Patent Grant
11746959
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a) and (b) to French Patent Application No. 2000287, filed Jan. 14, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a gas container, such as a gas cylinder, for storing or distributing gas, which container is equipped with a gas distribution valve, which allows the gas to be delivered at various flows that can be selected by the user and on which an electronic device is mounted for measuring gas autonomy, which device comprises a display, such as a digital screen, for displaying gas flow and autonomy values.
Healthcare professionals working in hospital buildings, emergency units (ambulance services, fire response services, etc.) or others, for example, nurses, doctors, firefighters, etc. often use pressurized gas containers, in particular gas cylinders, in particular for medical gases, such as oxygen or medical air.
Such a gas container is generally equipped with a gas distribution valve usually comprising flow selection means to allow a user to select a desired gas flow and a gas outlet fitting or connection for delivering the gas at the desired flow that has been selected.
Advantageously, the gas distribution valve is protected by a protective cowling or cap forming a shell for protecting against impacts, dirt, etc. Such gas containers are, for example, disclosed in EP-A-3006810, EP-A-2940370, and EP-A-2937620.
A practical problem for users of gas cylinders or similar means is that they often have to select between several cylinders, which are stored, for example, in a depot or a response vehicle, as a function of the patient to be treated and of the prescription that they must administer to this patient, i.e. the gas flow (e.g. expressed in L/min) that they have to administer to them for a determined duration. For example, a patient may require 2 L/min of oxygen for a duration of 1 hour.
The user must select a gas cylinder to be used to treat a given patient so that the selected cylinder can be used for the entire desired treatment duration and at the selected flow, i.e. so as to follow the prescription raised for the patient to be treated.
However, the various gas cylinders do not all have the same gas capacity or content and/or the same amount of gas rarely remains in the various gas cylinders that are stored in the same location.
Currently, it is known for the gas autonomy of a gas container, such as a gas cylinder, to be estimated, i.e. to estimate the duration during which the gas container can continue to supply gas as a function of a flow selected by the user. The autonomy estimate is generally made using an electronic device comprising a pressure sensor, which is fixed to the gas distribution valve equipping the gas container and allows the pressure of the gas inside the container to be measured, then allows a pressure signal to be supplied to signal processing means, such as a microprocessor, used to compute the autonomy of the container on the basis of the supplied pressure signal and of the gas flow selected by the user. The computed autonomy is subsequently displayed on a screen or similar means borne by the electronic device. This is particularly disclosed in WO-A-2005/093377, EP-A-3440605 or EP-A-3421866.
The display screen can be a touchscreen, as taught in EP-A-3002498. Advantageously, the display screen is located in a high position to facilitate reading, as disclosed in EP-A-3117136.
However, this means that the user, who is hesitating between several gas cylinders, has to activate the flow selector of the valve of each cylinder in order to select the desired flow and has to wait until the autonomy displays on the display screens of the electronic devices of the various cylinders. These operations have to be repeated as many times as are necessary when several flows have to be assessed. In the end, the user has to remember all the information in order to select the most suitable gas cylinder.
In some cases, the user also has to make calculations, since some electronic devices display a remaining amount of gas that is expressed in litres, for example, and this does not allow the operating duration to be known without making a calculation taking into account the prescribed gas flow. However, it is understood that this is tedious and is the source of errors and therefore of risks for the patients, and can also cause the user to take up a lot of time, which they do not necessarily have, particularly when they have to respond in an emergency/quickly and/or treat several patients at the same time.
In this context, the problem that arises involves offering a user, typically a healthcare professional, the possibility of quickly and immediately knowing the autonomy of a gas container, typically a medical gas cylinder, equipped with a distribution valve and containing pressurized gas, i.e. compressed (i.e. >1 bar), for several different gas flows, without them having to make any calculations and/or manipulate the gas flow selector to select the various flows of interest to them from the plurality of possible flows, i.e. all the flows that can be supplied by the valve equipping the gas container.
The solution according to the invention relates to a gas container, such as a gas cylinder, equipped with a gas distribution valve comprising, i.e. on which is mounted, an electronic device for measuring gas autonomy, wherein:
In other words, according to the invention, in response to the successive digital activations by the user of the selection component, the data display means successively display the various selectable flow values and the various corresponding autonomies in the form of flow/autonomy pairs, with each flow/autonomy pair comprising a flow value and the corresponding autonomy that has been determined for the considered flow value.
By successively pressing the selection component, the user therefore scrolls through the various flow/autonomy pairs on the data display means that can be determined for the various possible selectable flows, for example, flow values ranging between 0 and 30 L/min.
It is to be noted that the gas autonomy values are expressed and/or displayed in the form of a possible operating duration, for example, in minutes or in hours and minutes.
Depending on the considered embodiment, the gas container of the invention can comprise one or more of the following features:
The invention also relates to the use of the gas container according to the invention, typically a gas cylinder, for storing or distributing gas, in particular medical gases, such as oxygen, air, an NO/N2 mixture, an He/O2, O2/N2O mixture or other.
Furthermore, the invention also relates to a patient ventilation assembly comprising a gas container, such as a gas cylinder, according to the invention, a breathing interface for supplying the gas to a patient, and a flexible pipe connecting said container to said breathing interface. Preferably, the breathing interface is a breathing mask or similar means.
The invention will now be better understood from the following detailed description, which is provided by way of a non-limiting illustration, with reference to the appended figures, in which:
The gas distribution valve 2 comprises a brass body, for example, through which an internal gas circuit passes, i.e. one or more gas passages, pipes or channels, in fluid communication with the internal volume 10 of the gas container 1.
The gas distribution valve 2 comprises flow selection means 5, namely in this case a rotary handwheel or similar means, allowing a user, such as a healthcare professional, to select a desired gas flow from among a plurality of selectable gas flows, preferably a dozen possible flows ranging between 0 and 25 L/min, for example, the following flows: 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22 and 25 L/min. The user is supplied with the gas flow through a gas outlet connection or fitting 6, i.e. an adaptor or similar means.
A second gas outlet connection 8, called notched connection, also can be provided that allows specific fluid connection of a ventilation apparatus or similar means, for example.
Furthermore, the gas distribution valve 2 also comprises integrated gas expansion means 7, i.e. it is an integrated expansion valve (IEV) 2, allowing the gas pressure to be reduced from its pressure, called high pressure, typically a pressure that can reach 350 bar abs, inside the volume or internal compartment 10 of the gas container 1 to its operating pressure, called low pressure, which generally is less than 10 bar abs, for example, of the order of 4 bar abs or less.
The gas expansion means 7 usually comprise an expansion valve and a valve seat (not shown) cooperating with each other in order to reduce the gas pressure.
The gas expansion means 7 are arranged on the internal gas circuit, i.e. one or more gas passages, pipes or channels, passing through the valve body 2 and fluidly connecting the internal volume 10 of the gas container 1 and the gas outlet connection 6 used to deliver the gas at the desired gas flow selected by the user by activating the flow selection means 5.
The portion of the gas circuit located upstream of the gas expansion means 7 experiences the high pressure, i.e. the pressure prevailing in the internal volume 10 of the container 1, whereas the portion located downstream of the gas expansion means 7 experiences the low pressure, i.e. the gas pressure following expansion.
The electronic device 3 comprises, for its part, a pressure sensor 31 used to measure the pressure of the gas inside the container 1 and to supply at least one pressure signal, and signal processing means 32, such as an electronic board with microcontroller, for determining at least one gas autonomy on the basis of the pressure signals provided by the pressure sensor 31 and at least one gas flow, and preferably a temperature measured by a temperature sensor 33 arranged so as to measure the ambient temperature, i.e. the environment around the device 3 and/or a temperature inside the device 3. Indeed, the temperature inside the device 3 corresponds to the ambient temperature and its variations reflect the variations of the ambient temperature, i.e. the ambient air.
Preferably, the pressure sensor 31 is coupled to the gas temperature sensor so as to provide at least one gas pressure signal that is correlated to, associated with or corresponds to a gas temperature measured when the pressure measurement is taken.
The electronic device 3 also comprises a position sensor for determining the position of the flow selection means 5, typically a rotary selector, i.e. the position sensor is configured to determine the gas flow selected by the user by determining the angular position of the rotary selector, such as a rotary handwheel.
The pressure sensor 31 is preferably connected to the portion of the gas circuit of the valve body that is located upstream of the gas expansion means 7, which experiences the high gaseous pressure. Preferably, the pressure sensor 31 comprises, or is associated with, an integrated gas temperature sensor allowing a pressure signal to be provided that relates to the temperature of the gas that is measured when the pressure measurement is taken.
Preferably, the pressure sensor 31 and the signal processing means 32, such as an electronic board with microcontroller, are arranged in a rigid casing 30, for example, made of polymer or of metal.
Data display means 34, such as a digital screen 4, are also provided that allow information useful to the user to be displayed, in particular the gas autonomy computed by the signal processing means 32 and the corresponding gas flow, as explained hereafter.
The digital screen 4 is supported by the rigid casing 30. Electric current supply means are also provided that are directly or indirectly electrically connected to the various components that require electricity to operate, in particular to the signal processing means 32, to the sensors 31, 33, to the display means 34 of the rigid casing 30, so as to directly or indirectly supply them with electric current and thus allow them to operate. Advantageously, the electric current supply means comprise an electric cell, advantageously having electric autonomy of at least 5 years, ideally of approximately 10 years.
The signal processing means 32 are configured to determine gas autonomies on the basis of the pressure signal supplied by the pressure sensor 31 and of the plurality of selectable gas flows, and preferably also of the measured temperatures, for example, the ambient and/or gas temperature.
In other words, the signal processing means 32 determine flow/autonomy pairs at least on the basis of the pressure signal and of the various possible flows, preferably ranging between 0 and 25 L/min, for example, the following flows: 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22 and 25 L/min. A given autonomy corresponds to each flow, which autonomy is computed on the basis of said flow and of the measured gas pressure, or even on the basis of one or more parameters (i.e. temperatures, etc.).
According to the present invention, a digital activation selection component 9, such as a button or a key, that can be activated by a user is also provided. This selection component 9 is preferably arranged next to the screen 4 of the data display means 34, as illustrated in
More specifically, the selection component 9, i.e. a button or similar means, is configured to cooperate with the signal processing means 32 and the data display means 34 for successively displaying, i.e. scrolling through, in response to successive digital activations by the user of the selection component 9, the various selectable flow values and the various corresponding autonomies, with each flow value being displayed simultaneously with a corresponding autonomy determined for said considered flow value, i.e. the screen 4 successively displays autonomy/flow pairs, as illustrated in
In other words, the signal processing means 32 allow the gas autonomy to be estimated, i.e. the possible operating duration of the container 1, for each flow that can be selected by the flow selection means 5 and the pressure of the measured gas. These pairs comprising an estimated autonomy and a corresponding gas flow are then successively displayed on the screen 4 when the user presses the selection component 9, i.e. a button or similar means, several times, i.e. when the user scrolls through the various autonomy/flow pairs obtained for the measured gas pressure, or even other data, such as one or more temperatures.
To this end, the signal processing means 32 comprise an electronic board with microprocessor(s) receiving measurement signals from the pressure sensor 31 and from the gas temperature sensor associated therewith, and from the ambient temperature or equivalent temperature sensor 33, when the container 1 is used. These pressure and temperature measurement signals are processed by one or more algorithms used by the one or more microprocessor(s) of the electronic board.
The gas autonomy is expressed in possible operating times, typically in hours and minutes or simply in minutes.
In general, the determined gas autonomy (A) and the corresponding gas flow value (Q) are displayed in pairs, as illustrated in
In other words, by pressing the button 9 several times in succession the user obtains a display on the screen 4, successively with all the possible autonomy values (A) associated with all the corresponding gas flows (Q) that scroll through in autonomy/flow pairs on the screen 4 following the digital activations, i.e. successive presses, of the button 9 by the user.
Thus, a member of personnel wishing to use a gas cylinder 1 is able to select the cylinder most suitable for them, without having to perform a calculation or complicated manipulations, but simply by scrolling through the various autonomy/flow pairs corresponding to the measured gas pressure.
In the embodiment of
Preferably, the flow/autonomy pairs are successively displayed by taking the flows in their increasing order, i.e. the lowest flow, for example, 0.5 L/min, is displayed initially, then the other flows are displayed in increasing order, during the various activations of the button 9 by the user, for example, 1, then 2, then 3, etc. and, finally, 25 L/min, using the example provided above.
Preferably, when the user stops pressing the button 9, the scrolling through resets after a given delay, for example, after a few seconds, for example, after 3 seconds to 10 seconds. Pressing the button 9 again, after this given delay, will redisplay the flow/autonomy pair for the lowest selectable flow.
The gas autonomies (A) relative to the possible flows (Q) can be computed as follows on the basis of the gas pressure in the container 1 measured by the pressure sensor 31. This pressure can be understood to be an available gas volume by virtue of Gay Lussac's law:
PatmVgaz=PgazVcyl
where:
The volume of available gas is then;
Pgas is computed on the basis of the direct measurements performed by the pressure sensor 31 and a temperature sensor 33, which allow a gas pressure value to be estimated.
For each flow Q, it is then possible to compute a corresponding gas autonomy A, as illustrated in Table 1 for the 12 aforementioned flows (Q).
A given patient requires a prescription of 2 L/min of oxygen for 30 minutes.
A user, i.e. a healthcare professional, thus must provide them with this gas according to the medical prescription relating to this patient. To this end, they have two gas cylinders 1 comprising different amounts of oxygen, namely 200 L for one and 1000 L for the other, but different gas pressures. For example, in the case of a cylinder:
Each cylinder 1 is equipped with an electronic device 3 for measuring gas autonomy comprising a display screen 4 according to the invention, as schematically shown in
In this passive state, the user sees, in order to make their selection, either the amount of available gas in litres, or the gas pressure, as appropriate, that is displayed on the electronic device 3 of each gas cylinder 1. In another embodiment, both, i.e. amount (in L) and pressure (in bar), can be displayed.
However, in both cases the user, such as a healthcare professional, cannot know for how long and at which flow each cylinder 1 can be used.
By virtue of the electronic device equipping the gas cylinders 1 according to the present invention, the user can easily determine which cylinder can be used for how long and at which flow by simply pressing the button 9 several times in succession in order to scroll through the various flow/autonomy pairs, which are then displayed, one after the other, on the screen 4 of the electronic device 3, as schematically shown in
Thus, the flow/autonomy pairs that the user can scroll through by activating the button 9 and that are then successively displayed on the screen 4 of each gas cylinder are, for example, those provided in Table 2 below.
In Table 2 the durations are displayed in minutes. However, these durations also can be displayed in hours and in minutes.
Thus, the user can quickly and immediately know the autonomy of each gas container, i.e. each medical gas cylinder 1, for the various possible gas flows, and can do so without having to perform any calculation and/or having to manipulate the gas flow selector to select the various flows of interest to them from the plurality of possible flows.
They can then decide which cylinder 1 can be used to treat the considered patient, in particular as a function of the prescription to be applied.
The pressurized gas container, in particular a gas cylinder, according to the invention is particularly adapted to be used for storing and/or distributing medical quality gas, namely a pure gas or a gaseous mixture.
It will be understood that many additional changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangement of parts, which have been herein described in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments in the examples given above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000287 | Jan 2020 | FR | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040200477 | Bleys | Oct 2004 | A1 |
| 20080150739 | Gamard | Jun 2008 | A1 |
| 20100130917 | Sezeur et al. | May 2010 | A1 |
| 20120080103 | Levine et al. | Apr 2012 | A1 |
| 20120130304 | Barish | May 2012 | A1 |
| 20170114961 | Baune et al. | Apr 2017 | A1 |
| 20190162617 | Quattrone | May 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 20 2017 102422 | Jul 2018 | DE |
| 2848901 | Mar 2015 | EP |
| 2 937 620 | Oct 2015 | EP |
| 2 940 370 | Nov 2015 | EP |
| 3 002 498 | Apr 2016 | EP |
| 3 006 810 | Apr 2016 | EP |
| 3 421 866 | Jan 2019 | EP |
| 2 908 048 | May 2008 | FR |
| WO 2005 093377 | Oct 2005 | WO |
| WO 2012 164240 | Dec 2012 | WO |
| WO-2015110724 | Jul 2015 | WO |
| WO 2016 066685 | May 2016 | WO |
| WO 2017 165414 | Sep 2017 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| WO2015110724A1—English Translation (Year: 2014). |
| French Search Report for corresponding 2000287, dated Jul. 21, 2020. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20210215300 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
