Connection with a volume flow sensor and a homogenization unit for artificial ventilation of a patient and manufacturing process

A ventilation system for the mechanical ventilation of a patient, the ventilation system comprising:

• a ventilator;
• a patient-side coupling unit couplable with the patient;
• and
• a connection device comprising:
• a fluid-guiding unit configured for establishing a fluid connection between the patient-side coupling unit that is coupleable with the patient and the ventilator;
• a volume flow sensor comprising an engaging component, which engages with an interior of the fluid-guiding unit and is configured for measuring an indicator of the volume flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit;
• and
• a homogenization unit non-rotatably inserted into the interior of the fluid-guiding unit and at a position between the patient-side coupling unit and the engaging component, the homogenization unit being configured for homogenizing a flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit and comprising two sieves and a connection element, wherein the two sieves, viewed in a direction of flow through the fluid-guiding unit, are arranged behind one another and spaced apart from one another and are fixedly and permanently connected to one another by the connection element, the two sieves being configured to homogenize the flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit, wherein the fluid is configured to flow through each of the sieves only at defined points, wherein the fluid-guiding unit is configured to establish a fluid connection between the patient-side coupling unit and the ventilator, wherein an inner profile of the fluid-guiding unit and an outer profile of the homogenization unit together form a mechanical coding, which determines a defined rotational position of the homogenization unit in relation to the fluid-guiding unit, wherein each sieve of the homogenization unit is configured to increase a degree of homogenization of the fluid flow, as compared with the device without sieves, wherein the fluid-guiding unit comprises a bent fluid-guiding element and a linear fluid-guiding element, the engaging component engaging with an interior of the linear fluid-guiding element, the homogenization unit being inserted into an interior of the bent fluid-guiding element.

A monitoring system for monitoring an intrinsic breathing activity of a patient, the monitoring system comprising:

• a patient monitor;
• a patient-side coupling unit couplable with the patient;
• and
• a connection device comprising:
• a fluid-guiding unit configured for establishing a fluid connection between the patient-side coupling unit that is coupleable with the patient and the patient monitor;
• a volume flow sensor comprising an engaging component, which engages with an interior of the fluid-guiding unit and is configured for measuring an indicator of the volume flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit;
• and
• a homogenization unit non-rotatably inserted into the interior of the fluid-guiding unit and at a position between the patient-side coupling unit and the engaging component, the homogenization unit being configured for homogenizing a flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit and comprising two sieves and a connection element, wherein the two sieves, viewed in a direction of flow through the fluid-guiding unit, are arranged behind one another and spaced apart from one another and are fixedly and permanently connected to one another by the connection element, the two sieves being configured to homogenize the flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit, wherein the fluid is configured to flow through each of the sieves only at defined points, wherein the fluid-guiding unit is configured to establish a fluid connection between the patient-side coupling unit and the patient monitor, wherein an inner profile of the fluid-guiding unit and an outer profile of the homogenization unit together form a mechanical coding, which determines a defined rotational position of the homogenization unit in relation to the fluid-guiding unit, wherein each sieve of the homogenization unit is configured to increase a degree of homogenization of the fluid flow, as compared with the device without sieves, wherein the fluid-guiding unit comprises a bent fluid-guiding element and a linear fluid-guiding element, the engaging component engaging with an interior of the linear fluid-guiding element, the homogenization unit being inserted into an interior of the bent fluid-guiding element.

A manufacturing process comprising the steps of:

• manufacturing a connection device comprising:
• a fluid-guiding unit configured for establishing a fluid connection between a patient-side coupling unit that is coupleable with the patient and a medical arrangement;
• a volume flow sensor comprising an engaging component, which engages with an interior of the fluid-guiding unit and is configured for measuring an indicator of the volume flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit;
• and a homogenization unit non-rotatably inserted into the interior of the fluid-guiding unit and at a position between the patient-side coupling unit and the engaging component, the homogenization unit being configured for homogenizing a flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit and comprising two sieves and a connection element, wherein the two sieves, viewed in a direction of flow through the fluid-guiding unit, are arranged behind one another and spaced apart from one another and are fixedly and permanently connected to one another by the connection element, the two sieves being configured to homogenize the flow of fluid through the fluid-guiding unit, wherein the fluid is configured to flow through each of the sieves only at defined points, wherein the fluid-guiding unit is configured to establish a fluid connection between the patient-side coupling unit and the patient monitor, wherein an inner profile of the fluid-guiding unit and an outer profile of the homogenization unit together form a mechanical coding, which determines a defined rotational position of the homogenization unit in relation to the fluid-guiding unit, wherein each sieve of the homogenization unit is configured to increase a degree of homogenization of the fluid flow, as compared with the device without sieves, the fluid-guiding unit comprising a bent fluid-guiding element and a linear fluid-guiding element, the engaging component engaging with an interior of the linear fluid-guiding element, the homogenization unit being inserted into an interior of the bent fluid-guiding element, wherein the manufacturing of the connection device comprises:
• providing the volume flow sensor comprising the engaging component;
• forming the homogenization unit;
• forming the bent fluid-guide element, which is configured to be connected to the patient-side coupling unit, and forming the linear fluid-guiding element;
• inserting the engaging component of the volume flow sensor into the linear fluid-guiding element such that the engaging component engages with the linear fluid-guiding element;
• inserting the homogenization unit into an inside of the bent fluid-guide element;
• and
• after the insertions, connecting the bent fluid-guide element fluid-tight to the linear fluid-guide element to form the fluid-guiding unit of the connection device or a portion of the fluid-guiding unit.