EP1391222A1 - Device for supplying breathing gas - Google Patents

Abstract

The high altitude breathing gas supply comprises a breathing mask having an oro-nasal face cover (14) which covers the mouth and nose and a facial respirator (2). The face cover is connected to an oxygen flow regulator (16) supplying gas to the face cover from an oxygen distributor. Switching means enable cutting the oxygen supply to the facial respirator and releasing the oxygen to the regulator when the breathing mask is worn.

Description

The present invention relates to devices individual respiratory gas supply.

More particularly, the invention relates to a individual respiratory gas supply device comprising a breathing mask for feeding a subject in breathing gas, especially during a high flight altitude, this mask itself comprising an oro-nasal face cover suitable for covering the subject's mouth and nose, ensuring a substantially sealed connection with the subject's face, this face cover being connected to a oxygen flow regulator, supplying the face cover with breathing gas from an oxygen dispenser.

In the following, the term "oxygen" will be used to denote either pure oxygen from a storage tank, i.e. air very enriched in oxygen.

The invention finds a particularly application important, although not exclusive, in the protection of pilots of civil aircraft likely to fly at high altitudes. International regulations require that at least one of the pilots is always wearing a breathing gas supply device above the flight level 410. Permanent wearing of an oro-nasal mask applied against the face by the retaining harness is bothersome and may become painful.

EP-A-0691871 describes an example of such device used in particular by the crew of transport.

1) la protection contre l'hypoxie en cas de décompression accidentelle à une altitude élevée de la cabine de l'avion ;

2) la protection en vol contre une ambiance toxique en cas de feu ou de fumées; et

3) la protection spécifique contre le risque d'hypoxie suraiguë due au caractère rapide d'une décompression accidentelle survenant à une altitude de vol supérieure à 10 668 mètres (35 000 pieds).

This type of device must perform three functions:

1) protection against hypoxia in the event of accidental decompression at a high altitude of the aircraft cabin;

2) protection in flight against a toxic atmosphere in the event of fire or smoke; and

3) specific protection against the risk of acute hypoxia due to the rapid nature of accidental decompression occurring at a flight altitude greater than 10,668 meters (35,000 feet).

For the first two functions, the device individual breathing gas supply must allow inhalation of pure oxygen (or equivalent gas) or a mixture enriched in oxygen. These first two functions are protective functions which correspond to a life-threatening emergency and both of which require a high degree of reliability in the quality of the gas delivered to the subject. Consequently, the respiratory mask must be strictly waterproof.

For the third function, the device individual breathing gas supply must allow to deliver to the pilot an over-oxygenation preventive in normal flight conditions, in order to avoid loss of consciousness a few seconds after decompression, even after applying a mask oxygen-supplied respiratory system. This third function is a preventive function, above 10,668 meters (35,000 feet), which corresponds to normal conditions of flight and pressurization of the aircraft. It requires a port permanent mask by flight crew. But he is a preventive measure particularly uncomfortable for crews, especially when the respiratory mask is an optical screen mask from "full-face" protection which restricts the field of vision.

The object of the present invention is in particular to overcome this drawback.

As will be more fully indicated below, the invention aims in particular to provide protection required for high altitude flights by reducing the duration of wearing an oro-nasal mask, possibly supplemented by an eye protection visor, periods when this port is made essential for the protection against hypoxia and / or smoke.

• un respirateur facial adapté pour délivrer de l'oxygène au niveau d'au moins l'un des orifices oro-nasaux du sujet en autorisant, lors d'une inspiration de ce sujet, l'inhalation d'air ambiant, et
• des moyens de commutation de la distribution d'oxygène entre le masque respiratoire et le respirateur facial, adaptés pour couper l'alimentation en oxygène du respirateur facial et dispenser de l'oxygène au régulateur, à partir du distributeur, lorsque le sujet porte le masque respiratoire.

To this end, provision is made, according to the invention, for an individual respiratory gas supply device which, in addition to the characteristics already mentioned, is characterized by the fact that it comprises:

• a facial respirator adapted to deliver oxygen to at least one of the oro-nasal orifices of the subject by authorizing, during an inspiration of this subject, the inhalation of ambient air, and
• means for switching the distribution of oxygen between the respiratory mask and the facial respirator, adapted to cut off the oxygen supply to the facial respirator and to dispense oxygen to the regulator, from the dispenser, when the subject is wearing the mask respiratory.

As already indicated, the first two functions mentioned above correspond to functions protective. According to the invention, they are provided by the mask that can be hardened to meet criteria severe protection against hypoxia, especially in terms of sealing. This makes it uncomfortable, but these functions should only be performed in very rare cases emergency situations. It is accepted that the comfort of the mask is not then an essential criterion.

However, the last function is performed by the facial respirator. This can be worn in normal flight and fulfills the third function so comfortable. The third function, which corresponds to a preventive measure, does not necessarily require a large precision in the administration, to the subject who wears it, of oxygen-enriched gas mixture. The only constraint being that the inhaled gas mixture must contain at least a certain proportion of oxygen. The precision of the mixture, therefore the tightness of this equipment is not critical. For this preventive oxygenation function in the cabin, the facial respirator meets the requirement of comfort. In the event of decompression or the presence of gas toxic in the cabin, the subject wearing the facial respirator replace this preventive equipment with a mask respiratory or superimposes this mask.

• le respirateur facial comporte une canule nasale ;
• le respirateur facial comporte une coquille oro-nasale souple ;
• le masque respiratoire est adapté pour être porté lorsque le sujet porte déjà le respirateur facial ; ou, au contraire, c'est le respirateur facial qui est adapté pour être porté sous un masque respiratoire de conception classique ; par exemple, le respirateur facial comporte des branches d'alimentation suffisamment souples pour qu'elles puissent s'écraser entre le visage et le masque respiratoire, afin de conserver une bonne étanchéité de ce dernier ;
• le respirateur facial est alimenté en oxygène, à partir du distributeur d'oxygène ;
• les moyens de commutation de la distribution d'oxygène sont intercalés à la fois entre le masque respiratoire et le distributeur d'oxygène et entre le respirateur facial et le distributeur d'oxygène ;
• le respirateur facial et le distributeur d'oxygène sont adaptés pour enrichir de 40 % en oxygène, l'air inhalé par le sujet utilisant le respirateur facial ;
• le respirateur facial et le distributeur d'oxygène alimentent avec un débit continu le sujet utilisant le respirateur facial ;
• le respirateur facial et le distributeur d'oxygène alimentent le sujet utilisant le respirateur facial avec un débit pulsé uniquement pendant la phase inspiratoire du cycle respiratoire du sujet ; et
• le respirateur facial et le distributeur d'oxygène alimentent le sujet utilisant le respirateur facial avec un débit continu variant en fonction de la demande inspiratoire réelle du sujet.

In particular embodiments of the invention, use is also made of one and / or the other of the following provisions:

• the facial respirator has a nasal cannula;
• the facial respirator has a flexible oro-nasal shell;
• the respiratory mask is adapted to be worn when the subject is already wearing the facial respirator; or, on the contrary, it is the facial respirator which is adapted to be worn under a respiratory mask of conventional design; for example, the facial respirator comprises supply branches which are flexible enough so that they can be crushed between the face and the respiratory mask, in order to maintain a good seal of the latter;
• the facial respirator is supplied with oxygen from the oxygen distributor;
• the means for switching the oxygen distribution are inserted both between the respiratory mask and the oxygen distributor and between the facial respirator and the oxygen distributor;
• the facial respirator and the oxygen distributor are adapted to enrich by 40% in oxygen, the air inhaled by the subject using the facial respirator;
• the facial respirator and the oxygen distributor supply the subject using the facial respirator with a continuous flow;
• the facial respirator and the oxygen dispenser supply the subject using the facial respirator with a pulsed flow only during the inspiratory phase of the subject's respiratory cycle; and
• the facial respirator and the oxygen distributor supply the subject using the facial respirator with a continuous flow rate varying according to the subject's actual inspiratory demand.

Other aspects, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description of some of its embodiments.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement un exemple de dispositif individuel d'alimentation en gaz respiratoire conforme à la présente invention ;
• la figure 2 représente schématiquement en perspective un respirateur facial équipant le dispositif individuel d'alimentation représenté sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente schématiquement en perspective un autre exemple de respirateur facial constitutif du dispositif individuel d'alimentation représenté sur la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 4 représente schématiquement en perspective un sujet portant, au-dessus du respirateur facial représenté sur la figure 2, un masque respiratoire du dispositif individuel d'alimentation en gaz respiratoire représenté sur la figure 1.

The invention will also be better understood using the drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 schematically shows an example of an individual respiratory gas supply device according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows schematically in perspective a facial respirator fitted to the individual supply device shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows schematically in perspective another example of facial respirator constituting the individual supply device shown in Figure 1; and
• FIG. 4 schematically represents in perspective a subject wearing, above the facial respirator shown in FIG. 2, a respiratory mask of the individual device for supplying respiratory gas represented in FIG. 1.

In the different figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements.

An embodiment of the individual device supply of respiratory gas according to the invention is presented below in detail.

According to this embodiment, shown in the Figure 1, the individual gas supply device 1 respiratory device includes a facial respirator 2, a mask respiratory 3, an oxygen distributor 4 and means switching the oxygen distribution 5.

The oxygen distributor 4 consists of a reserve of oxygen and / or of an oxygen generating system, for example of type OBOGS.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the facial respirator 2 consists for example of a cannula nasal 6. This cannula has a pair of branches 7, 8. These branches 7, 8 are adapted to be retained each respectively on an ear of a subject. These branches are interconnected, on the one hand at the level of a Y-junction 9 leading to a supply pipe 10 common to the two branches 7, 8, and on the other hand at the level an inhaler sleeve 11. The common supply hose 10 is connected to the oxygen distributor 4 via the means of switching the oxygen distribution 5. The sleeve inhaler leads to two outlet ducts 12 intended to be each placed in one nostril of the subject.

When a subject wears cannula 6, the Y-junction 9 takes place behind his head, appreciably between his ears, the inhaler sleeve 11 takes place under his nose and each outlet duct 12 is placed in one of its nostrils.

According to a variant, illustrated in FIG. 3, the inhalation sleeve 11 is replaced by an oro-nasal shell 13 flexible. This oro-nasal shell 13 does not cover not tightly the mouth and nose of the user, to allow entry for air which will be mixed with the oxygen brought under this oro-nasal shell 13.

Optionally, the oro-nasal shell 13 is only a cover under which is disposed a cannula similar to that described above.
This oro-nasal shell 13 can be adapted to allow correct and sufficient phonation for the effective use of a microphone such as those conventionally worn by the crew of aircraft.

Many other variations of the respirator facial 2 can be considered. It can in particular be attached some importance to its appearance aesthetic. Indeed, there may be an interest in having a pilot wearing facial respirator 2 of device 1 according to the invention does not appear as a patient with a respiratory medical device.

The cannula 6, like the oro-nasal shell 13, of the 1 individual breathing gas supply device according to the invention advantageously allow the subject who allows them to communicate audibly without resorting to a microphone.

The cannula 6 like the oro-nasal shell 13 of the 1 individual breathing gas supply device according to the invention are inexpensive and can therefore be, for hygienic reasons, single use only. In that case, the facial respirator 2 is advantageously stored under sealed packaging and has a tip directly pluggable at the oxygen supply.

The respiratory mask 3 is for example a mask says "full-face". Such a respiratory mask is for example described in document EP-A-0691871.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, this mask 3 for eye protection includes an oro-nasal face cover 14, a screen 15, a regulator 16 on demand and a harness 17 for rapid installation. The regulator 16 and the harnesses 17 are of known general constitution. Covers oro-nasal side 14 is suitable for covering the mouth and nose of the subject wearing it, ensuring so substantially waterproof the junction with the face of this topic. Preferably, it includes a seal sealing 18 which may be constituted by an internal fold from the edge.

The screen has a transparent window with optical quality, provided with a flexible frame whose edges are trapped in a seal 19.

The respiratory mask 3 is connected to the dispenser oxygen 4 via a mask box 20 and the means of switching the oxygen distribution 5.

The seal 19 of the screen 15 and that 18 of the face cover 14 oro-nasal are of the type of those generally designed for respiratory masks 3. 7.8 branches are flexible enough to allow effective use of a standard 3 respiratory mask, without impair its sealing. The facial respirator is suitable so that respirator 3 can be used without remove the facial respirator 2, while keeping substantially all sealing properties of the mask respiratory 3.

Switching means of distribution of oxygen 5 are installed in the mask box 20.

• une position fermée
• une première position ouverte, dans laquelle seule la canule 6 est alimentée en oxygène par le distributeur d'oxygène 4 ; et
• une deuxième position ouverte, dans laquelle seul le masque respiratoire 3 est alimenté en oxygène par le distributeur d'oxygène 4. Le passage de la position fermée à la première position ouverte s'effectue par une opération manuelle de l'utilisateur lorsqu'il utilise le respirateur facial 2. Selon une variante, le passage de la position fermée à la première position ouverte s'effectue automatiquement lorsque le respirateur facial 2 est extrait d'un logement de rangement ou lorsque le respirateur facial est branché.Dans la première position ouverte, le respirateur facial 2 est alimenté à travers un orifice calibré 22 situé en aval du robinet 21 et du distributeur d'oxygène 4. Cet orifice calibré 22, alimenté à la pression de l'oxygène détendu par un détendeur (non représenté) en aval du distributeur d'oxygène 4, garantit un débit stable quelle que soit la pression à la sortie du distributeur d'oxygène 4.Le passage de la position fermée, ou de la première position ouverte, à la deuxième position ouverte s'effectue automatiquement lorsque le masque respiratoire 3 est sorti de la boíte à masque 20.Hors conditions anormales de vol, l'alimentation préventive en oxygène du personnel navigant est assurée par la canule 6 seule. Les moyens de commutation de la distribution d'oxygène 5 sont dans une position telle que seule la canule 6 est alimentée en oxygène.En situation de préoxygénation en condition normale de vol, le distributeur d'oxygène 4 délivre l'oxygène
• avec un débit continu, ou
• avec un débit pulsé pendant la seule phase inspiratoire du cycle ventilatoire, ou encore
• avec un débit continu variant en fonction de la demande inspiratoire réelle.

The oxygen distribution switching means 5 comprise a tap 21. This tap 21 has three stable operating positions:

• a closed position
• a first open position, in which only the cannula 6 is supplied with oxygen by the oxygen distributor 4; and
• a second open position, in which only the respiratory mask 3 is supplied with oxygen by the oxygen distributor 4. The passage from the closed position to the first open position is carried out by a manual operation of the user when he uses the facial respirator 2. According to a variant, the passage from the closed position to the first open position takes place automatically when the facial respirator 2 is extracted from a storage housing or when the facial respirator is connected. In the first open position , the facial respirator 2 is supplied through a calibrated orifice 22 located downstream of the valve 21 and of the oxygen distributor 4. This calibrated orifice 22, supplied with the pressure of the oxygen expanded by a regulator (not shown) downstream of the oxygen distributor 4, guarantees a stable flow regardless of the pressure at the outlet of the oxygen distributor 4. Switching from the closed position, or from the first open position, in the second open position, takes place automatically when the respiratory mask 3 is removed from the mask box 20. Except for abnormal flight conditions, the preventive supply of oxygen to the cabin crew is ensured by the cannula 6 alone. The oxygen distribution switching means 5 are in a position such that only the cannula 6 is supplied with oxygen. In a pre-oxygenation situation under normal flight conditions, the oxygen distributor 4 delivers the oxygen
• with continuous flow, or
• with a pulsed flow during the only inspiratory phase of the ventilatory cycle, or
• with a continuous flow varying according to the actual inspiratory demand.

In case of accidental depressurization, fire or the presence of toxic gases, the user takes the respiratory mask 3 located in the mask box 20. When opening this box 20, a signal is sent to the distribution switching means oxygen 5. Switching means of distribution of oxygen 5 then cut off the oxygen supply to the cannula 6 and directly supply oxygen to the mask respiratory 3.

When the user is wearing, pre-oxygenation in normal flight conditions, the variant of facial respirator 2 in the form of a shell 13, and that it equips himself with the respiratory mask 3, on top of that facial respirator 2, oxygen distribution is ensured by the respiratory mask 3. In this case, the means of switching the oxygen distribution 5 trigger a regulation of the oxygen supply adapted to the situation.

For example, according to this variant of the invention, in pre-oxygenation situation, oxygen is distributed in a simplified mode. The deployment of the mask respiratory 3 corresponding to a real emergency causes the transition to efficient oxygen regulation, of the type classic. This switching can be synchronous with that other easements such as the switching of a microphone.

According to a variant, the supply of the cannula 6 is not cut by the switching means of the oxygen distribution 5 only when the breathing mask 3 is in place and operational. In this case control of distribution switching means oxygen 5 is performed manually by the subject himself, or automatically after a delay of a few seconds or even by a physical interaction of the facial respirator 2 with respiratory mask 3.

The facial respirator 2 can also be removed before that the respiratory mask 3 is not in place.

Claims (11)

Individual respiratory gas supply device comprising a respiratory mask (3) for supplying a subject with respiratory gas, in particular during a flight at high altitude, this mask (3) itself comprising an adapted oro-nasal face cover (14) to cover the subject's mouth and nose, ensuring a substantially sealed connection with the subject's face, this face cover (14) being connected to an oxygen flow regulator (16), supplying the face cover ( 14) in respiratory gas from an oxygen distributor (4),
characterized by the fact that it further comprises a facial respirator (2) adapted to deliver oxygen to at least one of the oro-nasal orifices of the subject without prohibiting, during an inspiration of this subject, the inhalation of ambient air, and means for switching the oxygen distribution (5) between the respiratory mask (3) and the facial respirator (2), adapted to cut off the oxygen supply to the facial respirator (2) and supply oxygen to the regulator (16), from the dispenser (14), when the subject is wearing the respiratory mask (3). The device of claim 1, wherein the facial respirator (2) includes a nasal cannula (6). The device of claim 1, wherein the facial respirator (2) comprises an oro-nasal shell (13) flexible. Device according to one of the claims previous, in which the respiratory mask (3) is suitable to be worn when the subject is already wearing the facial respirator (2). Device according to one of the claims previous in which the facial respirator (2) is suitable for wearing under a breathing mask (3). Device according to one of the claims previous, in which the facial respirator (2) is supplied with oxygen from the oxygen distributor (4). The device of claim 6, wherein the means for switching the oxygen distribution (5) are inserted between the respiratory mask (3) and the oxygen distributor (14) and between the respirator facial (12) and the oxygen distributor (14). Device according to one of the claims previous, in which the facial respirator (2) and the oxygen distributor (14) are suitable for enriching 40% oxygen, the air inhaled by the subject using the facial respirator (2). The device of claim 8, wherein the facial respirator (2) and the oxygen distributor (14) feed the subject using the continuous flow facial respirator (2). Device according to claim 8, in which the facial respirator (2) and the dispenser oxygen (14) supply the subject using the respirator facial (2) with a continuous flow, pulsed only during the inspiratory phase of the subject's respiratory cycle. Device according to claim 8, in which the facial respirator (2) and the dispenser oxygen (14) supply the subject using the respirator facial (2) with a continuous flow varying according to the the subject's actual inspirational request.

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