Sensor module for respirable gas mixtures, ventilator, therapy device and method for measuring a plurality of gases of a respirable gas mixture

Abstract

A respirable gas mixture sensor module ( 10 ) includes a first sensor ( 1, 14 - 1, 14 - 2 ) for measuring a gas and a second sensor ( 18, 18 - 1, 18 - 2 ) for measuring the same gas and apply different principles of measurement. The sensor module ( 10 ) is configured to determine a measurement result for the gas taking into account the measurements. As an alternative the sensor module ( 10 ) includes a first sensor group ( 12 ) including a first sensor ( 14, 14 - 1, 14 - 2 ) and a second sensor group ( 16 ) including a second sensor ( 18, 18 - 1, 18 - 2 ), each for measuring both a first and a second gas and apply different principles of measurement. The sensor module is configured to determine measurement results for the gases, taking into account the respective measurements of the first and second sensors. A ventilator, a therapy device and a method for measuring a plurality of gases of a respirable gas mixture are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sensor module for respirable gas mixtures, the sensor module comprising:
 at least one first sensor for measuring a gas with first sensor principles of measurement;   at least one second sensor for measuring a gas with second sensor principles of measurement, wherein at least one of the first sensor principles of measurement is different from at least one of the second sensor principles of measurement; and   an analysis unit configured to determine a gas measurement result as a function of the measurements of the first sensor and as a function of the measurements of the second sensor for measuring the same gas.   
     
     
         2 . A sensor module for respirable gas mixtures in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one first sensor and at least another first sensor comprise sensors with a first sensor group for measuring a first gas and a second gas;   the at least one second sensor and at least another second sensor comprise sensors with a second sensor group for measuring the first gas and the second gas;   at least one of the sensors with the first sensor group measures the first gas, applying at least one measurement principle that is different from a measurement principle applied by at least one of the sensors with the second sensor group that measures the first gas;   at least one of the sensors with the first sensor group measures the second gas, applying at least one measurement principle that is different from a measurement principle applied by at least one of the sensors with the second sensor group that measures the second gas;   a measurement result for the first gas is determined as a function of the measurements of the first sensor for measuring the first gas and as a function of the measurements of the second sensor for measuring the first gas; and   a measurement result for the second gas is determined as a function of the measurements of the first sensor for measuring the second gas and as a function of the measurements of the second sensor for measuring the second gas.   
     
     
         3 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor is an optical absorption sensor. 
     
     
         4 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first sensor is an optical absorption sensor with a first sensor gas-specific wavelength range and the at least one second sensor is an optical absorption sensor with a second sensor gas-specific wavelength range and the first sensor principles of measurement differ from the second sensor principles of measurement by the first sensor gas-specific wavelength range being differing from the second sensor gas-specific wavelength range. 
     
     
         5 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor is a paramagnetic thermal sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor is an electrochemical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising a third sensor group comprising at least one third sensor for measuring at least one of the first and the second gas, wherein the third sensor applies the same principles of measurement as at least one of the sensors with the first sensor group and with the second sensor group. 
     
     
         8 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first gas is oxygen and the second gas is at least one of carbon dioxide and an anesthetic gas. 
     
     
         9 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit determines the gas measurement result for at least one of the first and the second gas by:
 determining a measurement result of a measurement of the respective gas with one of the first sensor and with the second sensor; and   performing a plausibility check by at least one of:   determining a measurement result of a measurement of the same gas by the sensor having different principles of measurement; and   determining a measurement result of a measurement of another gas by the other of the first sensor and the second sensor.   
     
     
         10 . A sensor module in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is configured to measure both the first gas and the second gas with common principles of measurement. 
     
     
         11 . A ventilator or anesthesia apparatus comprising:
 a sensor module for respirable gas mixtures, the sensor module comprising:   at least one first sensor for measuring a gas with first sensor principles of measurement;   at least one second sensor for measuring a gas with second sensor principles of measurement, wherein at least one of the first sensor principles of measurement is different from at least one of the second sensor principles of measurement; and   an analysis unit configured to determine a gas measurement result as a function of the measurements of the first sensor and of the second sensor for measuring the same gas.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 11  in combination with a dispensing device to form a therapy device, the dispensing device being configured to dispense a quantity of active ingredient as a function of a measurement result of the sensor module. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor is an optical absorption sensor. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first sensor is an optical absorption sensor with a first sensor gas-specific wavelength range and the at least one second sensor is an optical absorption sensor with a second sensor gas-specific wavelength range and the first sensor principles of measurement differ from the second sensor principles of measurement by the first sensor gas-specific wavelength range being differing from the second sensor gas-specific wavelength range. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor is a paramagnetic thermal sensor. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor is an electrochemical sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method for measuring at least one gas of a respirable gas mixture, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sensor module comprising at least one first sensor for measuring a gas with first sensor principles of measurement, at least one second sensor for measuring a gas with second sensor principles of measurement, wherein at least one of the first sensor principles of measurement is different from at least one of the second sensor principles of measurement and an analysis unit configured to determine a gas measurement result as a function of the measurements of the first sensor and of the second sensor for measuring the same gas;   measuring a gas with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor having different principles of measurement; and   determining a measurement result as a function of the measurements of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor having different principles of measurement.   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising:
 measuring another gas with the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor having different principles of measurement; and   determining a measurement result, for the other gas, as a function of the measurements of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor having different principles of measurement.   
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the determination of the measurement result for at least one of the first and the second gas comprises:
 determining a measurement result of a measurement of the respective gas with one of the first sensor and with the second sensor according to the first or second principle of measurement; and   performing a plausibility check by at least one of:   determining a measurement result of a measurement of the same gas by the sensor having different principles of measurement; and   determining a measurement result of a measurement of another gas by the other of the first sensor and the second sensor.   
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least one first sensor and at least another first sensor comprise sensors with a first sensor group for measuring a first gas and a second gas;   the at least one second sensor and at least another second sensor comprise sensors with a second sensor group for measuring the first gas and the second gas;   at least one of the sensors with the first sensor group measures the first gas, applying at least one measurement principle that is different from a measurement principle applied by at least one of the sensors with the second sensor group that measures the first gas;   at least one of the sensors with the first sensor group measures the second gas, applying at least one measurement principle that is different from a measurement principle applied by at least one of the sensors with the second sensor group that measures the second gas;   a measurement result for the first gas is determined as a function of the measurements of the first sensor for measuring the first gas and as a function of the measurements of the second sensor for measuring the first gas, and   a measurement result for the second gas is determined as a function of the measurements of the first sensor for measuring the second gas and as a function of the measurements of the second sensor for measuring the second gas.