Patent Description:
Some medical devices need compressed air for working, such as nasal washing (i.e. cleaning) devices or the like.

Nasal washing (i.e. cleaning) devices are handheld devices that can be used for delivering a nebulized, aerosolized or atomized liquid solution, such as saline solutions or the like, to the nasal cavities of a person for promoting hydration and fluidification, thereby allowing removing excessive mucus and phlegm, i.e. catarrh, present in the nasal cavities and/or paranasal sinuses of the person and further preparing the nasal cavities and/or paranasal sinuses for subsequent administrations of therapeutic agents, drugs or the like.

Without such a "pre"-washing or "pre-"cleaning, the drugs or therapeutic agents that are subsequently intranasally administered, cannot act properly as they are stopped by the mucus and hence unable to reach the nasal areas, where they are supposed to act and/or to enter into the blood circulation of the person.

Nasal washing devices can be used with persons, especially pediatric users, such as babies, toddlers, infants or the like, suffering from various diseases, such as rhinopharyngitis, allergic rhinitis or chronic sinusitis, and subsequently treated by antihistaminic agents, antibiotics or decongestants that are intranasally delivered.

Examples of nasal washing devices are disclosed by <CIT> and <CIT>.

The aerosolization, i.e. atomization/nebulization, of the liquid solution is obtained by means of compressed air provided by an external gas compression device, commonly called a compressor device or a compressor, that is fluidly connected to the medical device requiring compressed air for working, such as a nasal washing device by means of a flexible hose, as shown in <FIG>.

A compressor device usually comprises a compression unit driven by an electrical motor unit and cooperating with a compression chamber for sucking ambient air (i.e. air at atmospheric pressure) and providing compressed air (i.e. air at a pressure greater to atmospheric pressure) to a manifold block.

However, in known compressor devices, the compression unit, the electrical motor unit, the compression chamber and the manifold block are tightly coupled together, and arranged in fixed positions in the casing of the compressor device.

This is clearly a problem as when different pressures are needed, it might be necessary to change the position of the motor unit in the casing where it is installed.

However, this is not possible or easy to do, because many motor units are not detachable from compression units and/or their positioning in the casing can not be (easily) varied.

A goal of the present invention is to provide an improved compressor device that overcomes the above problem so that different compression pressures.

A solution according to the present invention is a compressor device for providing compressed air to a medical device, comprising a casing, i.e. the peripheral housing of the compressor, comprising a compression chamber; an electrically-driven compressor unit cooperating with the compression chamber for compressing air; and a manifold block comprising an air admission line for providing ambient air to the compression chamber and a compressed-air distribution line for conveying compressed-air provided by the compression chamber, and wherein the manifold block is firmly secured, i.e. held in place, in a predetermined location in the casing.

According to the invention, the compression chamber and the electrically-driven compressor unit can be arranged in several locations in the casing with respect to the manifold block so that the distance between the compression chamber and the manifold block is adjustable thereby controlling or adjusting the compression pressure.

A compressor device according to the present invention can comprise one or several of the following additional features :.

The present invention will be explained in more details in the following illustrative description of an embodiment of a nasal washing/cleaning device according to the present invention, which is made in references to the accompanying drawings among them :.

<FIG> shows a medical device <NUM> using compressed air, namely a nasal washing device comprising a main body, a reservoir for containing a liquid solution to be aerosolized, nebulization means for aerosolizing the liquid solution using compressed air, and a nasal interface with an exit orifice <NUM> for delivering the aerosolized solution for cleaning the nasal cavities of a user.

Compressed air is provided by a compressor device <NUM>, i.e. an independent compressed-air generator, that is fluidly connected to the medical device <NUM>, i.e. the nasal washing device, by means of a flexible hose <NUM> that is plugged, on the one hand, to a gas connector <NUM> (not visible) arranged on the compressor device <NUM> and, on the other hand, to a gas entry connector <NUM> of the medical device <NUM>.

The compressor device <NUM> comprises a rigid casing or housing <NUM> containing in its inner volume <NUM>, compressing elements <NUM> used for compressing ambient air (i.e. air at atmospheric pressure) and providing compressed-air to the medical device <NUM>, namely the nasal washing device. A pivotable cover <NUM> arranged on the casing <NUM> gives access to the inner volume <NUM> of the casing <NUM>.

Compressing elements <NUM> typically comprise an air compression chamber arranged between an electrically-driven compressor unit and a manifold block, and cooperating together for compressing air.

Ambient air sucked by the electrically-driven compressor unit, passes through the manifold block, then enters into the air compression chamber where it is compressed and, once compressed, exits the air compression chamber and is provided to the medical device <NUM>, via the hose <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> represent sectional views of an embodiment of the compressing elements <NUM> arranged in the casing <NUM> or housing of a compressor device <NUM> according to the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, the casing <NUM> is made of two half-casings 2A, 2B assembled together, namely an upper half-casing or hood 2A and a base or lower half-casing 2B. The compressing elements <NUM> are arranged in the hood 2A, i.e. the upper half-casing. The two half-casings 2A, 2B are fixed together by screws of the like.

The compressing elements <NUM> comprise a compression chamber <NUM>, and an electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM> cooperating with the compression chamber <NUM> for compressing air provided by a manifold block <NUM>.

The manifold block <NUM> comprises an air admission line <NUM>, i.e. air passage, for providing ambient air to the compression chamber <NUM> and further a compressed-air distribution line <NUM>, i.e. a pressurized air passage, for conveying compressed-air provided by the compression chamber <NUM>. The admission line <NUM> and the distribution line <NUM> are parallelly arranged.

The air admission line <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM> comprises an air inlet <NUM> in fluid communication with the atmosphere and an air outlet <NUM> in fluid communication with the compression chamber <NUM>. The air admission line <NUM> conveys air from the air inlet <NUM> to the air outlet <NUM>. Air circulates into the lumen of the air admission line <NUM> thanks to the suction force provided by the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM>, as below explained.

Further, the distribution line <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM> comprises a compressed-air inlet <NUM> in fluid communication with the compression chamber <NUM> and a compressed-air outlet <NUM> for delivering compressed air. The distribution line <NUM> conveys the compressed air obtained in the compression chamber <NUM> towards the compressed-air outlet <NUM>. The compressed-air outlet <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM> is in fluid communication with a gas connector <NUM>, via a gas conduct <NUM>. The gas connector <NUM> is configured for connecting the gas hose <NUM> thereto, as shown in <FIG>.

The manifold block <NUM> can be made of a rigid material, such as polymer, for instance ABS, polystyrene (PS) or polyamide (PA), such as Nylon®, or the like.

Further, a first one-way valve <NUM> is arranged between an air outlet <NUM> of the air admission line <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM> and an air inlet <NUM> of the compression chamber <NUM>. This first one-way valve <NUM> allows air coming from the admission line <NUM> to enter into the compression chamber <NUM> due to the suction force resulting from the functioning of the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM>, but not in the reverse way, i.e. compressed-air can not travel back into the admission line <NUM> as it is blocked by the first one-way valve <NUM> (i.e. no back flows).

Similarly, a second one-way valve <NUM> is arranged between a compressed-air inlet <NUM> of the compressed-air distribution line <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM> and a compressed-air outlet <NUM> of the compression chamber <NUM>. This second one-way valve <NUM> allows compressed-air exiting the compression chamber <NUM> to enter into the distribution line <NUM>, but blocks any gas travel in the reverse way, i.e. air present in the distribution line <NUM> can not travel backwards and re-enter into the compression chamber <NUM>, due to the suction force generated by the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM>, as it is blocked by the second one-way valve <NUM>.

The first and second one-way valves <NUM>, <NUM> can be two separate flat planar valve elements having each a length of between about <NUM> and <NUM> in one direction/axis and of between about <NUM> and <NUM> in another direction/axis, such as perpendicular axis, and a thickness of between about <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM>. They are preferably made of a soft polymeric material such as rubber or silicone. According to another embodiment, the first and second one-way valves <NUM>, <NUM> can be two parts or portions of a same component, i.e. a unique valve element, having a disk shape (e.g. from <NUM> to <NUM> of diameter) or a square or rectangle shape (e.g. with sides of between <NUM> to <NUM>).

The compression chamber <NUM> is in fluid communication with the air admission line <NUM> and the compressed-air distribution line <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM>. Further, the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM> comprises compression means that cooperate with the compression chamber <NUM>. More precisely, the compressor unit <NUM> comprises an electric motor <NUM> driving a piston rod <NUM> cooperating with a piston head <NUM>. The piston head <NUM> and the piston rod <NUM> are mobile in (at least a part of) the compression chamber <NUM>.

The back-and-forth motion of the piston head <NUM> into the compression chamber <NUM> involves a suction of ambient air provided by admission line <NUM>, followed by a compression of said sucked air into the compression chamber <NUM>. The compressed air thus obtained is evacuated by, i.e. pushed into, the distribution line <NUM> of the manifold block <NUM>.

The piston rod <NUM> is driven by the rotatable axis <NUM> of the electrical motor <NUM>. The electrical power required by the motor <NUM> or any other component of the device <NUM> that is electrically-driven, is provided by an electric source, such as a battery or an electrical outlet (<NUM>/240V), or both.

For instance, the motor <NUM> can be a DC motor (<NUM> to <NUM> V). The compressor device <NUM> provides compressed-air at a maximum pressure of for instance <NUM> bar, typically of about <NUM> bar to <NUM> bar, and at a maximum flowrate of <NUM>/min, preferably of between <NUM> and <NUM>/min, or less.

A rotating fan <NUM>, also driven by the motor <NUM>, is provided for cooling the motor <NUM> and other inner components that are heated while the compressor device <NUM> is working.

As shown in <FIG>, the manifold block <NUM> further comprises first connection means cooperating with second connection means of the casing <NUM> for firmly fixing and maintaining the manifold block <NUM> in a specific location or spot inside the casing <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown, the first and second connection means comprise a male/female connection system <NUM>, <NUM> comprising protruding elements <NUM>, like fingers, elongated parts or the like, carried by the manifold block <NUM>, i.e. by its peripheral wall, that are configured for being insertable into lodgings <NUM> arranged inside the casing <NUM>, for instance carried by the inner wall(s) of the casing <NUM>.

Preferably, in order to avoid or limit vibrations or the like, the protruding elements <NUM> are equipped with mufflers <NUM> made of a flexible or resilient material, such as rubber, silicon or elastomeric material, such as Viton®. The mufflers <NUM> can have a general tubular or annular shape as shown in <FIG>.

Similar mufflers <NUM> can also be arranged, as shown in <FIG>, around the upstream portion 31A of the admission line <NUM> that comprises the air inlet <NUM> and further around the downstream portion 32A of the distribution line <NUM> that comprises the compressed-air outlet <NUM> for the same purposes, namely prohibiting, avoiding or limiting vibrations that may exist while the compressor device <NUM> is working.

According to the present invention, the compression chamber <NUM> and the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM> are arranged to be moveable between different locations, i.e. fixed in several locations, in the casing <NUM> with respect to the manifold block <NUM> that is fixed (and not moveable to other locations).

Changing the positioning of between the compression chamber <NUM> (and compressor unit <NUM>) with respect to the manifold block <NUM>, i.e. adjusting the distance in-between, renders possible a variation of the compression force/level of the compressor device <NUM>.

Indeed, the maximum and minimum pressure values, i.e. the pressure range, that can be obtained thanks to air compression in the compression chamber <NUM>, depends on the distance between the piston assembly <NUM>, <NUM> (i.e., piston rod <NUM> and piston head <NUM>) and the manifold block <NUM>. If the piston assembly <NUM>, <NUM> moves closer to the manifold block <NUM>, then the pressure that is thus generated increases whereas, conversely, it decreases when they are more distant. Indeed, the volume of air that can be compressed is lower, when those parts are closer, so that air is more compressed leading to an increased pressure, and vice versa.

Adding one or more spacers <NUM> between the manifold block <NUM> and the compression chamber <NUM> (and compressor unit <NUM>) allows varying said distance thereby obtaining desired pressure values, i.e. the compression level.

In other words, one or several spacers <NUM> are inserted, i.e. sandwiched, between the compression chamber <NUM> and the manifold block <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, for compensating the change of location of the assembly formed by the compression chamber <NUM> and the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM>, while ensuring an efficient compression of air.

As shown in <FIG>, each spacer <NUM> comprises a main body <NUM> traversed by (at least one) a central passage <NUM>, i.e. a large opening, forming a conduit portion for conveying air, i.e. ambient air and compressed air, in its lumen. The main body <NUM> of each spacer <NUM> can have a flat shape, such as a plate or the like, having for instance a thickness of between about <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the spacer <NUM> has a flat square shape.

Further, each spacer <NUM> comprises mounting holes <NUM> or the like that can receive fixation screws (not shown) or the like. Preferably, four holes <NUM> arranged in its four corners.

The spacers <NUM> can be made of any suitable rigid polymeric material, such as ABS, polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA), for instance Nylon®.

Preferably, several spacers <NUM> are used. They are juxtaposed, i.e., arranged side by side. The pressure of compressed air varies upon the number of spacers <NUM> used. Thus, increasing the number of spacers <NUM> results in a decrease of output air pressure, and vice versa. For instance, using from <NUM> to <NUM> spacers <NUM> allows delivering a pressure of about <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM> bar.

Furthermore, as the use of spacers <NUM> involves a slight change of location and orientation of the compression chamber <NUM> and of the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM>, it is necessary to take said variations of location and orientation into account by using cradle elements <NUM> that can be held by cradle-holding structures <NUM> arranged in the casing <NUM>, such as cradle lodgings or the like, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, each cradle element <NUM> comprises an elongated cradle body <NUM> configured <NUM> for matching the outer contours of the housing 21a of the motor <NUM>. In particular, the cradle body <NUM> comprises one or several angled portions <NUM> forming an angle (α) of between about <NUM>° to <NUM>°.

Preferably, several cradle elements <NUM> are used, more preferably four cradle elements <NUM> arranged face to face by pairs as shown in <FIG> so that each pair of cradles element <NUM> acts as jaws or clamps that "sandwich" the motor housing 21a and hold it still in the desired location.

As shown in <FIG>, two cradle elements <NUM> are lodged in cradle-holding structures <NUM> arranged in the inner wall of the upper half-casing or hood 2a. These two cradle elements <NUM> receive the top part, i.e. roof, of the motor housing 21a, in particular at least two corner edges of the motor housing 21a.

Further, two other cradle elements <NUM> are in contact with the lower part, i.e. the base portion, of the motor housing 21a, in particular at least two corner edges of the motor housing 21a. Preferably, these two other cradle elements <NUM> are lodged in cradle-holding structures <NUM> arranged in the base or lower half-casing 2B.

Thanks to the angle (α) of the angled portions <NUM> of each cradle elements <NUM>, it is possible to compensate the change of location of the motor assembly <NUM>, including the motor housing 21a, with respect to the manifold block <NUM> due to the insertion of the spacers <NUM>, when said motor assembly <NUM>, especially the motor housing 21a, is lodged and maintained in said cradle elements <NUM>.

Using such the cradle elements <NUM> allows adjusting or changing the location of the motor <NUM> in the casing <NUM>, i.e. slightly moving forward or backward the electrically-driven compressor unit <NUM> for varying the compression of air.

Preferably, the cradle elements <NUM> are made of resilient material, such as rubber or silicone.

<FIG> show the assembly of the casing <NUM> of a compressor device <NUM> according to the present invention, represented upside down. As one can see, the compressing elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and spacers <NUM> are first mounted, e.g.screwed, in the hood 2A, i.e. the upper half-casing, of the casing <NUM>, and then the two half-casings 2A, 2B are fixed together.

Claim 1:
Compressor device (<NUM>) for providing compressed air to a medical device (<NUM>) comprising a casing (<NUM>) comprising :
- a compression chamber (<NUM>),
- an electrically-driven compressor unit (<NUM>) cooperating with the compression chamber (<NUM>) for compressing air, and
- a manifold block (<NUM>) comprising an air admission line (<NUM>) for providing ambient air to the compression chamber (<NUM>) and a compressed-air distribution line (<NUM>) for conveying compressed-air provided by the compression chamber (<NUM>),
and wherein the manifold block (<NUM>) is firmly secured in a predetermined location in the casing (<NUM>),
characterized in that the compression chamber (<NUM>) and the electrically-driven compressor unit (<NUM>) can be arranged in several locations in the casing (<NUM>) with respect to the manifold block (<NUM>) so that the distance between the compression chamber (<NUM>) and the manifold block (<NUM>) is adjustable.