GB2287655A - A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor - Google Patents
A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2287655A GB2287655A GB9404804A GB9404804A GB2287655A GB 2287655 A GB2287655 A GB 2287655A GB 9404804 A GB9404804 A GB 9404804A GB 9404804 A GB9404804 A GB 9404804A GB 2287655 A GB2287655 A GB 2287655A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- bore
- piece
- obturator means
- body part
- fuel cell
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 27
- 210000004072 lung Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 21
- MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nitric oxide Chemical compound O=[N] MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 2
- UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon monoxide Chemical compound [O+]#[C-] UGFAIRIUMAVXCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 206010036590 Premature baby Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 208000030303 breathing problems Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229910002091 carbon monoxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000474 nursing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
- F15D—FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F15D1/00—Influencing flow of fluids
- F15D1/0005—Baffle plates
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/08—Bellows; Connecting tubes ; Water traps; Patient circuits
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/08—Bellows; Connecting tubes ; Water traps; Patient circuits
- A61M16/0816—Joints or connectors
- A61M16/0833—T- or Y-type connectors, e.g. Y-piece
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M16/00—Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. ventilators; Tracheal tubes
- A61M16/08—Bellows; Connecting tubes ; Water traps; Patient circuits
- A61M16/0816—Joints or connectors
- A61M16/0841—Joints or connectors for sampling
- A61M16/085—Gas sampling
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2230/00—Measuring parameters of the user
- A61M2230/40—Respiratory characteristics
- A61M2230/43—Composition of exhalation
- A61M2230/432—Composition of exhalation partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M2230/00—Measuring parameters of the user
- A61M2230/40—Respiratory characteristics
- A61M2230/43—Composition of exhalation
- A61M2230/435—Composition of exhalation partial O2 pressure (P-O2)
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Anesthesiology (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Emergency Medicine (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Electric Means (AREA)
- Fuel Cell (AREA)
Abstract
The T-piece 2 comprises a body part 8, a through bore 10, a leg part 12, a bore 14 which communicates with the bore 10, and obturator means 16 which is positioned in the bores in order to partially block both bores. The fuel cell gas sensor 4 may be used in a ventilation circuit 6 for ventilating a patient's lungs. The obturator means causes the air from the patient's lungs to flow through the T-piece and over the fuel cell gas sensor in an efficient manner to give accurate and consistent readings. <IMAGE>
Description
A T-PIECE FOR USE WITH A FUEL CELL
GAS SENSOR
This invention relates to a T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor, for example a fuel gas sensor that is in a ventilation circuit for ventilating a patient's lungs.
In hospitals, nursing homes and similar establishments, it is often necessary to measure the concentration of a gas. For example, intensive care units in hospitals often administer nitric oxide gas to patients and it is essential to know the concentration of the gas. Exar.lples of other gases often requiring to be measured for their concentration are oxygen, and carbon monoxide. The concentration of the gases is usually measured by a gas sensor having gas sensing means in the form of a fuel cell. The fuel cell reacts with the gas under test in order to give a measurement of the concentration of the gas.
The fuel cell gas sensors often do not work sufficiently accurately and consistently due to the fact that their readings vary with flow rate. This is an important factor when it is considered that the patient may be a small child only able to give relatively small puffs of air or an adult able to give much larger puffs of air. Air from the patient's lungs is usually blown through a T-piece comprising a body part, a through bore in the body part, a leg part which extends at right angles from the body part, and a bore in the leg part which communicates with the bore in the body part. The fuel cell gas sensor is connected to the leg part of the
T-piece.
The present invention is based upon two observations. Firstly the fuel cell needs a good positive flow over its surface in order to work at its best. Secondly, when a patient blows air through the Tpiece, the air tends to go directly through the bore in the body part and not enough air tends to go along the bore in the leg part to the fuel cell of the gas sensor.
Thus, in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a
T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor, which Tpiece comprises a body part, a through bore in the body part, a leg part which extends at right angles from the body part, a bore in the leg part which communicates with the bore in the body part, and obturator means which is positioned in the bore in the body part and in the bore in the leg part such that the obturator means partially blocks both bores, the obturator means being such that when the T-piece is in use and air from a patient's lungs is blown into the T-piece from one end of the body part then some of the air misses the obturator means and passes directly through the bore in the body part, and some of the air strikes the obturator means and is caused to pass down the bore in the leg part, around an end of the obturator means in the leg part and back up the leg part before carrying on through the bore in the body part, and the T-piece being such that in use the air passing around the end of the obturator means in the leg part flows over a fuel cell of the fuel cell gas sensor attached to the leg part whereby the fuel cell receives more air than it would have done in the absence of the obturator means and whereby the fuel cell sensor is then able to give more accurate and consistent readings than would do in the absence of the obturator means.
The present invention thus allows more accurate and consistent measurements from fuel cell gas sensors than would otherwise be obtained. Still further, the present invention accomplishes this in a particularly simple and elegant manner which enables T-pieces to be constructed to look like existing T-pieces, except for the provision of the obturator means, whereby surgeons, anaesthetists and other authorised persons do not have to get use to new looking equipment with which they may not feel comfortable. It is especially important in intensive care units which often administer nitric oxide to premature babies or adults having breathing problems and where everything has to be done very speedily. In such circumstances, familiarity with equipment avoids undue delay and possible loss of life.
Preferably, the obturator means has a pair of concave sides. Also preferably, the obturator means has a curved top. The concave sides may be parallel to each other except adjacent the curved top where the concave sides diverge until they engage the curved top.
The T-piece may be one in which the obturator means is separately formed from the body part and the leg part, and is then fixed in position in the bore of the body part and the bore of the leg part. The separately formed obturator means may be fixed in position by being stuck with an adhesive. Other means of fixing the obturator means in position may be employed if desired and, also, the obturator means can be produced as an integral part of the body part and the leg part.
The T-piece of the present invention will usually be made of a plastics material. The plastics materials currently used for making known T-pieces will usually be used.
The T-piece can be made in any suitable and appropriate sizes so that, for example, it can be made for connection to 22m tubing for use with an adult, or for connection to 15mm tubing for use with a child.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a T-piece of the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the T-piece as shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 3 shows the T-piece of Figure 1 in use with a fuel cell gas sensor in a ventilation circuit for ventilating a patient's lungs.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a T-piece 2 for use with a fuel cell gas sensor 4 in a ventilation circuit 6 for ventilating a patient's lungs.
The T-piece 2 comprises a body part 8, a through bore 10 in the body part 8, a leg part 12 which extends at right angles from the body part 8, and a bore 14 in the leg part 12 which communicates with the bore 10 in the body part 8. As so far described, the T-piece 2 is constructed the same as a known T-piece.
In accordance with the present invention, the Tpiece 2 is provided with obturator means 16 which is positioned in the bore 10 in the body part 8, and also in the bore 14 in the leg part 12, see Figure 1.
The obturator means 16 is so positioned in the bores 10, 14 that it partially blocks both bores 10, 14.
The obturator means 16 is also such that when the
T-piece 2 is in use and air from a patient's lungs is blown into the T-piece 2 from one end 18 of the body part 8, then some of the air misses the obturator means 16 and passes directly through the bore 10 in the body part 12, and some of the air strikes the obturator means 16 and is caused to pass down the bore 14 in the leg part 12, around an end 20 of the obturator means 16 in the leg part 12 and back up the leg part 12 before carrying on through the bore 10 in the body part 8. In
Figure 3, in an enlarged portion 22, the air passing directly through the bore 10 in the body part 8 is shown by line 24. The air that is caused to pass along the bore 14 and around the end 20 of the obturator means 16 is shown by two lines 26.
The T-piece 2 is such that in use the air passing around the end 20 of the obturator means 16 in the leg part 12 flows over a fuel cell 28 of the gas sensor 4.
The gas sensor 4 as shown in Figure 3 has a transducer part 30 connected to the T-piece 2 and a control and readout part 32 connected to the transducer part 30 by a cable 34. Due to the use of the obturator means 16, the fuel cell 28 receives more air than it would have done in the absence of the obturator means 16. Thus the gas sensor 4 is able to give more accurate and consistent readings than it would do in the absence of the obturator means 16.
As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the obturator means has a pair of concave sides 36- and a curved top 38. The concave sides 36 extend parallel to each other except adjacent the curved top 38 where the concave sides 36 diverge and engage the curved top 38.
The obturator means 16 is separately formed from the remainder of the T-piece 2 and it is stuck in position in the bores 10, 14 using a suitable adhesive, for example provided on the convex sides 40 of the obturator means 16.
The ventilation circuit 6 shown in Figure 3 is basically a standard ventilation circuit apart from the provision of the T-piece 2 and so the ventilation circuit 6 will not be described in detail. As can be seen from Figure 3, the ventilation circuit 6 comprises a nitric oxide cylinder 42, gauges 44, 46, flow meters 48, 50 and an oxygen blender 52 which receives air along a pipe 54 and oxygen along a pipe 56. The ventilation circuit 6 also comprises a control module 58 and a mouth piece 60 which is connected to the T-piece 2 and through which a patient blows.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the obturator means 16 may be of a different shape than shown and/or it may be provided with one or more apertures in the area 62 for allowing more or less air to pass directly through the bore 10 in the body part 8. The T-piece 2 can also be used with different types of apparatus to that shown in Figure 3.
Claims (7)
1. A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor, which T-piece comprises a body part, a through bore in the body part, a leg part which extends at right angles from the body part, a bore in the leg part which communicates with the bore in the body part, and obturator means which is positioned in the bore in the body part and in the bore in the leg part such that the obturator means partially blocks both bores, the obturator means being such that when the T-piece is in use and air from a patient's lungs is blown into the Tpiece from one end of the body part then some of the air misses the obturator means and passes directly through the bore in the body part, and some of the air strikes the obturator means and is caused to pass down the bore in the leg part, around an end of the obturator means in the leg part and back up the leg part before carrying on through the bore in the body part, and the T-piece being such that in use the air passing around the end of the obturator means in the leg part flows over a fuel cell of the fuel cell gas sensor attached to the leg part whereby the fuel cell receives more air than it would have done in the absence of the obturator means and whereby the fuel cell gas sensor is then able to give more accurate and consistent readings than it would do in the absence of the obturator means.
2. A T-piece according to claim 1 in which the obturator means has a pair of concave sides.
3. A T-piece according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the obturator means has a curved top.
4. A T-piece according to any one of the preceding claims in which the obturator means is separately formed from the body part and the leg part, and is then fixed in position in the bore of th body part and the bore of the leg part.
5. A T-piece according to claim 4 in which the separately formed obturator means is fixed in position by being stuck with an adhesive.
6. A T-piece according to any one of the preceding claims and which is made of a plastics material.
7. A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9404804A GB2287655B (en) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-03-11 | A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9404804A GB2287655B (en) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-03-11 | A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9404804D0 GB9404804D0 (en) | 1994-04-27 |
| GB2287655A true GB2287655A (en) | 1995-09-27 |
| GB2287655B GB2287655B (en) | 1998-02-25 |
Family
ID=10751718
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9404804A Expired - Fee Related GB2287655B (en) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-03-11 | A T-piece for use with a fuel cell gas sensor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2287655B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2806632A1 (en) * | 2000-03-25 | 2001-09-28 | Drager Medizintechnik Gmbh | DEVICE FOR MEASURING A RESPIRATORY GAS COMPONENT IN A RESPIRATORY GAS LINE |
| WO2003018093A1 (en) * | 2001-08-28 | 2003-03-06 | Phase-In Ab | Device at quantitative analysis of respiratory gases |
| WO2003017837A1 (en) * | 2001-08-28 | 2003-03-06 | Phase-In Ab | Device at quantitative analysis of respiratory gases |
| EP1421901A3 (en) * | 2002-11-20 | 2004-08-11 | Maquet Critical Care AB | Arrangement for passive gas sampling |
| USD1057159S1 (en) | 2022-03-29 | 2025-01-07 | Masimo Corporation | Electronic measurement device |
| USD1057160S1 (en) | 2022-03-29 | 2025-01-07 | Masimo Corporation | Electronic measurement device |
-
1994
- 1994-03-11 GB GB9404804A patent/GB2287655B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2806632A1 (en) * | 2000-03-25 | 2001-09-28 | Drager Medizintechnik Gmbh | DEVICE FOR MEASURING A RESPIRATORY GAS COMPONENT IN A RESPIRATORY GAS LINE |
| WO2003018093A1 (en) * | 2001-08-28 | 2003-03-06 | Phase-In Ab | Device at quantitative analysis of respiratory gases |
| WO2003017837A1 (en) * | 2001-08-28 | 2003-03-06 | Phase-In Ab | Device at quantitative analysis of respiratory gases |
| EP1421901A3 (en) * | 2002-11-20 | 2004-08-11 | Maquet Critical Care AB | Arrangement for passive gas sampling |
| USD1057159S1 (en) | 2022-03-29 | 2025-01-07 | Masimo Corporation | Electronic measurement device |
| USD1057160S1 (en) | 2022-03-29 | 2025-01-07 | Masimo Corporation | Electronic measurement device |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2287655B (en) | 1998-02-25 |
| GB9404804D0 (en) | 1994-04-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20000311 |