Arrangement and process for supplying a patient-side coupling unit with a gas mixture

A system for supplying a patient-side coupling unit with a gas mixture, the gas mixture comprising a first gas component and a second gas component, the supply system comprising:

• a first source configured to provide the first gas component;
• a second source configured to provide the second gas component;
• and
• a supply arrangement comprising:
• a first duct with a supply connection element, the supply connection element is configured to establish a fluid connection with the first source for the first gas component;
• a second duct;
• a mixing point connected to the first duct and connected to the second duct, wherein the first duct is configured to guide the first gas component from the supply connection element to the mixing point;
• an inspiration duct configured to direct a gas mixture formed in the mixing point to the patient-side coupling unit;
• a buffer reservoir with a supply chamber, wherein the supply chamber is configured to establish a fluid connection with the second source for the second gas component and with a supply fluid connection with the second duct, wherein the second duct is configured to direct the second gas component from the supply chamber to the mixing point;
• and
• a pneumatic control line establishing a control fluid connection between the first duct and the buffer reservoir, wherein the supply arrangement is configured such that the buffer reservoir, the supply fluid connection, and the control fluid connection effect a pressure balancing between a pressure in the supply chamber, a pressure in the first duct and a pressure in the second duct,
• wherein the buffer reservoir comprises a housing and a flexible fluid-tight separating element inside the housing,
• wherein the separating element fluid-tightly divides the interior of the housing into the supply chamber and a control chamber, and the separating element comprises a flexible bag,
• wherein the control fluid connection pneumatically connects the control chamber to the first duct and causes a pressure balancing between the control chamber and the first duct
• wherein an interior space is formed between the housing and the bag, the interior space surrounding the bag,
• wherein the supply chamber is formed inside the bag and the control chamber is formed in the interior space between the housing and the bag or the control chamber is formed inside the bag and the supply chamber is formed in the interior space between the housing and the bag.

A process for supplying a patient-side coupling unit with a gas mixture comprising a first gas component and a second gas component, wherein the patient-side coupling unit is connected to a patient, the process being carried out with a supply arrangement comprising a first duct with a supply connection element, a second duct, a mixing point, an inspiration duct, a buffer reservoir with a supply chamber and a pneumatic control line, the pneumatic control line establishing a control fluid connection between the first duct and the buffer reservoir and acting on the buffer reservoir, the process comprising the steps of:

• providing the first gas component at the supply connection element;
• providing the second gas component;
• directing the second gas component to the supply chamber such that the second gas component flows into the supply chamber and is guided from the supply chamber into the second duct;
• directing the first gas component, in the first duct, from the supply connection element to the mixing point;
• directing the second gas component, in the second duct, from the supply chamber to the mixing point;
• directing the gas mixture comprising the first gas component and the second gas component from the mixing point through the inspiration duct to the patient-side coupling unit;
• with the pneumatic control line acting on the buffer reservoir, effecting a pressure balancing between a pressure in the supply chamber, a pressure in the first duct and a pressure in the second duct;
• and
• providing the buffer reservoir such that the buffer reservoir comprises a housing and a flexible fluid tight separating element inside the housing, the separating element fluid tightly dividing the interior of the housing into the supply chamber as a buffer volume and a control chamber as a control volume acting on the buffer volume,
• wherein the control fluid connection pneumatically connects the control chamber to the first duct and causes a pressure balancing between the control chamber and the first duct,
• wherein the separating element comprises a flexible bag,
• wherein an interior space is formed between the housing and the bag, the interior space surrounding the bag;
• wherein the supply chamber is formed inside the bag and the control chamber is formed in the interior space between the housing and the bag or the control chamber is formed inside the bag and the supply chamber is formed in the interior space between the housing and the bag.