EP1355609B1 - Air-conditioned chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

A chamber or living unit for persons has a control device and a processor that controls climate conditions in the chamber that are different from ambient conditions. Biosensors are connected to the control device, specifically the processor, for the purpose of detecting body parameters like temperature, pulse, skin resistance, blood pressure, and so on, of a body that is in the chamber.

Description

The invention relates to a chamber or stay unit for persons with a control or regulating device for controlling the climate and environmental conditions in the chamber or stay unit, and a computer, wherein biosensors for detecting body parameters, such as body temperature, pulse, skin resistance , Blood pressure and the like a person located in the chamber or residence unit are provided, which are connected to the control or regulating device or the computer, wherein the climatic and environmental conditions are directly controllable by the body parameters detected by the biosensors.

There is a variety of climatic chambers or devices for generating different climatic or environmental conditions known, which consist essentially of a chamber or closed unit. By means of control or regulating devices, the atmosphere in the chamber or unit is controlled or regulated. For example, is from the DE 44 20 908 A1 a treatment and residence unit for persons is known in which the climate factors are controlled inside the unit by means of a control device. Climate factors are understood to mean not only certain air temperatures or humidities, but also other chemically physical parameters, such as substances, substances or even electromagnetic radiation, which act on a person located inside the unit. A monitoring of the individual values with respect to certain climatic factors inside the unit is achieved by means of sensors extending into this unit, which detect the individual values and pass on these values to the control device, where they are calculated accordingly and compared with the set target values. An automatic temporal change of individual climatic factors during a treatment period in which a person resides inside the unit is also possible by selecting a corresponding operating program. This operating program is stored in a computer, in addition to which also different program sequences for the overall climate or for individual climatic factors can be reentered or changed within the unit.

In the WO 97/09024 a device and method for adjusting environmental conditions is described, wherein the device a sealed airtight chamber into which oxygen, carbon dioxide, water or other substances can be introduced. Furthermore, the device comprises control devices which can control the atmosphere, such as oxygen concentration, pressure, temperature and humidity inside the chamber. Furthermore, inside the chamber, a magnetic field can also be generated whose strength and orientation can likewise be controlled via a control device.

A disadvantage of these proposed devices is that the change or adaptation of the environmental conditions in the chamber takes place only after a rigidly predetermined protocol. Be affected by the patient in the chamber is not possible.

From the WO 97/03631 A is a hypoxic space system for hypoxic training and therapy that simulates oxygen-reduced mountain air and atmospheric pressure at various altitudes. A patient located in this room is exposed to an oxygen content, air humidity and air temperature which are predetermined in a training or therapy protocol, whereby the control of the air conditions in the room is regulated by manual actuation or computer control. Again, the computer control runs rigidly according to a predetermined training protocol and the air conditions in the room can therefore only be controlled indirectly. A pulse oximeter may also be used for the purpose of medical monitoring of the patient, the data (pulse and oxygen saturation in the blood) being transmitted to the computer, but the hypoxic parameters suitable for the patient can only be selected as a function of the predetermined, rigid training protocol.

The WO 97/22324 A describes a psychotherapeutic device as well as a method for applying the position of new emotional, physiological and cognitive response patterns of a patient, whereby also a stored in a computer treatment protocol is executed ("expert system"). This can also serve as monitoring content of the data of the patient, whereby allding an adaptation of the data of the patient or the "expert system" only by an active feedback from the patient, namely by pressing a button or by responding to him asked questions, can be made. That is a user-friendliness is also not here, since the person must be active for a change in the environmental conditions itself.

It is now an object of the invention to remedy this situation and to provide a chamber or residence unit of the type mentioned, which allows adaptation or monitoring of the climatic factors or environmental conditions directly from the person in the chamber, without hindering the person ,

The device according to the invention of the type mentioned above is characterized in that the biosensors are connected via radio communication with the control or regulating device or the computer.

Thus, according to the present invention, an interaction is provided between the body's own parameters of the person (s) located in the chamber and the environmental factors surrounding and impacting the person (s). Due to the radio link between the biosensors and the control device or the computer, no hindrances to the person (s), such as cables, are required for the transmission of the body's own values. Thus, an increased ease of use is given.

The biosensors are essentially measuring devices known from the prior art, such as thermometers, pulse and blood pressure measuring devices, devices for measuring electrical resistance, such as skin resistance, surface electrodes or other measuring devices for recording body signals, such as ECG, EEG or the like Signals or body parameters become the control or regulating device directed to the computer, where depending on the body parameters, the settings of the climate or environmental factors in the chamber can be changed. A change of individual or several climatic or environmental factors (which essentially should be understood as the environmental conditions or atmospheric conditions in the interior of the chamber) can take place by means of the computer, for example a digital computer, the control or regulating device. Various operating programs can be called up via this computer, which set various processes for an overall climate generating in the chamber, such as, for example, pressure reduction or reduction of atmospheric humidity and increase of the ambient temperature in accordance with a "desert climate", sonication, lighting. The control device can implement such changes in individual climatic factors or entire processes in the climate chamber. The control device is equipped with devices known in the art, which can provide, for example, gaseous and / or liquid media available, prepare or mix, so that they can be supplied to the chamber in a controllable form. Such devices are, for example, pressure vessels, mixing chambers, pumps, compressors, filter devices, heat exchangers, humidifiers, containers for liquid or gaseous media, supply and discharge lines and designated flow regulators such as valves, measuring devices such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, ingredient, ionization and the like. In such devices, simple and complex processes can be created which are necessary to bring liquid and / or gaseous media into a mold to be supplied to the chamber. Furthermore, the control device may be equipped with lighting fixtures, sound sources, scenting devices and the like. The lighting fixtures can provide different colors or color patterns, if desired coupled with a suitable matching sound and / or scenting.

So it is now conceivable that such operations in the simplest case may look like this: Liquid media, such as distilled water are fed from a supply container in metered quantity to a mixing chamber, there with eg gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, noble gases or Gas mixtures, fragrances, essences or salts may be added become. If appropriate, the gaseous media, for example, pressure-controlled or mixed with other gases or the like., And then fed. The liquid gas mixture thus obtained may then be heated, cooled, ionized or otherwise treated, either immediately or during transfer, to ultimately be supplied in a controlled manner to the chamber and to produce or change beneficial environmental factors. Such operations of the control and regulating device can be computer-controlled individually, arranged, side by side, one behind the other, independent or dependent on each other. In this way it is possible to relate individual climatic or environmental factors to one another in such a way that different conditions can be produced, such as, for example, marine climate, altitude climate or the like and additionally with different light, weather and noise conditions such as sunshine, fog, Snow, fall, rain, storm etc. in the chamber adjust. In addition, via the direct connection of the person who is exposed to the mentioned climatic conditions and weather or ambient conditions in the chamber, the biosensors detect changes or deviations of the body's own parameters and immediately forward them to the computer. In the computer, the values of the body's own parameters caused by the processes of defined climatic or environmental conditions or weather conditions are compared with predetermined values and, depending on registered deviations, the control or regulating device reacts in the chamber, for example, reduced or intensified climatic or environmental factors provided.

The chamber or stay unit itself may constitute a conventional or conventional climate chamber, which receives the mentioned processes of the gaseous or liquid media, sound sources, lighting fixtures and the like generated or controlled by the control device can. Accordingly, the chamber or stay unit is equipped with appropriate devices, such as measuring units, inflow and outflow lines, nozzles, which can be used, for example, for spraying, steaming or scenting, lighting fixtures, sound sources, such as speakers, blowers or the like. Advantageously, the chamber or stay unit according to the invention has a separate control room which is equipped with control devices for additional monitoring of the climatic factors or climatic and environmental conditions in the chamber. In this case, for example, thermometer, barometer, hygrometer, pressure gauge, concentration meter or the like. Be provided and control devices for the lighting and sound. In addition, it is advantageous if the control room has a safety control or regulating device which can cause an interruption or else an influencing of the operations of the control or regulating device in an emergency or in the event of disturbances, so that unwanted or even for the in the chamber, dangerous climatic factors or climatic or environmental conditions can be avoided.

Moreover, it is advantageous if, in addition, a lock chamber is provided in which a person who enters or leaves the chamber or stay unit can "acclimate".

An advantageous embodiment of the chamber or stay unit according to the present invention provides that the biosensors are connected via radio link with the control device or the computer. Such a connection allows a very user-friendly use of the chamber according to the invention. Lines or inlets and outlets for transmission or forwarding of the body parameters detected by the biosensors can be replaced by this radio link. In this case, a conventional radio link can be used, wherein a proper communication to the computer or the control or regulating device must be ensured.

It is particularly favorable if the control or regulating device controls or regulates the composition of gaseous and / or liquid media to be supplied to the chamber or stay unit. The composition, such as concentration, saturation and mixing ratios can be provided by processes already mentioned above. Serve also the above-mentioned devices of the control or regulating device, which in turn are activated according to the stored and called processes in the computer.

In addition, it is favorable if the control or regulating device the pressure or the flow rate of the gaseous and / or controls or regulates liquid media. In such an embodiment, special climatic factors, such as negative pressure or overpressure, can be set in the chamber. Now, if a person is exposed to these conditions in the chamber, so reactions or changes in the body's parameters are caused in the body of the person, which are detected by the biosensors and forwarded to the computer of the control device. There, the values are compared with the specified target values. If an adjustment, ie increase or decrease, of the negative pressure in the chamber is necessary, this is passed on to the devices provided in the control device and implemented accordingly, so that the negative pressure in the chamber is equalized.

Preferably, it is also provided that the control or regulating device controls or regulates the lighting and / or the sound of the chamber.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments illustrated in the drawings, to which, however, it should not be restricted.

• Fig. 1 einen Grundriss der erfindungsgemäßen Kammer bzw. Aufenthaltseinheit; und
• Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt der erfindungsgemäßen Kammer bzw. Aufenthaltseinheit.

In detail show:

• Fig. 1 a floor plan of the chamber or stay unit according to the invention; and
• Fig. 2 a cross section of the chamber or stay unit according to the invention.

According to Fig. 1 For example, the chamber according to the invention has three separate areas in the front section or entrance area of the chamber. The two outer or peripheral regions 10 represent control rooms equipped with measuring devices such as thermometers, barometers, hygrometers, pressure gauges or the like (not shown) for monitoring climatic factors in the chamber. In addition, a safety control or safety control device is also provided in the control rooms (also not shown), which can be used in emergencies or malfunctions of the chamber according to the invention. Between the two control rooms, a lock space 11 is shown, which serves for "acclimatization" or adaptation of a person's body to the climatic conditions in the chamber or else to the conditions existing outside the chamber. In connection to the entrance area is according to Fig. 1 the central area of the chamber is shown, this being divided into two further areas, a left 13 and a right area 14. In both central areas, a couch 8 or two sports equipment 9 are shown schematically. A partition through which engineering ducts 1 pass divides the central portion of the chamber into the left and right regions, respectively Fig. 1 ,

Another essential component of the system according to the invention Fig. 1 is the double wall which surrounds the chamber, in particular the central area of the chamber. The outer wall 5 of the double wall is made of an insulating material, so that the prevailing in the chamber climatic factors or climatic conditions can be maintained. The inner wall 6 of the chamber, in particular of the central region of the chamber, is also equipped with shafts 1, which can serve as supply and / or discharge lines for pressure or suction fan 2, for example, with controllable connections to the central region of the chamber are provided. Furthermore, the inner wall lighting fixture 3 for illumination of the inner central area. The lighting fixtures can be equipped with various color filters, devices for producing color patterns and the like. The illumination bodies can also be influenced via the control device and the feedback of the biosensors with regard to brightness, color intensity or wavelength of the emitted light as well as selection and movement of the color patterns. Similarly, the inner wall may also have sound sources 4 for sonicating the inner central area, whereby here too the sound sources can be influenced via the control or regulating device as well as the feedback of the biosensors with regard to pitch, melody and loudness of the sound. Both the influence of light, in particular colored light, as well as sounds causes the body in the chamber measurable reactions, such as a change in skin resistance. Via the biosensors, this change can be registered and thus an optimal environment for the body located in the chamber can be created. If it is mentioned here of chamber, climatic chamber or residence unit, as are according to the invention also correspondingly equipped rooms in eg hotels and spa or fitness facilities to understand, which are both for the temporary as well as for the permanent stay of persons are suitable. Such spaces may also be at least partially filled with water, for example, in the manner of a swimming pool, wherein the water in terms of composition (eg admixture of gases such as O ₂ , N ₂ or CO ₂ , flavors or salts) and / or temperature on the control or Control device and the feedback of the biosensors can be influenced.

The inner wall 6 also shows further shafts 1 which show devices of the control device (not shown), e.g. Nozzles, inflow and outflow lines, cables for lighting fixtures and sound sources and the like

In Fig. 2 is a cross section of the chamber according to the invention, in particular the central region of the chamber shown. As in Fig. 1 Here, too, the central area is equipped by a partition wall with shafts 1 for receiving devices of the control and regulating devices, wherein in addition mobile connectors 7 are shown for a connection of the biosensors. The outer wall 5 of the chamber surrounding the double wall consists of an insulating material and also from a serving, for example, to the flow or refilling shaft. The inner wall 6 of the double wall is again equipped with shafts 1, which have devices of the control and regulating device for setting individual climatic factors or more complex climatic and environmental conditions in the chamber. Furthermore, sensors, measuring units, nozzles, drain and supply lines and supply lines for light and sound sources and the like. Provided in the inner wall of the double wall. All said devices in the double wall are connected to the control and regulating device. As in Fig. 1 can the shafts 1 also serve as supply and / or discharge lines for pressure or suction fan 2. Also, light sources 3 and sound sources 4 are present in or on the double wall.

If a person is now located in the central region of the chamber and the chamber according to the invention is used, a process for creating and monitoring, for example, a negative pressure must be stored and called up in the computer of the control or regulating device. According to the set values given in such a sequence, the devices of the control device provided for implementing the sequence are addressed so as to generate the negative pressure in the chamber. The person in the room is now controlled and regulated Exposed to negative pressure. Biosensors, such as a measuring device, for example a pulse oximeter for measuring the oxygen saturation in the blood, are applied to the body of the person in the chamber or they are in direct contact with the body of the person and continuously detect the oxygen saturation in the blood. These recorded values are forwarded to the computer of the control device, which processes the incoming values and compares them with the setpoint values of the sequence stored in the computer. If an unwanted or over the desired level beyond reaction caused in the body of the person exposed to the negative pressure, then an immediate change or adaptation of individual factors, in this case, for example, the oxygen partial pressure, be made by means of the control or regulating device.

In this way, the person in the chamber can perform various activities, e.g. Sport, the applied biosensors monitor certain body parameters and the predetermined climate change factors or climatic or environmental conditions are automatically changed when predetermined values are exceeded. Moreover, it is also possible through the chamber according to the invention with the control and regulating device, among other things, various climatic conditions, such as marine climate, altitude and in addition different weather and environmental conditions such as snowfall, fog, lighting conditions, background noise, etc., adjust and in dependence on removed body parameters whereby the body of the exposed person can be adapted effectively and optimally to a wide variety of predetermined climatic or environmental conditions.

Claims (4)

1. A chamber or living unit (11, 13, 14) for persons, including a control device for controlling the climate and ambient conditions in the chamber or living unit (11, 13, 14), and with a computer, wherein biosensors are provided for detecting body parameters, such as, e.g., body temperature, pulse, skin resistance, blood pressure, and the like, of a person being in the chamber or living unit (11, 13, 14), with the biosensors being connected with the control unit and/or computer, wherein the climate and ambient conditions are directly controllable by the body parameters detected by the biosensors, characterized in that the biosensors are connected with the control device and/or computer via a radio link.
2. The chamber or living unit (11, 13, 14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device is capable of controlling the composition of the gaseous and/or liquid media to be fed to the chamber or living unit.
3. The chamber or living unit (11, 13, 14) according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device is capable of controlling the pressure (2) and/or the flow rate of the gaseous and/or liquid media.
4. The chamber of living unit (11, 13, 14) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit is capable of controlling the illumination (3) and/or the acoustic irradiation (4) of the chamber or living unit.

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