Patent Description:
People can suffer from respiratory troubles due to a failure of their lungs that can be the consequence of for instance an infection by microorganisms, typically bacteria and/or viruses, like a coronavirus, such as the Covid-<NUM> virus including its variants.

When the pulmonary failures of infected persons lead to a lack of oxygen in their blood, i.e. a hypoxemia or the like, they have to be hospitalized for treating their pulmonary failures in providing them an oxygen-containing respiratory gas, such as an air/oxygen mixture or pure oxygen.

With severely ill patients, respiratory assistance devices, also called medical ventilators, respirators or the like, are used for providing the oxygen-containing gas.

However, such medical ventilators are not suitable or not well-adapted to less affected patients, i.e. "light" cases, which represents the majority of the patients.

Further, many medical ventilators are not usable either in the field, for instance in emergency units, such as SAMU, SDIS or the like, as they are too cumbersome and not easy to handle and carry, especially when they have to be coupled to an oxygen source, namely a gas cylinder.

These are the reasons why, simpler non-invasive ventilation devices have been proposed, such as pneumatically-actuated devices comprising simple components fluidly cooperating together, such as a hollow body including gas inlet(s) and outlet(s), gas reservoir, flexible hose, respiratory interface. Despite their simple architecture, such non-invasive ventilation devices work rather well for providing oxygen or air/oxygen mixtures to numerous patients.

For regulating the quantity or fraction of oxygen delivered to the patients, which depends on their needs, it is necessary to regulate the flow of oxygen provided by the oxygen source, such as an O<NUM> gas cylinder or a wall O<NUM>-connector/plug, and its subsequent mixing with air, if required, for delivering pure oxygen or an air/O<NUM> mixture.

This may be done by a venturi device that is plugged between the oxygen source and a non-invasive ventilation device, and further fed with ambient air, such as disclosed by <CIT>.

As the amount or fraction of oxygen provided to the patient may vary in the course of the treatment, some venturi devices comprise a regulation system for selecting the gas that should be delivered, namely pure oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture.

Known regulation systems for venturi devices are actuatable by the user between :.

For doing so, a regulation system generally comprises two mobile parts that are axially-slidable, i.e. mobile in axial translation, one toward (or away from) the other so that the user can easily select the desired position, namely an open or a closed position, by axially-sliding one of those mobile parts, thereby allowing or prohibiting any mixing of oxygen with air.

However, such a regulation system is not ideal as it can lead to an accidental sliding of the mobile parts involving a wrong position setting and hence a delivery of a gas that does not have the desired composition, for instance oxygen in lieu of an air/O<NUM> mixture, or vice versa. Moreover, most existing systems are not able to provide pure oxygen (i.e. O<NUM> concentration of <NUM>% vol. ) in a closed position as leaks often occur thereby allowing air to enter and to lower the O<NUM> concentration delivered to the patient.

One can easily understand that delivering a wrong gas composition can be a serious problem for a patient, when said patient needs to inhale a specific amount of oxygen for treating a given respiratory trouble or condition affecting said patient. For example, delivering an air/oxygen mixture in lieu of pure oxygen to a patient may lead to a severe hypoxemia and, in extreme cases, to the death of the patient. Conversely, delivering pure oxygen in lieu of an air/oxygen mixture may lead to hyperoxia that may be detrimental to the patient.

Other examples of fluid mixing devices including venturi elements useable for instance for prodiving oxygen mixtures to patients are given by <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

A goal of the present disclosure is to provide an improved venturi device that overcomes said problem to better control the fraction of oxygen provided to a patient.

The solution according to the invention relates to a venturi device for delivering oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture (i.e. oxygen-enriched air) comprising :.

Depending on the embodiment, the venturi device according to the present disclosure can comprise one or several of the following features:.

The present disclosure also concerns an installation for providing oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture to a patient comprising a gas reservoir, a flexible hose, a respiratory interface and a connecting hollow body, the gas reservoir and the flexible hose being fluidly connected to the connecting hollow body, and the respiratory interface being fluidly connected to the flexible hose, characterized in that a venturi device according to the present disclosure is further fluidly connected to the connecting hollow body for delivering oxygen or the air/oxygen mixture to said connecting hollow body.

Depending on the embodiment, the installation according to the present disclosure can comprise one or several of the following features:.

Such an installation according to the present disclosure can be used for providing oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture to a patient, i.e. person, in need thereof, i.e. a patient suffering from respiratory troubles ou disease, such as a person infected by a coronavirus, for example the Covid-<NUM> virus or one of its variants, involving pulmonary troubles, failures or the like, leading to hypoxemia or the like, wherein the fraction of oxygen used for treating said patient is regulated by the venturi device according to the present disclosure.

Embodiments of a venturi device according to the present disclosure are shown in the enclosed illustrative, but not limitative, Figures, among which:.

<FIG> is a general view of an embodiment of a venturi device <NUM> according to the present disclosure showing in transparency the two main parts or sub-units cooperating together, namely a main body <NUM> and a rear member <NUM>, i.e. a gas-providing member or part, forming the venturi device <NUM> according to the present invention, which are mobile with respect to the other for controlling, i.e. selecting, the type of gas that has to be provided by the venturi device <NUM>, i.e. oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture, as below explained.

As shown in <FIG>&B and <NUM>, the main body <NUM> comprises an inner compartment <NUM> comprising a venturi nozzle <NUM> co-axially arranged in said inner compartment <NUM>. The inner compartment <NUM> is divided in <NUM> sub-compartments by an inner wall <NUM>, namely an inlet chamber <NUM> or upstream chamber, and an outlet chamber <NUM> or downstream chamber. As the inner compartment <NUM> has a circular section, i.e. a cylindrical inner-shape, the inner wall <NUM> has a ring-shape. The outlet chamber <NUM> is also shown in the bottom view <NUM> of <FIG>.

The venturi nozzle <NUM> is arranged through the inner wall <NUM> that divides the inner compartment <NUM>. It comprises a nozzle inlet <NUM> located on the side of the inlet chamber <NUM> and a nozzle outlet <NUM> located on the side of the outlet chamber <NUM>, preferably in said outlet chamber <NUM> as shown in <FIG>&B and <FIG>. An inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> is arranged between the nozzle inlet <NUM> and the nozzle outlet <NUM> for conveying the gas from the nozzle inlet <NUM> to the nozzle outlet <NUM>.

More precisely, the venturi nozzle <NUM> comprises two successive channel portions forming the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> comprising a first channel portion <NUM>-<NUM> comprising the nozzle inlet <NUM> and having an inner cylindrical shape, and a second channel portion comprising the nozzle outlet <NUM> and having an inner divergent shape. The first channel portion <NUM>-<NUM> fluidly connects the nozzle inlet <NUM> to the second channel portion <NUM>-<NUM>. According to another embodiment (not shown), the first channel portion <NUM>-<NUM> can have an inner convergent shape.

The second channel portion <NUM>-<NUM> is arranged between the first channel portion <NUM>-<NUM> and the nozzle outlet <NUM>. As it comprises an inner divergent shape or profile, its inner diameter gradually increases toward the nozzle outlet <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>&B and <FIG>.

The gas (i.e. O<NUM> or air/O<NUM>) enters into the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM> by the nozzle inlet <NUM>, travels successively in the first <NUM>-<NUM> and then second <NUM>-<NUM> channel portions of the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and flows out, i.e. leaves, of the venturi nozzle <NUM> by the nozzle outlet <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> has an axially-elongated shape, i.e. along axis (XX) shown in <FIG>, in particular a tubular outer shape, e.g. cylindrical outer shape, but other outer shapes are possible. For instance, the outer diameter of the main body <NUM> is of about between <NUM> and <NUM>, and its length is of about between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Further, the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM> is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber <NUM> of the rear member <NUM> that constitutes the second main part or sub-unit of the venturi device <NUM> according to the present disclosure.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>&B and <FIG>, the rear member <NUM> has a generally cup-like shape, but other shapes are possible. It comprises an oxygen inlet <NUM> for providing oxygen and one or preferably several air inlets <NUM> for providing air, and the mixing chamber <NUM> for mixing therein air with the oxygen and provided by said oxygen inlet <NUM>. The oxygen inlet <NUM> and the air inlets <NUM>, e.g. here four air inlets <NUM>, arranged around the oxygen inlet <NUM> are better visible in the top view <NUM> of <FIG>.

The rear member <NUM> is mobile with respect to the main body <NUM>, upon actuation of a user, between (at least) a closed position (as shown in Fig. 6B), wherein the rear member <NUM> cooperates directly with the venturi nozzle <NUM> for providing oxygen to the venturi nozzle <NUM>, in particular to the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM>, and an open position (as shown in <FIG>), wherein the rear member <NUM> cooperates with the venturi nozzle <NUM> for providing the air/oxygen mixture obtained in the mixing chamber <NUM> to the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM>.

In other words, in the closed position (Fig. 6B), the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM> is fed with oxygen only, i.e. "pure" oxygen, whereas in the closed position (<FIG>), the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM> is fed with a mixture of air and oxygen, i.e. an air/oxygen mixture, coming from the mixing chamber <NUM> of the rear member <NUM>.

According to the present disclosure, in the goal of avoiding or limiting accidental motions of those mobile parts, i.e. rear member <NUM> and main body <NUM>, leading to wrong position settings and to a wrong-gas delivery, for instance oxygen in lieu of an air/O<NUM> mixture, or vice versa, the rear member <NUM> is not mobile in translation, but rather according to a helicoidal motion with respect to the main body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, for allowing the user to manually select and set a desired open or closed position.

In the context of the present disclosure, "according to a helicoidal motion" means that the selection or setting of the closed or open position is made by the user when turning, clockwise or counterclockwise (cf. <FIG>), the rear member <NUM> with respect to the main body <NUM> of the venturi device <NUM> of the invention, or vice versa, thereby obtaining an helicoidal motion of those parts <NUM>, <NUM>, one with respect to the other. In other words, it screws in and out.

In other words, the rear member <NUM> is helicoidally mobile with respect to the main body <NUM> when manually-turned clockwise or counterclockwise by a user.

To achieve such a clockwise or counterclockwise motion of those parts, specific structures are provided on the rear member <NUM> and the main body <NUM> of the venturi device <NUM> of the present disclosure.

More precisely, the main body <NUM> comprises one or several elongated grooves <NUM> and the rear member <NUM> comprises one or several guiding members <NUM>, or vice versa, preferably two elongated grooves <NUM> cooperating with two guiding members <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>&B, each guiding member <NUM> being inserted into one of said elongated grooves <NUM>, thereby cooperating with said elongated grooves <NUM> for guiding the helicoidal motion of the rear member <NUM> with respect to the main body <NUM>, while the rear member <NUM> is actuated by a user, i.e. manually rotated/turned around axis (XX), with respect to the main body (<NUM>), or vice versa.

As shown in <FIG> & <FIG>, the two elongated grooves <NUM> are arranged in the peripheral wall <NUM> of the main body <NUM> and are diametrically-opposed, whereas the two guiding members <NUM> are diametrically-oppositely arranged on the peripheral surface of the rear member <NUM>.

The elongated grooves <NUM> constitute guides or paths that guide the guiding members <NUM>, when the venturi device <NUM> is manually-actuated by the user, i.e. turned clockwise or counterclockwise as shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> & <FIG>, the elongated grooves <NUM> are preferably elongated slots <NUM> traversing the peripheral wall <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, in particular the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, i.e. traversing slots <NUM> or the like.

Further, the guiding members <NUM> comprise or are protrusions <NUM> arranged on the peripheral outer surface <NUM> of the rear member <NUM>, preferably the peripheral outer surface <NUM> of the front portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM>. Each protrusion <NUM> forms a dent, a pin or any other similar small structure projecting away from the peripheral outer surface <NUM> of the rear member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the elongated grooves <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, in particular the slots <NUM>, comprise a curved linear portion <NUM>, i.e. a linear segment, arranged in the cylindrical peripheral wall <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, which is terminated by two end lodgings 46A, 46B that correspond to the open (46B) and closed (46A) positions of the venturi device <NUM>.

The end lodgings 46A, 46B are sized and configured for receiving or lodging the guiding members <NUM>, in particular the protrusions <NUM>. In other words, the protrusions <NUM> cooperate with the end lodgings 46A, 46B for setting the venturi device <NUM> in the open (46B) or closed (46A) positions as illustrated in <FIG>.

The curved linear portion <NUM> of each elongated groove <NUM>, preferably of each elongated slot <NUM>, is diagonally-arranged in the peripheral wall <NUM> of the main body <NUM>, namely in the peripheral wall of the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

For ensuring a stable maintaining of the venturi device <NUM> in said open or closed position, it is provided, in each end lodging 46A, 46B, an abutment <NUM> as visible in <FIG>, that is located at a site of junction <NUM> between of the curved linear portion <NUM> of the elongated grooves/slots <NUM>, <NUM> and each end lodgings 46A, 46B.

As shown in <FIG>, said abutments <NUM> can be little wall structures or similar projecting in each end lodging 46A, 46B. The role of those abutments <NUM> is to block or to retain the protrusions <NUM> in the end lodgings 46A, 46B for setting the venturi device <NUM> in the open (46B) or in the closed (46A) positions as illustrated in <FIG>. In other words, those abutments <NUM> are safety blocks or the like.

For instance, when the venturi device <NUM> in the closed position with the two protrusions <NUM> lodged and blocked in the first end lodgings 46A corresponding to said closed position, as illustrated in <FIG> (left side), and has to be set in the open position, the user actuates, namely rotates counterclockwise, for instance the rear member <NUM> so that the two protrusions <NUM> are helicoidally guided by the two slots <NUM>, in particular the linear curved portions of the slots <NUM>, until they reach the second end lodgings 46B corresponding to the open position, as illustrated in <FIG> (right side).

Once lodged in the second end lodgings 46B, the two protrusions <NUM> are blocked and retained therein by the abutments <NUM>, as better shown in <FIG>, that shows an enlarged view of a second end lodging 46B with a protrusion <NUM> retained therein by an abutment <NUM>. The abutments <NUM> prohibit that the protrusions <NUM> accidentally get out of the end lodgings 46A, 46B thereby ensuring stable open or closed positions of the venturi device <NUM>.

For instance, the elongated grooves <NUM>, e.g. the elongated slots <NUM>, each have a length of about between <NUM> and <NUM>, and/or a width of about between <NUM> and <NUM>. Further, the guiding members <NUM>, e.g. the protrusions <NUM>, have a height of about between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Furthermore, as visible in <FIG>&6B and <NUM>, for allowing the rear member <NUM> to rotate with respect to the main body <NUM> of the venturi device <NUM> of the present disclosure, a front portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM> is inserted into at least a part of the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

Further, said front portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM> is externally cylindrical, i.e. tubular, and at least a part <NUM>-<NUM> of the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM> is internally cylindrical, so that said cylindrical front portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM> can be rotate in said cylindrical part <NUM>-<NUM> of the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>&6B and <NUM>. Preferably, the outer diameter Do of said front portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM> is less but approximately equal to the inner diameter Di of the cylindrical part <NUM>-<NUM> of the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM> so that the helicoidal motion is allowed, i.e. Do<Di.

Generally speaking, the front portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM> delimits at least a part of the mixing chamber <NUM> used for mixing the oxygen flow and the air flow(s), when required. More precisely, the rear member <NUM> comprises a hollow tubular portion <NUM>-<NUM> closed at one end by a blind bottom <NUM>-<NUM>, i.e. it has a cup-like shape or similar as better shown in <FIG>. The other end of the tubular portion <NUM>-<NUM> is open toward the inlet chamber <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

For instance, the rear member <NUM> has an outer diameter of about between <NUM> and <NUM>, and a length of about between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Further, the rear member <NUM> comprises, i.e. is traversed by, an oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> comprising an outer conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM>, i.e. upstream portion, and an inner conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM>, i.e. downstream portion, for providing oxygen gas to the venturi device <NUM>.

The oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> is axially-arranged (XX axis) through the blind bottom <NUM>-<NUM> of the rear member <NUM>, i.e. it traverses the blind bottom <NUM>-<NUM>. The outer conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> comprises the oxygen inlet <NUM>, at its distal free end, and is located outside of the venturi device <NUM>.

Further, the inner conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> comprises an oxygen delivery port <NUM> for providing oxygen located at its free end.

The oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> is axially-traversed by a lumen <NUM> for conveying oxygen gas from the oxygen inlet <NUM> to the oxygen delivery port <NUM> thereby providing oxygen coming from an external oxygen source, such as a gas cylinder, a gas line or any other O<NUM> source.

More precisely, the outer conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> also comprises connector means <NUM>, such as a specific outer design, for fluidly connecting an oxygen line thereto as shown in <FIG>, preferably an oxygen line fluidly connected to an external oxygen source, such as an oxygen gas cylinder or an oxygen wall-plug fed by a gas network.

As shown in <FIG>&6B and <NUM>, the inner conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> is arranged so as to axially-project into the mixing chamber <NUM>, whereas the outer conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> is arranged so as to axially-project outwardly of the rear member, i.e. outside of it.

The oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> is in fluid communication, in particular via the lumen <NUM> of the inner and outer conduct portions <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, with the mixing chamber <NUM>, when the rear member <NUM> is in the open position as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, for mixing air and oxygen, and providing such an O<NUM>/air mixture to the venturi nozzle <NUM>.

In contrast, the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> is in fluid communication, in particular via the lumen <NUM>, with the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM>, when the rear member <NUM> is in the closed position as shown in Fig. 6B. In the closed position, the proximal free end of the inner conduct portion <NUM>-<NUM> of the oxygen feeding conduct <NUM> penetrates in the inner nozzle channel <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the venturi nozzle <NUM>, through the nozzle inlet <NUM>, to deliver oxygen directly into the venturi nozzle <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an installation <NUM> for providing oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture to a patient comprising a gas reservoir <NUM>, a flexible hose <NUM>, a respiratory interface <NUM>, a connecting hollow body <NUM> and a venturi device <NUM> according to the present disclosure that are in fluid communication.

The venturi device <NUM> according to the present disclosure is fed with oxygen by an oxygen line <NUM>, such as a flexible hose or the like, that conveys an oxygen flow provided by an oxygen source (not shown), such as an O<NUM> gas cylinder or an O<NUM> gas conduct.

As above explained, the venturi device <NUM> provides a gaseous flow of oxygen or of an air/O<NUM> mixture to the connecting hollow body <NUM> that itself feeds the gaseous flow to the gas reservoir <NUM>, such as a flexible bag or the like, and/or to the flexible hose <NUM>, such as a polymer hose, that conveys said gaseous flow to the respiratory interface <NUM>, such as a respiratory mask, i.e. a nasal or facial mask, for delivering said oxygen or air/oxygen mixture to a patient in need thereof.

The gas reservoir constitutes a flexible buffer or the like having an inner volume of between about <NUM> and <NUM> (L in water equivalent), for instance of about <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Venturi device (<NUM>) for delivering oxygen or an air/oxygen mixture comprising:
- a main body (<NUM>) comprising an inner compartment (<NUM>) and a venturi nozzle (<NUM>) arranged in said inner compartment (<NUM>),
- a rear member (<NUM>) comprising an oxygen inlet (<NUM>) for providing oxygen and at least one air inlet (<NUM>) for providing air, and a mixing chamber (<NUM>) for mixing therein oxygen and air provided by said oxygen inlet (<NUM>) and said at least one air inlet (<NUM>), said rear member (<NUM>) being mobile with respect to the main body (<NUM>) between at least :
o a closed position wherein the rear member (<NUM>) provides oxygen to the venturi nozzle (<NUM>), and
o an open position wherein the rear member (<NUM>) provides an air/oxygen mixture to the venturi nozzle (<NUM>), said air/oxygen mixture being obtained in the mixing chamber (<NUM>),
characterized in that the rear member (<NUM>) is mobile with respect to the main body (<NUM>) according to a helicoidal motion for allowing a user to manually select a desired open or closed position.