Ventilator comprising a device for contactless detection of operations carried out by a user

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling a ventilator by means of a detection unit for control commands, wherein the detection unit detects control commands of a user in a detection region of the detection unit, the detection unit comprising at least one sensor for control commands, a memory, an apparatus for producing digital control commands and an interface for coupling to the ventilator and for transmitting the control commands to the ventilator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a ventilator by a detection unit for control commands, wherein the detection unit is embodied as a 3D camera or a TOF camera with a detection region and detects control commands of a user in the detection region, the detection unit comprising at least one sensor for control commands, a memory, a device for producing digital control commands, and an interface for coupling to the ventilator and for transmitting the control commands to the ventilator, and wherein the detection unit is coupled to an illumination unit for illuminating the detection region, the illumination unit being capable of projecting an item of information spatially in front of or over another item of information and a display logic makes a decision relating to which item of information is presented in front of or over another item of information based on a relevance of an item of information in a current context. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the items of information which are projected spatially in front of or over another are selected from respiratory flow of a patient, leakage, respiratory volume, respiratory frequency, time duration of inspiration, time duration of expiration, ratio of time durations to one another, oxygen saturation in blood, CO 2  concentration in blood, CO 2  concentration in respiratory flow, O 2  concentration in respiratory flow, pulse signal, pulse wave signal, trigger signal, type of breath, expected respiratory volume, respiratory contour, resistance of airways, respiratory exertion, respiratory excursion, breathing/snoring noises, respiratory events, temperature, humidity, use times and durations of the ventilator, settings of the ventilator or accessories. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detection unit compares current image data with predetermined image data for purposes of evaluating movement or gesture of a user, the predetermined image data being stored in the memory. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one application, an interaction and/or a control of different functions of the ventilator is/are deactivatable on the basis of a gesture detected in the detection region. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination unit emits light in a visible range. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination unit emits light in an infrared spectral range. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination unit projects a virtual operating element into the detection region. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination unit projects a virtual image of display of the ventilator into the detection region. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination unit projects evaluations of the ventilator into the detection region. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the items of information are presented as one or more of a curve, spatial marking, numerical value curve, bar graph, column graph, pie chart or radar chart. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for controlling a ventilator by a detection unit for control commands, wherein the detection unit detects control commands of a user in a detection region of the detection unit, the detection unit comprising at least one sensor for control commands, a memory, a device for producing digital control commands, and an interface for coupling to the ventilator and for transmitting the control commands to the ventilator, and wherein the detection unit is coupled to an illumination unit for illuminating the detection region, the illumination unit being capable of projecting an item of information spatially in front of or over another item of information and a display logic makes a decision relating to which item of information is presented in front of or over another item of information based on a relevance of an item of information in a current context. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the items of information which are projected spatially in front of or over another are selected from respiratory flow of a patient, leakage, respiratory volume, respiratory frequency, time duration of inspiration, time duration of expiration, ratio of time durations to one another, oxygen saturation in blood, CO 2  concentration in blood, CO 2  concentration in respiratory flow, O 2  concentration in respiratory flow, pulse signal, pulse wave signal, trigger signal, type of breath, expected respiratory volume, respiratory contour, resistance of airways, respiratory exertion, respiratory excursion, breathing/snoring noises, respiratory events, temperature, humidity, use times and durations of the ventilator, settings of the ventilator or accessories. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the items of information are presented as one or more of a curve, numerical value, spatial marking, numerical value curve, bar graph, column graph, pie chart or radar chart. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the illumination unit emits light in a visible range. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the illumination unit projects a virtual operating element into the detection region. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the illumination unit projects a virtual image of display and/or operating elements of the ventilator into the detection region. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the illumination unit projects a virtual image of the ventilator into the detection region. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the illumination unit projects measurement values or evaluations of the ventilator into the detection region. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for controlling a ventilator by a detection unit for control commands, wherein the detection unit detects analog control commands of a user in a detection region of the detection unit, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one sensor for analog control commands, a memory, a low-pass filter and/or a high-pass filter, an A/D converter for producing digital control commands, and an interface for coupling to the ventilator and for transmitting the control commands to the ventilator. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein, if the detection unit detects an analog control commands of a user, a sampling frequency of the A/D converter is at least twice as high as a highest occurring frequency in a sampled signal of the analog control command.