Abstract:
A breathing gas supply device is provided which can be taken apart for cleaning purposes. The breathing gas supply device has a modular design in the form of a breathing gas module ( 2 ) and a blower module ( 3 ), which are inserted together into a housing module ( 4 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2007 033 404.6 filed Jul. 18, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to a breathing gas supply device for an anesthesia apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A respirator for controlling the breathing gas flow in an anesthesia apparatus is known from DE 102 19 286 C1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,119 which is hereby incorporated by reference). The respirator comprises, in a layered structure, a breathing gas block, which is traversed by a plurality of gas ducts, a valve plate and a cover, with which the valve plate is braced in relation to the breathing gas block. The breathing gas block is provided with breathing gas ports, via which free breathing gas is supplied to the patient, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the breathing gas expired by the patient is again taken up. The expired breathing gas is sent via an absorber cartridge, with which the carbon dioxide is removed from the expired gas. The breathing gas thus purified is subsequently supplied again to the patient during the next phase of inspiration. Directional valves in the valve plate ensure a directed breathing gas flow, which leads via an inspiration line to the patient and from the patient back into an expiration line. A breathing gas supply means, which generates the necessary inspiration pressure at the patient, is needed for transporting the breathing gas to the patient. This breathing gas supply means may be integrated in the respirator in the form of a blower, or it is connected to the respirator as a separate reciprocating pump. 
         [0004]    A radial blower for supplying breathing gas in a closed breathing circuit is known from DE 101 61 821 C1 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,538 which is hereby incorporated by reference). The radial blower comprises an upper part carrying breathing gas with a blower rotor (blower wheel or blower impeller), which transports breathing gas from a gas inlet to a gas outlet, and a drive motor, which sets the blower wheel into rotation. A coupling is located between the upper part and the drive motor to make it possible to separate the upper part from the drive motor for disinfection purposes and to connect it to the drive motor again later. 
         [0005]    Even though the coupling is dimensioned such that the coupling parts can be reassembled without observing a preferred position, the coupling parts are subject to a certain wear due to the mounting and removal and are additionally stressed by pressure variations during the changeover from the phase of inspiration to the phase of expiration. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The basic object of the present invention is to improve a breathing gas supply device such that it can be taken apart for cleaning purposes. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, a breathing gas supply device is provided with a breathing gas module, which has gas ducts and valves for a directed breathing gas flow in order to supply breathing gas to a patient and to take up the gas expired by the patient. A blower module is provided with a gas inlet, with a gas outlet, with a blower impeller (rotor) and with an electric motor for the blower impeller. The blower module has a housing with the blower module components therein. A plug-type coupling means (plug coupling means) is provided between the breathing gas module and the housing module for detachably connecting the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the blower module to the gas ducts of the breathing gas module. A housing module is provided for accommodating the breathing gas module and the blower module. 
         [0008]    The housing module may advantageously have a pot-like depression for accommodating the blower module. The housing module may advantageously have interfaces for the mechanical contact and electrical contact with at least the blower module. The mechanical contact can set the orientation of the blower module relative to the housing and a similar mechanical contact sets the orientation of the breathing gas module relative to the housing module. This sets the orientation of the plug coupling means for a detachable connection of the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the blower module to the gas ducts of the breathing gas module. The housing module may advantageously have a box-like border for receiving the breathing gas module and setting the position with respect to the blower module. 
         [0009]    The advantage of the device according to the present invention is that the breathing gas supply device is divided into a breathing gas module and a housing module for accommodating the breathing gas module and the blower module and that the blower module is designed as an encapsulated module such that the blower impeller and the electric drive are arranged together in one housing and the gas inlet and the gas outlet of the blower module are connected to the breathing gas module in the form of a plug coupling. Only a gas connection is established with the plug coupling between the blower module and the breathing gas module, without parts that move in relation to one another being affected hereby. The plug coupling also comprises an electric contacting of the blower module. This can be via a plug/socket connection between the blower module and the housing module. The blower module thus contains all the functional components that are needed for driving the blower rotor, and only the gas ports as well as an electrical interface are needed from the outside. The blower module can thus be cleaned alone via cleaning the gas ports when the device is prepared for operation, without the electric drive having to be removed. 
         [0010]    Another advantage is that the drive motor can be connected directly to the blower rotor without an inserted coupling and a more compact design of the blower module can be obtained as a result. 
         [0011]    The blower module is connected directly to the breathing gas module via a plug coupling, so that the gas ducts of the breathing gas module are in flow connection with the blower rotor of the blower module. The breathing gas module is then inserted, together with the blower module, into the housing module, which is connected to an anesthesia apparatus. 
         [0012]    To accommodate the blower module, the housing module has a pot-like depression, into which the blower module is inserted. Electric contacts, with which the electrical connection is established between the housing module and the blower module, are arranged at the bottom of the depression. The housing module has, moreover, a box-like border, which surrounds the breathing gas module in the mounted state. 
         [0013]    An exemplary embodiment is shown in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the drawings: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a breathing gas supply device; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the blower module and of the housing module at the connection site between the blower module and the housing module; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a partially sectional view showing details of the blower module having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings in particular,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a breathing gas supply device  1 , comprising a breathing gas module  2 , a blower module  3  and a housing module  4 , which is designed to accommodate the blower module  3  and the breathing gas module  2 . 
         [0019]    The breathing gas module  2  has breathing gas ports  5 ,  6 , with which the connection to a patient, not shown, can be established via flexible breathing tubes, which are likewise not shown. The breathing gas ports  5 ,  6  are connected to one another in the known manner via internally extending gas ducts and directional valves, which are not shown in more detail. The breathing gas module  2  has an adjustable pressure relief valve  7 , with which the breathing pressure building up in the system can be limited to a predetermined value. 
         [0020]    The blower module  3  has, on its upper side, a gas inlet  9  and a gas outlet  8 , which are introduced into corresponding mounting holes  10 ,  11  on the underside of the breathing gas module  2 . Together with the mounting holes (sockets)  10 ,  11 , the gas inlet  9  and the gas outlet  8  form a plug coupling (plug and socket coupling means or plug coupling means)  12 , with which a flow connection is established between the gas ducts of the breathing gas module  2  and of the blower module  3 . 
         [0021]    The housing module  4  has a pot-like depression  13 , which is used to receive the blower module  3 , and a box-like border  14 , into which the breathing gas module  2  is inserted. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of the blower module  3  and of the housing module  4  in the area of the pot-like depression  13 . Identical components are designated by the same reference numbers as in  FIG. 1 . The gas inlet  9  and the gas outlet  8 , which are connected internally to one another via a flow channel  16 , are arranged on the upper side in a housing  15  of the blower module  3 . A blower impeller  18 , which is driven by an electric motor  17  and which supplies the breathing gas from the gas inlet  9  to the gas outlet  8 , is arranged in the flow channel 16. Contact jacks  19 , with which an electrical connection is established with the blower module  3 , are located on the underside of the housing  15 . Centering pins  20 ,  21  are provided which mesh with corresponding centering holes  22 ,  23  on the pot-like depression  13 . The centering pins  20 ,  21  are provided on the outside of the contact jacks  19  to center the blower module  3  in relation to the housing module  4 . Contact pins  24 , which have a design corresponding to that of the contact jacks  19  and which establish the electrical connection between the housing module  4  and the blower module  3  when the blower module  3  has been fully inserted into the pot-like depression  13 , are also located at this site. 
         [0023]    While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0000]    
       
           1  Breathing gas supply device 
           2  Braething gas module 
           3  Blower module 
           4  Housing module 
           5 , 6  Breathing gas ports 
           7  Pressure relief valve 
           8  Gas outlet 
           9  Gas inlet 
           10 , 11  Mounting hole 
           12  Plug coupling 
           13  Pot-like depression 
           14  Box-like border 
           15  Housing 
           16  Flow duct 
           17  Electric motor 
           18  Blower impeller 
           19  Contact jacks 
           20 , 21  Centering pins 
           22 , 23  Centering holes 
           24  Contact pins