG.1is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a gas sensor kit1according to this embodiment. The gas sensor kit1insufflates a therapeutic gas to a subject, and is a medical unit which measures an exhalation gas concentration. The gas sensor kit1includes a bite block10, a nasal adapter20, a gas sensor30, and a gas supply unit40. The therapeutic gas may be an oxygen gas or a hydrogen gas, and in the following description, an oxygen gas is adopted.

Incidentally, in the following description and drawings, the directions when the gas sensor kit1is attached on the subject are determined as follows. A right and left direction of a face of the subject when a state where the gas sensor kit1is attached on the subject is viewed from a front side is set as an X direction (a left-face direction is a positive X direction, and a right-face direction is a negative X direction). An upper and lower direction of the face of the subject is set as a Y direction (a vertex direction is a positive Y direction, and a chin direction is a negative Y direction). An intraoral direction of the subject is set as a negative Z direction, and a direction away from an oral cavity of the subject is set as a positive Z direction.

The bite block10is a tool which is inserted into the oral cavity when an inspection is performed by using an endoscope or a hard mirror. Incidentally, the bite block10is an example of the tool which is disposed in the vicinity of the oral cavity of the subject and is used together with the gas supply unit40. For this reason, the gas sensor kit1may include a mask or the like instead of the bite block10. The bite block10has a cylindrical shape, and has a connection mechanism which is connected with the nasal adapter20.

The nasal adapter20is connected with the bite block10, and is an adapter which is disposed in the vicinity of nostrils of the subject. Nasal tubes21and22are inserted into both nostrils of the subject. In addition, the nasal adapter20is connected with the gas sensor30, and the exhalation gas of the subject is introduced to the gas sensor30. That is, the nasal adapter20is one aspect of a gas introduction part which introduces the exhalation gas of the subject to the gas sensor30.

The gas sensor30is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the nasal adapter20. For example, the gas sensor30is connected with the nasal adapter20by fitting a concave portion35which will be described later having a light receiving window to the nasal adapter20. The gas sensor30measures the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the exhalation gas. The concentration of the carbon dioxide is one example and the gas sensor30may other gas concentration. The gas sensor30has a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, and calculates the concentration of the carbon dioxide based on the transmitted light of the exhalation gas of the subject. Since the carbon dioxide has a property to absorb strongly an infrared ray of a certain specific wavelength, the infrared light is strongly absorbed as the concentration of the carbon dioxide in the exhalation gas is higher, and the amount of the transmitted light is decreased. The gas sensor30may have any shape or structure as long as the concentration of the carbon dioxide of the exhalation gas is detected by using the property. The sensor kit disclosed in NPL 1 is an example as implementation.

The gas sensor30is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the gas supply unit40. A connection structure of the gas sensor30and the gas supply unit will be described later with reference toFIG.9.

The gas supply unit40is connected with the nasal adapter20through the gas sensor30, and is disposed in the vicinity of the nostril of the subject. The oxygen gas is supplied from an oxygen supplying source to the tube41. The gas supply unit40has a cap-shaped (cup-shaped) main body43to cover the casing of the gas sensor30. The cap-shape (cup-shape) of the main body43is shown inFIG.6and will be described later.

Subsequently, the description will be given about the state where the gas sensor kit1is attached.FIG.2is a view illustrating the state where the gas sensor kit1according to this embodiment is attached. That is, an enlarged view of a lower portion of the face of the subject on is shown in which the gas sensor kit1is being attached.

The bite block10is inserted into the oral cavity of the subject. The nasal tubes21(not illustrated inFIG.2) and22of the nasal adapter20connected to the bite block10are inserted into both nostrils of the subject. The nasal tubes21and22may be disposed in a vicinity of the nostrils.

The gas supply unit40covers the main body of the nasal adapter20and the gas sensor30, and is disposed between the nostril and a lip of the subject. The gas supply unit40supplies the oxygen gas supplied from the tube41to the vicinity of the nostril of the subject.

Subsequently, the description will be given about a structure of a gas sensor30.FIG.3is a top view of the gas sensor30(a view when the gas sensor30is seen from a positive Y direction). The gas sensor30has an elongated shape which includes major axes31and32and minor axes33and34. As illustrated in the drawing, the minor axis33and the minor axis34may have a curved shape, but a linear shape is not excluded.

A concave recess35to be fitted with a nasal adapter20is provided in the major axis32. A light-emitting element which can emit infrared light is provided in one of a side surface35aand a side surface35bof the recess35, and a light-receiving element which can receive the infrared light is provided in the other one. The nasal adapter20introduces an exhalation gas of a subject to the recess35. The light-receiving element outputs a signal according to a strength of the detected infrared light. An absorption rate of the infrared light is varied according to an exhalation gas concentration, and thus a signal indicating an infrared intensity reflects the exhalation gas concentration. The output signal is sent to an external device through a cable36. The gas sensor30may have a mechanism which processes the output signal to detect the exhalation gas concentration therein.

The minor axis33is connected with the cable36connected with the external device. The cable36extends from the minor axis33of the gas sensor30, and is connected with an external device such as a biological information monitor through a connector and the like. The minor axis34is positioned in a surface opposed to the minor axis33attached with the cable36. Convex portions371to373for locking which are locked at the time of connection with the gas supply unit40are provided in the minor axis34. In the following description, the common description in the convex portions371to373is simply described as a convex portion37. That is, the convex portion37is provided in a surface (minor axis33) opposed to an attachment surface (minor axis34) of the cable36extending from the gas sensor30. Incidentally, the number of the convex portion37is arbitrary. In addition, a plurality of projections38in which a finger is caught when the gas sensor30is gripped may be provided in a casing surface of the gas sensor30. A depth d1from the convex portion37to the major axis31will be described later with reference toFIG.9. In this embodiment, the minor axis is at one end of the gas sensor and the minor axis34is at the other end of the gas sensor. The other end is opposite side with respect to the one end.

The casing of the gas sensor30is made, for example, of plastic. The casing of the gas supply unit40has a rigidity enough not to be deformed, and has a structure which is slightly bent when the gas sensor30is pressed.

FIG.4is a back view of the gas sensor30(a view when the gas sensor30is seen from a negative Z direction). As described above, the minor axis33is connected with the cable36. The convex portion37for locking which is locked at the time of connection with the gas supply unit40is provided in the minor axis34. As illustrated in the drawing, the convex portion37is convex in a direction (negative X direction) away from a main body of the gas sensor30. Incidentally, a position regulating part39(391to394), which embraces a boss of the nasal adapter20and the like and fixes the position of the gas sensor30when fitted in the nasal adapter20, may be provided in the recess35.

A size (d2and d3inFIG.4) of the gas sensor30is such a magnitude that is housed in a gap48of the gas supply unit40(to be described later). Accordingly, the gas supply unit40can be connected to the gas sensor and cover the gas sensor30(seeFIG.1).

Next, the description will be given about the structure of the gas supply unit40.FIG.5is a front view of the gas supply unit40(a view when the gas supply unit40is seen from the positive Z direction). The shape of the gas supply unit40has substantially linear major axes42and43and curved minor axes44and45, and has an elongated shape. Connection parts46and47are provided in the minor axes44and45, respectively. The shape of the connection parts46and47will be described later with reference toFIG.7or8. Incidentally, the minor axes44and45may not necessarily have a curved shape, and may be a shape substantially corresponding to the elongated shape of the gas sensor30.

FIG.6is a back view of the gas supply unit40(a view when the gas supply unit40is seen from the negative Z direction). The gas supply unit40has an elongated shape having the major axes (42and43) and the curved minor axes (44and45) as described above. As illustrated inFIG.1, the gas supply unit40has a cap shape to cover the gas sensor30, and the oxygen gas flows in the gap48. The connection part46has a pair of locking claws461and462. The locking claws461and462are provided in the same surface (minor axis44) as an attachment surface of the tube41extending from the gas supply unit40. Similarly, a connection part47has a pair of locking claws471and472. The locking claws471and472are provided in the surface (minor axis45) opposed to the attachment surface of the tube41extending from the gas supply unit40. The gap48has a cap shape (a shape which covers the gas sensor30as illustrated inFIG.1). The casing of the gas supply unit40is configured of a material having a rigidity such as plastic.

The gap48is a space into which the gas sensor30is inserted. For this reason, the size (d4and d5inFIG.6) of the gap48is set to a magnitude corresponding to the gas sensor30. For example, the magnitude is that the gas sensor30is fitted smoothly when inserted therein, and that can cover and hold the gas sensor30.

FIG.7is a left side view of the gas supply unit40(a view when the gas supply unit40is seen from the negative X direction). The connection part47has the pair of locking claws471and472which are convex to be supported from the upper and lower direction (upper: positive Y direction, lower: negative Y direction) in a negative Z side end. In addition, a locking hole473is provided which is concave and has the locking claws471and472as ends. The convex portion37of the gas sensor30is inserted into the locking hole473. The insertion of the convex portion37will be described later with reference toFIG.9, and the description will be given about a depth d6from a bottom surface to the locking claws471and472.

FIG.8is a right side view of the gas supply unit40(a view when the gas supply unit40is seen from the positive X direction). The connection part46has the pair of locking claws461and462which are concave from the upper and lower direction (upper: positive Y direction, lower: negative Y direction) in the negative Z side end so that the locking claws461and462can hold a predetermined member. In addition, a locking hole463is provided which is concave and has the locking claws461and462as ends. The convex portion37of the gas sensor30is inserted into the locking hole463. The description of the insertion will be given later with reference toFIG.9, and the description about a depth d7from the bottom surface to the locking claws461and462will be given later.

Next, the description will be given about the connection structure of the gas sensor30and the gas supply unit40.FIG.9is a right side view when the gas sensor30is connected with the gas supply unit40(a view when the gas sensor30and the gas supply unit40are seen from the positive X direction). In addition,FIG.10is a top view when the gas sensor30is connected with the gas supply unit40(a view when the gas sensor30and the gas supply unit40are seen from the positive Y direction). In an example ofFIGS.9and10, a configuration is disclosed in which a convex portion373of the gas sensor30is connected with the connection part46. The convex portion373is hidden by the connection part46inFIG.10.

The depth d1which is a depth from the bottom surface (major axis31) of the gas sensor30to the convex portion373inFIG.3is substantially the same as the depth d7which is a height from the bottom surface (the end of the gap48) of the gas supply unit40to the locking claws471and472inFIG.8. For this reason, as illustrated inFIG.9, the convex portion373of the gas sensor30is supported and held by the locking claws461and462. In other words, the locking claws461and462supports the major axis of the convex portion373having an elongated and extended shape (FIGS.4and9) from both ends so as to lock the convex portion373. The gas supply unit40can tightly hold the gas sensor30from both sides through the locking by supporting the gas sensor30from both ends.

With reference toFIG.10, the locking claws461and462(not illustrated inFIG.10) are disposed in the same surface (minor axis44) as the attachment surface of the tube41. The locking claws461and462(not illustrated inFIG.10) lock the convex portion373(not illustrated inFIG.10). Accordingly, the tube41and the cable36are disposed to extend substantially in an opposite direction.

FIG.11is a top view when the convex portion373of the gas sensor30is connected with the connection part47. The top view is a view when seeing from the positive Y direction. The convex portion373is not shown inFIG.10as being hidden by the connection part46. The locking claws471and472are provided in a surface (minor axis45) opposed to the attachment surface (minor axis44) of the tube41. The locking claws471and472lock the convex portion373(not illustrated inFIG.10). Accordingly, the tube41and the cable36are disposed to extend substantially in the same direction.

The depth d1which is the depth from the bottom surface (major axis31) of the gas sensor30to the convex portion373inFIG.3is substantially the same as the depth d6which is the height from the bottom surface (the end of the gap48) of the gas supply unit40to the locking claws461and462inFIG.7. For this reason, as illustrated inFIG.11, the tube41and the cable36can be connected to extend substantially in the same direction.

Subsequently, the description will be given about the effect of the gas sensor kit1according to this embodiment. The gas supply unit40is connected with the gas sensor30through the locking claws (461and462or471and472). By the operation of fitting the locking claw (461and462or471and472) and the convex portion37, the gas supply unit40and the gas sensor30can be attached and detached easily. For this reason, although the oxygen administration is performed in the middle of any therapy, the oxygen administration can be performed with respect to the nostril without detaching the gas sensor30.

The locking claws (461and462) are provided in the same surface (minor axis44) as the attachment surface of the tube41. When the convex portion37of the gas sensor30is connected by using the locking claws (461and462), the tube41and the cable36extend in different directions as illustrated inFIG.10. Accordingly, the tube41and the cable36can be fixed by being hooked in both ears of the subject respectively. In addition, it is possible to easily cope with a case where an oxygen supplying source connected with the tube41and an external device connected with the gas sensor30are disposed on the both sides of a bed.

The locking claws (471and472) are provided in a surface (minor axis45) opposed to the attachment surface of the tube41. When the convex portion37of the gas sensor30is connected by using the locking claws (471and472), the tube41and the cable36extend substantially in the same direction as illustrated inFIG.11. For example, in a case where the endoscope inspection is performed, it is assumed that the gas sensor kit1is used in a lateral recumbent position. Also in a case where the gas sensor kit1is used in the lateral recumbent position, since the tube41and the cable36extend in the same direction, the tube41and the cable36rarely disturb the inspection.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the locking claws461,462,471, and472of the gas supply unit40are provided in both the same surface (minor axis44) as the attachment surface of the tube41and the opposing surface (minor axis45). Accordingly, it is possible to easily change an extending direction of the tube41in the middle of the therapy. That is, it is possible to easily switch between the connection form ofFIG.10and the connection form ofFIG.11.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the gas supply unit40has a cap shape that covers the gas sensor30. Accordingly, also in a case where the gas supply unit40is connected with the gas sensor30, the gas sensor kit1can be compactly formed in a small concavo-convex shape. In addition, the gas supply unit40can be easily attached to the gas sensor30due to a cap shape that covers the gas sensor30.

Hereinbefore, the invention made by this inventor is described in specific on the basis of the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the invention may be modified variously without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, a structure having only one of the connection part46and the connection part47may be adopted. Also in the structure, it is possible to easily attach and detach the gas supply unit40to/from the gas sensor30.

In the above description, the locking claws of the gas supply unit40are described as a paired structure, but are not necessarily limited thereto. The locking claw provided in the gas supply unit40does not necessarily have a paired shape as long as the locking claw is engaged and connected with the convex portion37of the gas sensor30, and may have such a shape that is engaged and fixed with the convex portion37from one direction.

Each of the gas supply unit40and the gas sensor30may be configured to have an attachment and detachment mechanism which can fix each other and attach and detach each other. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a protrusion is provided in the gas supply unit40, and the protrusion can be fitted in the concave portion of the gas sensor30. Alternately, a configuration may be adopted in which a concave portion is provided in the gas supply unit40, and a protrusion is provided in the gas sensor30. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which a magnet is buried in each of the gas supply unit40and the gas sensor30, and the gas supply unit40and the gas sensor30attract each other at the time of approaching so as to be connected.FIGS.12andFIG.13illustrate a configuration in which the gas supply unit and the gas sensor are fixed to each other by the magnet. The gas sensor30has a magnet50in the major axis32(FIG.12). In addition, in the gas supply unit40, a magnet49is provided in the gap48of the back surface. The gas sensor30and the gas supply unit40can be connected when the magnet49and the magnet50attract each other.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-117777, filed on Jun. 14, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

There is provide a gas sensor kit including a gas supply unit which can be simply attached to and detached from a gas sensor.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST