Methods, systems and devices using LOX to provide ventilatory support

• US 10,099,028 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Breathe Technologies, Inc. (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wondka, Anthony D., Cipollone, Joseph, Allum, Todd W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ditmer, Kathryn E
• Application Number:
  US13/211,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,618 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0096 High frequency jet ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/125 Diluting primary gas with ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/025 Helium
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0275 Nitric oxide [NO]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/011 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2225/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/01 : Intermediate tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/025 : Breathing
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 9/02 : with change of state, e.g. vaporisation

Abstract

A portable liquid oxygen system may provide an average flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6-approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode. The rapid gas conversion mode utilizes a Stirling engine that harnesses the heat differential between the ambient temperature and the liquid oxygen store to drive a fan. The fan operates to blow ambient air across a heat exchanger, which allows the heat exchanger to more rapidly evaporate liquid oxygen into oxygen gas.

Claims

1. A portable liquid oxygen system providing an average flow rate of oxygen gas at approximately 6 lpm to approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode, the portable liquid oxygen system comprising:

a liquid oxygen store;

a heat exchanger for evaporating liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen store into oxygen gas;

a Stirling engine having a heat source and a heat sink, wherein the heat source is an opening to ambient air and wherein the heat sink is proximal to the liquid oxygen store; and

a fan, wherein during the rapid gas conversion mode, the Stirling engine drives the fan to blow ambient air from the heat source across the heat exchanger to more rapidly evaporate liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen store into oxygen gas.

2. The portable liquid oxygen system of claim 1, wherein the portable liquid oxygen system weighs less than 10 pounds.

3. The portable liquid oxygen system of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is in thermal communication with the liquid oxygen store.

4. The portable liquid oxygen system of claim 1, further comprising one or more respiration sensors, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode is activated based upon signals received from the one or more respiration sensors.

5. The portable liquid oxygen system of claim 1, further comprising one or more pulse oximeters, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode is activated based upon signals received from the one or more pulse oximeters.

6. A ventilation system comprising:

a portable ventilator; and

a portable liquid oxygen (LOX) system providing a flow rate of oxygen gas evaporated from a liquid oxygen store to the portable ventilator at approximately 6 lpm to approximately 20 lpm using a rapid gas conversion mode, the portable LOX system comprising;

a heat exchanger for evaporating the liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen store into oxygen gas;

a Stirling engine having a heat source and a heat sink, wherein the heat source is an opening to ambient air and wherein the heat sink is proximal to the liquid oxygen store; and

a fan, wherein during the rapid gas conversion mode, the Stirling engine drives the fan to blow ambient air from the heat source across the heat exchanger to more rapidly evaporate liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen store into oxygen gas.

7. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the portable ventilator and the portable liquid oxygen system are integrated into a single portable or wearable unit.

8. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the portable liquid oxygen system weighs less than 10 pounds.

9. The ventilation system of claim 6, further comprising a patient interface, wherein the patient interface is a nasal interface, a mask, an endotracheal tube, a tracheostomy tube, or a transoral tube.

10. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the ventilator is wearable.

11. The ventilation system of claim 6, further comprising a blender for titrating an amount of oxygen gas output to the ventilator.

12. The ventilation system of claim 6, wherein the heat sink is in thermal communication with the liquid oxygen store.

13. The ventilation system of claim 6, further comprising one or more respiration sensors, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode is activated based upon signals received from the one or more respiration sensors.

14. The ventilation system of claim 6, further comprising one or more pulse oximeters, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode is activated based upon signals received from the one or more pulse oximeters.

15. A liquid oxygen system having a rapid gas conversion mode, the liquid oxygen system comprising:

a liquid oxygen store;

a heat exchanger for evaporating liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen store into oxygen gas;

a Stirling engine having a heat source and a heat sink, wherein the heat source is an opening to ambient air and wherein the heat sink is proximal to the liquid oxygen store; and

a fan, wherein during the rapid gas conversion mode, the Stirling engine drives the fan to blow ambient air from the heat source across the heat exchanger to more rapidly evaporate liquid oxygen from the liquid oxygen store into oxygen gas.

16. The liquid oxygen system of claim 15, wherein the liquid oxygen system is portable.

17. The liquid oxygen system of claim 15, wherein the heat sink is in thermal communication with the liquid oxygen store.

18. The liquid oxygen system of claim 15, further comprising one or more respiration sensors, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode is activated based upon signals received from the one or more respiration sensors.

19. The liquid oxygen system of claim 15, further comprising one or more pulse oximeters, wherein the rapid gas conversion mode is activated based upon signals received from the one or more pulse oximeters.