Patents by Inventor Ralf Heesch

Ralf Heesch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12685836
    Abstract: A taking up/receiving system (100) and a process for taking up/receiving of gas from a medical apparatus (1) are provided. The taking up/receiving system includes a feed line (6), a discharge line (8), a filter unit (4) with a filter and at least one buffer storage device. The feed line establishes a fluid connection between the medical apparatus and the filter unit. The discharge line establishes a fluid connection between the filter unit and a fluid taking up/receiving unit (7). The gas is discharged from the medical apparatus and is passed through the feed line to the filter unit and from there through the discharge line to the fluid taking up/receiving unit. The filter filters at least one gas component out of the gas that is passed through the filter unit. The one or more buffer storage device absorbs and again discharges gas from time to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Hans Ulrich Schüler, Ralf Heesch, Robert Schmid
  • Publication number: 20260115406
    Abstract: A ventilation system and a ventilation process artificially ventilate a patient. A control arrangement and a control process control a ventilation arrangement belonging to the ventilation system. An anesthetic dispenser unit (38) provides an anesthetic gas mixture (Ng) with a predetermined target concentration (conreq) of an anesthetic (Nm). A ventilator (12) conveys a breathable gas mixture with the anesthetic gas mixture (Ng) to a patient-side coupling unit. The target concentration (conreq) is specified so that it is at most equal to a calculated upper concentration threshold (conmax). The higher the temperature in the anesthetic dispenser unit (38), in the ventilator (12) and/or in an environment, the greater is the upper concentration threshold (conmax). The risk of anesthetic (Nm) condensing is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Ralf HEESCH, Klaus RADOMSKI
  • Publication number: 20250332371
    Abstract: A device (11) on a circuit system (8) for an anesthesia system (100), is configured to increase an amount of oxygen (O2) in the circuit system (8) in a special operating situation. The anesthesia system includes a control unit (20) that determines an individual ventilation situation and determines, on the basis of measured values provided by a sensor system (30), whether the special operating situation (74) is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Ralf HEESCH, Robert SCHMID, Martin LINNARTZ
  • Publication number: 20250319268
    Abstract: A scavenging system and a process have a conveying state with a suction arrangement (200) conveying a fluid from a source to a sink. In a rest state, the conveyance of fluid is prevented or interrupted. A plug (15) can be plugged into a socket (16), and, if plugged in, a fluid connection is established between the source and the sink. In a conveying switching position, a switching element (38.1, 38.2) sets the scavenging system to the conveying state, and in a rest switching position to the rest state. A passive resetting element (39.1, 39.2) holds the switching element in the conveying switching position in a rest state. A switched-on actuator (42.1, 42.2) switches the switching element to the rest switching position against a resetting force of the resetting element. A signal-processing control unit detects an event that no fluid is escaping from the source and switches the actuator on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2025
    Publication date: October 16, 2025
    Inventors: Ralf HEESCH, Robert SCHMID
  • Patent number: 12343478
    Abstract: An anesthetic dispenser (100) includes an anesthetic tank (7) and a mixing unit (9) that mixes an anesthetic from the anesthetic tank with a carrier gas. Liquid anesthetic (Nm) can be refilled into the anesthetic tank through a refill opening (6). In one operating mode, a specified operating pressure is maintained. A closure (16) is moveable from a closed position via an intermediate position to an open position and closes the refill opening in both the closed position and the intermediate position. When the closure is moved from the closed position to the intermediate position, a transition time period elapses. A position sensor (22) detects the event that the closure has been moved out of the closed position. In response to this detection, pressure in the anesthetic tank is lowered during the transition period to a refill pressure that is still above ambient pressure. The closure is then opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventor: Ralf Heesch
  • Publication number: 20240058562
    Abstract: A taking up/receiving system (100) and a process for taking up/receiving of gas from a medical apparatus (1) are provided. The taking up/receiving system includes a feed line (6), a discharge line (8), a filter unit (4) with a filter and at least one buffer storage device. The feed line establishes a fluid connection between the medical apparatus and the filter unit. The discharge line establishes a fluid connection between the filter unit and a fluid taking up/receiving unit (7). The gas is discharged from the medical apparatus and is passed through the feed line to the filter unit and from there through the discharge line to the fluid taking up/receiving unit. The filter filters at least one gas component out of the gas that is passed through the filter unit. The one or more buffer storage device absorbs and again discharges gas from time to time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Hans Ulrich SCHÜLER, Ralf HEESCH, Robert SCHMID
  • Patent number: 11844904
    Abstract: An taking up/receiving system (100) and a process for taking up/receiving of gas from a medical apparatus (1) are provided. The taking up/receiving system includes a feed line (6), a discharge line (8), a filter unit (4) with a filter and at least one buffer storage device. The feed line establishes a fluid connection between the medical apparatus and the filter unit. The discharge line establishes a fluid connection between the filter unit and a fluid taking up/receiving unit (7). The gas is discharged from the medical apparatus and is passed through the feed line to the filter unit and from there through the discharge line to the fluid taking up/receiving unit. The filter filters at least one gas component out of the gas that is passed through the filter unit. The one or more buffer storage device absorbs and again discharges gas from time to time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Hans Ulrich Schüler, Ralf Heesch, Robert Schmid
  • Publication number: 20230041741
    Abstract: A supply arrangement (100) and a process supply a medical device (50, 90) with a supply gas mixture. The supply gas mixture includes a carrier gas and an anesthetic and is generated by an anesthetic dispenser (3). A carrier gas mixing unit (9) generates the carrier gas from at least two carrier gas components. A carrier gas switch having a regular outlet and a discharge outlet selectively directs carrier gas components to the carrier gas mixing unit or to a discharge line (35). A gas mixture switch (6), having a regular outlet (41) and a discharge outlet (42) selectively directs the supply gas mixture to the medical device or to the discharge line (35). An anesthetic concentration sensor (5.1, 5.2) measures a concentration of anesthetic in the generated gas mixture. A control unit (2) controls the gas mixture switch based on measured concentration within or outside a predefined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Ralf HEESCH, Sven PASDZIOR, Klaus RADOMSKI
  • Publication number: 20220409846
    Abstract: An anesthetic dispenser (100) includes an anesthetic tank (7) and a mixing unit (9) that mixes an anesthetic from the anesthetic tank with a carrier gas. Liquid anesthetic (Nm) can be refilled into the anesthetic tank through a refill opening (6). In one operating mode, a specified operating pressure is maintained. A closure (16) is moveable from a closed position via an intermediate position to an open position and closes the refill opening in both the closed position and the intermediate position. When the closure is moved from the closed position to the intermediate position, a transition time period elapses. A position sensor (22) detects the event that the closure has been moved out of the closed position. In response to this detection, pressure in the anesthetic tank is lowered during the transition period to a refill pressure that is still above ambient pressure. The closure is then opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventor: Ralf HEESCH
  • Publication number: 20210386955
    Abstract: An absorption system (100) and a process for absorption of gas from a medical apparatus (1) are provided. The absorption system includes a feed line (6), a discharge line (8), a filter unit (4) with a filter and at least one buffer storage device. The feed line establishes a fluid connection between the medical apparatus and the filter unit. The discharge line establishes a fluid connection between the filter unit and a fluid absorption unit (7). The gas is discharged from the medical apparatus and is passed through the feed line to the filter unit and from there through the discharge line to the fluid absorption unit. The filter filters at least one gas component out of the gas that is passed through the filter unit. The one or more buffer storage device absorbs and again discharges gas from time to time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Hans Ulrich SCHÜLER, Ralf HEESCH, Robert SCHMID
  • Patent number: 11141551
    Abstract: A ventilation drive (10) for an anesthesia device and a method for operating such a ventilation drive (10) are provided. The ventilation drive includes a blower unit (12), a pressure chamber (14) and a flexible bag (16) located in the pressure chamber (14). An internal volume of the bag (16) is coupled to an inspiratory branch (20) of a ventilation line. The blower unit (12) can be coupled to the internal volume of an outlet side and to an air inlet (26) for feeding ambient air on an inlet side. Further, a flow sensor (36) is provided between the outlet side of the blower unit (12) and the pressure chamber (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Andreas Brandt, Ralf Heesch, Marina Wahl
  • Patent number: 10821256
    Abstract: A method and device, for enriching a gas flow with an anesthetic, include a gas mixer (1), with gas inlets (2a, 2b) and one or more gas outlets (3a, 3b), and an anesthetic dispenser (4) connected to the one or more gas outlets. The anesthetic dispenser at least partially enriches the gas flow to provide a breathing gas flow enriched with anesthetic at a patient connector (5). A control valve (7a) is arranged fluidically in series with the anesthetic dispenser (4). The gas outlet is connected to the patient connector (5) via a gas channel (8), arranged fluidically parallel to the anesthetic dispenser (4) and in which at least another control valve (7b) is arranged. A control unit (6) actuates at least one control valve as a function of a desired value for an anesthetic concentration in the breathing gas flow to change anesthetic concentration at the patient connector (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Jürgen Manigel, Uwe Bartels, Ralf Heesch, Norbert Wruck, Klaus Radomski, Ulf Pilz
  • Patent number: 10821244
    Abstract: A medical measuring device (2), as well as to a ventilator (1), as well as to a method for operating a medical measuring device (2) or a ventilator are provided. The medical measuring device (1) includes a sensor system (14) and measuring, signal processing and calculating device (21), to detect an inspiratory measured variable, which represents an indicator for the transport of breathing gases into the lungs of a patient (80), and an expiratory measured variable, which represents an indicator for the transport of breathing gases out of the lungs of a patient (80), and to determine an indicator for a ventilation-related shifting of secretion from the expiratory measured variable and the inspiratory measured variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Andreas Brandt
  • Patent number: 10714871
    Abstract: A medical device, for example, an anesthesia apparatus or ventilator, including a hot wire sensor (10); a hot wire sensor (10) and a hot wire module (14) for a hot wire sensor (10) are provided. A first hot wire and a second hot wire (26, 28), namely, a measuring wire (26) and a compensation wire (28), are connectable to the hot wire sensor (10), for example, in the form of a hot wire module (14), in an electrically conductive manner. A first contact pair (52, 54) is associated with the measuring wire (26) for contacting same and a second contact pair (56, 58) is associated with the compensation wire (28) for contacting same. The contacts of the second contact pair (56, 58) are configured as leading contacts in relation to at least one of the contacts of the first contact pair (52, 54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Bernd Kellner, Henning Gerder, Thomas Reßing, Andreas Timmann
  • Patent number: 10702668
    Abstract: A ventilator or anesthesia device and method create a reference state and record a measured value as a reference value. A gas delivery unit is activated after the ending of the reference state to build up pressure in a breathing circuit. A comparison measured value is determined with a pressure or flow sensor. A deviation of the measured value from the reference value in relation to a predefined or predefinable expected value is monitored based on the comparison. A warning message is issued depending on a result of the comparison. A drop in pressure in the breathing circuit is caused after the recording of the comparison measured value and a further comparison measured value is recorded following the drop in pressure. A deviation of the further comparison measured value from the reference value leads to a further warning message when the deviation does not correspond to the further expected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Robert Schmid, Jonas Börner
  • Patent number: 10661042
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying breathing air to a person includes a rebreathing system arranged in the air supply circuit, which removes CO2 at least in part present in the person's expiration air with a CO2 absorber, and treats the expiration air to supply treated air to the person again as inhalation air. The apparatus includes a condensate collection container (9) collecting water forming in the air supply circuit. The condensate collection container (9) is arranged at least in part below a reaction zone (17) of the CO2 absorber (1). At least one heat exchanger (10, 14) is provided in the CO2 absorber, via which heat from the air, which flows through the CO2 absorber and is heated as a result of the exothermic CO2 absorption reaction occurring in the reaction zone of the CO2 absorber, is dissipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventor: Ralf Heesch
  • Patent number: 10478575
    Abstract: A method and a control program for operating an anesthesia apparatus, as well as an anesthesia apparatus (12), which operates according to the method are provided. The anesthesia apparatus includes a breathing gas feed unit (22) intended for displacing a breathing gas volume in a breathing circuit (10). A piston (23) brings about the displacement of the breathing gas. Switching over between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation during the return of the piston (23) allows for a presetting of a corresponding piston return velocity. The piston return velocity depends on a volume flow in an exhalation branch (34) of the breathing circuit (10) in the first mode of operation. The piston return velocity depends on a minimally necessary piston return velocity in the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Draägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Robert Schmid, Jonas Börner
  • Patent number: 10456549
    Abstract: A respiration system with a respirator (2) and with a breathing system (1), which is detachably coupled with the respirator. The coupling between the respirator and the breathing system takes place by at least two connector systems (3). The coupling between the respirator and the breathing system is designed such that the volume flow through the connector systems always takes place in only one direction. A pressure sensor (9; 9?) is preferably combined with at least one of the connector systems (3) such that a unidirectional volume flow, by which the direction of migration of bacteria through the connector system is influenced in the desired manner, becomes established within this connector system (3), as a result of which the connector system and the coupled sensor are kept free from bacteria, viruses and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Ahmet Türker
  • Patent number: 10279133
    Abstract: The function of a respiration system, with a patient port (1) with connected inspiration branch (3) and expiration branch, is checked. A rebreathing line (9) connects the inspiration branch to the expiration branch. A reservoir (25) is connected to a reservoir port (27) in the rebreathing line. An actuatable control valve (29) is provided in the rebreathing line between the expiration branch and the reservoir port. A pressure sensor (33) is connected to the rebreathing line. A control unit (39) is connected to the control valve and to pressure sensor. The process includes closing the control valve for a preset inspiration time and opening it for a preset expiration time. The value sent by the pressure sensor is detected with the control valve opened during the expiration time and compared with a preset first threshold valve. An error message is generated when the value sent exceeds the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Drägerwerk AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Ralf Heesch, Till Rahlf
  • Publication number: 20180221606
    Abstract: A ventilation drive (10) for an anesthesia device and a method for operating such a ventilation drive (10) are provided. The ventilation drive includes a blower unit (12), a pressure chamber (14) and a flexible bag (16) located in the pressure chamber (14). An internal volume of the bag (16) is coupled to an inspiratory branch (20) of a ventilation line. The blower unit (12) can be coupled to the internal volume of an outlet side and to an air inlet (26) for feeding ambient air on an inlet side. Further, a flow sensor (36) is provided between the outlet side of the blower unit (12) and the pressure chamber (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas BRANDT, Ralf HEESCH, Marina WAHL