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Title:
PORTABLE HYPERBARIC MINI-CHAMBER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/078629
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The portable hyperbaric mini-chamber formed with a vessel (1) whose body (11) is modified for a hermetic sealing with the lid (2) by the help of the locking mechanism (5) and is equipped with sealable grommets (112) for provision of connection of the inner space (3) of the mini-chamber with outer environment, where the essence of the invention consists in the fact that in the front part (22) of the lid (2) is fixed the upper cover (4) which is procured with at least one upper eye-slit (41) into the inner space (3) of the mini-chamber, the bottom (12) of the vessel (1) is procured with a technological opening (121) which is fitted with the lower cover (7) which forms the lower eye-slit (71) into the inner space (3) of the mini-chamber where the upper eye-slit (41) as well as the lower slit (71) are made of a transparent material, whereas at least one grommet (112) is fitted with the port (93) of the input pipeline (94) of a pressure working medium and at least one grommet (112) is fitted with the port (93) of the output pipeline (96) which is procured with the safety valve (961).

Inventors:
KOLÁŘOVÁ HANA (CZ)
BAJGAR ROBERT (CZ)
TOMÁNKOVÁ KATEŘINA (CZ)
BOLEK LUKÁŠ (CZ)
DEJMEK JIŘI (CZ)
BOLEK MATOUŠ (CZ)
RŮŽIČKA JIŘI (CZ)
BENEŠ JIŘI (CZ)
Application Number:
PCT/CZ2014/000153
Publication Date:
May 26, 2016
Filing Date:
December 10, 2014
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
UNIVERZITA PALACKÉHO V OLOMOUCI (CZ)
International Classes:
A01N1/02; A61G10/02
Foreign References:
US20050109381A12005-05-26
EP0455688A11991-11-13
CA2845398A12012-05-03
US20130157249A12013-06-20
CZ20110008U1
DE3732167A11989-04-13
CZ3077U11995-03-10
CA2845398A12012-05-03
CN2382403Y2000-06-14
US6247472B12001-06-19
CN200953821Y2007-10-03
CN202251235U2012-05-30
CZ20110008U1
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
SOUKUP, Petr (Olomouc, CZ)
Download PDF:
Claims:
PATENT CLAIMS

1. A portable hyperbaric mini-chamber formed with a vessel (1) whose body (11) is modified for a hermetic sealing with a !id (2) by the help of a locking mechanism (5) and is equipped with sealable grommets (112) for provision of connection of an inner space (3) of the mini-chamber with outer environment, wherein in the front part (22) of the lid (2) is fixed an upper cover (4) which is procured with at least one upper eye-slit (41) into the inner space (3) of the mini-chamber, the bottom (12) of the vessel (1) is procured with a technological opening (121) which is fitted with a lower cover (7) which forms a lower eye-slit (71) into the inner space (3) of the mini-chamber where the upper eye-slit (41) as well as the lower eye-slit (71) are made of a transparent material, whereas at least one grommet (112) is fitted with a port (93) of an input pipeline (94) of a pressure working medium and at least one grommet (112) is fitted with the port (93) of an output pipeline (96) which is procured with a safety valve (961).

2. The portable hyperbaric mini-chamber according to the claim 1 , wherein the body (11) of the vessel (1) is in upper part procured with a recess (111) whose outer perimeter size corresponds with an inner perimeter of a tubular part (21) of the lid (2), whereas the locking mechanism (5) consists of a set of bayonet closures (51) which are evenly placed around the perimeter of the body (11) of the vessel (1), when on the outer surface of the vessel (1) are formed pegs (511) and on the front edge of the tubular part (21) of the lid (2) are formed grooves (512).

3. The portable hyperbaric mini-chamber according to the claims 1 or 2, wherein in the upper part of the body (11) is in the inner space (3) placed at least one inner illuminating body (97) and above the upper eye-slit (41) of the upper cover (4) is placed at least one outer light source (99).

4. The portable hyperbaric mini-chamber according to the claim 3, wherein in the inner space (3) is on the lower cover (7) placed a small bowl (90) which is made of a non-magnetic materia! and is designed for placing of a test sample, whereas under the lower eye-slit ( 1) of the lower cover (7) is placed a magnetic mixer (92) and in the inner space (3) is placed a vent (98) with controllable revolutions.

Description:
Portable hyperbaric mini-chamber

Art Domain

This invention belongs to the area of development of experimental and testing devices and concerns design of a portable hyperbaric mini-chamber intended especially for checking of functionality of devices or their components and for monitoring of changes of characteristics of biological or other materials, possibly changes in behaviour of live organisms or small animals, namely in elevated pressure of working medium, for instance air, gas, or other substances.

Present Prior Art

In many technical, medicine or other branches are used hyperbaric or hypobaric chambers, which are mostly designed for specific purposes for example for medical sanitary purposes, for training of pilots and astronauts in zero gravity or for training of sportsmen, saving of divers. We know for example solution of a decompression chamber for divers according to the file DE 3732 67 or a chamber for sportsmen and divers training which is described in the file CZ 3077 U1. Next known solution is for example a chamber described in the file CA 2845398, which is indeed relatively small, portable by several persons, but it is designed only for therapeutic purposes. A modified medical pressure device for newborns is described in the file CN 2382403 Y, where is solved only optimal design of an entry door. Common disadvantage of these known solutions is their design for a specific purpose with plenty of technical and technological applications, which forbid their universal use on other experimental and testing workplaces. Except big size there are other disadvantages as high purchase costs and demandingness for technical background and staff training. There are likewise known hyperbaric or hypobaric chambers which are used for various testing and analytic methods namely in the field of medicine and biology, where belongs, for instance, solution according to the file US 6247472 which describes a method of use of the heat arisen in spaces of a hyperbaric chamber for thermodynamic work, which is used for next increase of the pressure in the chamber. Next known solutions mostly concern design of particular function nodes, for example the file CN 200953821 Y describes a method of heating of inner spaces of a pressure vessel by the help of a heating spiral. The file JPH 04184138 then describes a pressure device with small inner space for experiments with high pressures and temperatures. Its design however does not enable to put inside bigger objects and to control the inner climate of the chamber. In the file CN 202251235 there is solution with placing of LCD source inside the pressure vessel, namely by the help of a special pressure resistant capsule, which increases purchase costs of the device and results in reduction of the space for insertion of samples. Finally we know solution which is described in the file CZ 20118 U1 where is hypobaric and hyperbaric chamber designed in the form of a non-metal cylinder with possibility of both sides to be hermetically sealed, which is connected to a vacuum pump and a compressor and is connected with a control unit. This chamber is designed for experiments with small mammals which are examined by the help of magnetic resonance. This is generally a therapeutic pressure vessel where is not possible to reach high pressures, big range of temperatures and it does not have possibility of regulation of the temperature inside the chamber. Furthermore it is not, due to the use of a non-metal material, chemically and mechanically resistant, thus it is not possible during the experiments to use different aggressive mixtures of gasses and various kinds of exposures of inner space.

The aim of featured invention is to present for use a new portable hyperbaric mini-chamber which would, by its design, sizes and operational parameters remove the imperfections of known solutions and would be without any problems usable for a wide range of experimental and testing areas, especially during biomedical and biochemical experiments but it would not suspend use for testing of functionality of small devices and appliances designed to be used in operation under increased pressure, for example equipment of divers, small devices designed for use in large hyperbaric chambers as are EKG, oxymeters and so on.

The essence of the invention

The set goal is achieved with the invention which is a portable hyperbaric mini- chamber formed with a vessel whose body is modified for a hermetic sealing with a lid by the help of a locking mechanism and is equipped with sealable grommets for provision of connection of inner space of the mini-chamber with outer environment, where in the front part of the lid is fixed an upper cover which is procured with at least one upper eye-slit into the inner space of the mini-chamber, the bottom of the vessel is procured with a technological opening which is fitted with a lower cover which forms lower eye-slit into the inner space of the mini-chamber, where the upper eye- slit and the lower eye-slit are made of a transparent material, whereas at least one grommet is fitted with a port of a inlet pipeline of pressure working medium and at least one grommet is fitted with a port of an outlet pipeline which is fitted with a safety valve.

In an advantageous design is the body of the vessel in the upper part procured with a recess whose outer perimeter size corresponds with the inner perimeter of the tubular part of the lid, whereas the locking mechanism consists of a set of bayonet closures, which are placed evenly around the perimeter of the body of the vessel, when on the outer surface of the vessels are formed pegs and on the front edge of the tubular part of the lid are formed shaped grooves.

It is likewise advantageous when, in the upper part of the body, is in the inner space placed at least one inner illuminative body and above the upper eye-slit of the upper cover is placed at least one outer light source. Finally it is advantageous when is in the inner space on the lower cover placed a small bowl which is made of a nonmagnetic material and it is designed for placing of test sample, whereas is, under the lower eye-slit of the lower cover placed a magnetic mixer and in the inner space is placed a vent with controllable revolutions.

With the featured invention is reached new and higher efficiency in the fact that its conception enables design of the small size chamber which is with its operation parameters suitable for use in wide area of experiments not only biochemical and biomedical but also industrial according to requirements for formation of specific physical parameters of inner pressure environment. The mini- chamber is including its accessory easily movable when its tested basic cylindrical design has capacity of working space 5 litres; the perimeter of inner working area is 20 cm, maximal operation overpressure is 10 bars, maximal flow of working media, favourably gases, is up to 50 liters/min, the speed of temperance of working media through the heat exchanger is up to 2° C/s, speed of mixing of working media is up to 5 liters/min, working range of temperature of inner environment is -5 to 60°C and possible speed of temperature change of inner environment is up to 5° C/min. A significant advantage of presented solution is the simple design of the mini- chamber which results in quite low purchase costs and herewith it becomes accessible for wide research development area, especially at universities and research institutes with various targets.

Description of figures on enclosed drawings

The particular example of design of the invention is schematically illustrated in enclosed drawings where:

Fig. 1 is a general axonometric view of a mini-chamber,

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial cut of the mini-chamber from fig. when seen crossways from the left, Fig. 3 is a schematic vertical axial cut of the basic design of the mini-chamber from fig.1 ,

Fig. 4 is a schematic vertical cut of the mini-chamber which is procured with functional additional devices and electric equipment,

Fig. 5 is a detail view on a basic structural element of the locking mechanism of the mini-chamber and

Fig. 6 is an axial view on an alternative design of the mini-chamber with more than one upper eye-slit.

The drawings which illustrate presented invention and consequently described examples of particular design do not in any case anyhow limit the extend of the protection which is mentioned in the definition yet only clarify the essence of the invention.

Examples of realization of the invention

The mini-chamber is in its basic design as it is illustrated in fig. 1 to fig. 3 formed with a cylindrical vessel 1, which is produced from material which shows good chemical and mechanical resistance, for example stainless steel, which is covered with a lid 2 in the way that they form a hermetically sealed inner space 3. For provision of a perfect sealing of the connection of the lid 2 and the body V\ of the vessel 1 is the body 11 procured in its upper part with a recess I VL whose outer perimeter size corresponds with the inner perimeter of the tubular part 21 of the lid 2. Into the front part 22 of the lid 2 which forms a peripheral collar is from below placed an upper cover 4 which is made of a transparent, chemically and mechanically resistant material, for instance from glass, polypropylene (PP) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and which forms an upper eye-slit 41 into the inner space 3 of the mini-chamber. The hermetic sealing of the inner space 3 of the mini- chamber is ensured not only with a pressure resistant locking mechanism 5, which consist of a set of for example five or ten bayonet closures 51 which are evenly placed around the perimeter of the body H of the vessel 1, when on the outer surface of the vessel 1 are formed pegs 511 and on the front edge of the tubular part 21 of the lid 2 are formed shaped grooves 512, as it is in detail clear from the fig.5, but also with a deformation sealing 6 which is placed between the recess H of the body H and the lower wall of the cover 4. The bottom 12 of the vessel 1 is procured with a conical in direction outward narrowing technological opening 121, which is fitted with a lower cover 7 which also is made of a transparent, chemically and mechanically resistant material, for example of glass, PP or PM A and which forms a lower eye-slit 71 into the inner space 3 of the mini-chamber. In the body H, predominantly in its lower part, is formed set of grommets 112, which are procured with non-illustrated threads and sealable blind flanges 8. The grommets 112 serve for connection of the inner space 3 of the mini-chamber with surrounding environment and are designed for integration of different sensors, ports, connectors and other components as it is to be described below.

A possible exemplary equipment of the mini-chamber with various technological components is evident from the fig. 4 where is in the inner space 3 on the lower cover 7 placed a small bowl 90 which is made of a magnetically nonconducting, therefore a diamagnetic or paramagnetic material, and is designed for placing of a non-illustrated sample, for example of biological solution, and in it is freely placed magnetic pellet 91 Under the lower cover 7 respective its lower eye-slit 71 is placed a magnetic mixer 92. Two grommets 112 are fitted with ports 93 of an input pipeline 94 of pressure working medium which are in their inner space 3 fitted with heat exchangers 95, for example tubular, and one grommet 112 is fitted with port 92 of an output pipeline 96 which is procured with pressure safety valve 961 In upper part of the body H are then in non-illustrated fixtures placed inner illuminating bodies 97, due to low heat emission and pressure resistance preferably LED diodes, and a vent 98 with controllable revolutions. Above the upper eye-slit 41 of the upper cover 4 are placed outer illuminating sources 99 which ensure required light characteristics in inner space, as are wavelength, chosen light spectrum, exposure intensity, exposure homogeneity and so on. During testing or experimental measurements is possible to change physical parameters in inner space 3 of the mini-chamber, namely setting of the pressure of incoming working medium or media mixture, preferably gases, when it is possible to reach overpressure of in order tens of bars, for which serve ports 93 of the input pipeline 94 which enable full regulation of flow of given media and achievement of selected pressure values. The port 93 of the output pipeline 96 is fitted with the safety valve 96J. and serves except from regulation of outflow of pressure media likewise as a necessary safety element of operation of a pressure vessel, as it is possible to consider the mini-chamber as one. Also it is possible to change the temperature of the atmosphere in the inner space 3 and not only by the help of the heat exchangers 95 but also by speed changes of flow of the gases through the inner space 3 by the help of pressure changes which are regulated with input and output ports 93. The composition of the inner atmosphere is possible to influence with a suitable combination of setting of mix of input working media, for example gases, with the supply pipelines 94 when is their homogenization provided with a vent 98. The mixing of examined solutions is then possible to realize by the help of a standard magnetic mixer 92 which influences movement of the magnetic pellet 91 which is freely placed in sample.

The described design of the mini-chamber is not the only possible solution according to the invention but in reference to kind of the tests or experiments can be for connection of the vessel 1 and the lid 2 used another type of locking mechanism 5, the vessel A does not to be necessarily of cylindrical crosscut and the upper cover 4 does not have to be whole made of transparent material but can be non- transparent and there can be formed in it more than one upper eye-slit 41 as it is evident from the fig. 6. If the chamber is designed for testing or experiments with use of a liquid pressure medium it can be procured with only one input pipeline 94 and in its inner space 3 will not be fitted vent 98. Industrial usability

The portable hyperbaric mini-chamber according to the invention is designed especially for use on experimental or testing work places, where is required to check behaviour of biological or other materials, live organisms or components of devices at increased pressure of working media, liquid or gaseous or their mixtures.