Process for checking the function of a respiration system

• US 10,279,133 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Inventors: Heesch, Ralf, Rahlf, Till
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boecker, Joseph D.
• Application Number:
  US14/931,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20160051779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/091 Measuring volume of inspired or expired gases, e.g. to determine lung capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0045 Means for re-breathing exhaled gases, e.g. for hyperventilation treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0078 Breathing bags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0081 Bag or bellow in a bottle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/01 specially adapted for anaesthetising A61M16/104, A61M16/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0891 Closed circuit, e.g. for anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/104 specially adapted for anaesthetics A61M16/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/201 Controlled valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/22 Carbon dioxide-absorbing devices ; Other means for removing carbon dioxidecartridges with absorbing substances for respiratory apparatus A62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use

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.

Claims

1. A respiration system comprising:

a patient port;

an inspiration branch, which has an inspiration branch first end and an inspiration branch second end as well as an inspiration branch nonreturn valve, which opens when a pressure on a side of the inspiration branch nonreturn valve facing the inspiration branch second end is above a pressure on a side of the inspiration branch nonreturn valve facing the inspiration branch first end, wherein the inspiration branch first end is connected to the patient port;

an expiration branch, which has an expiration branch first end and an expiration branch second end as well as an expiration branch nonreturn valve, which opens when a pressure on a side of the expiration branch nonreturn valve facing the expiration branch first end is above a pressure on the side of the expiration branch nonreturn valve facing the expiration branch second end, wherein the expiration branch first end is connected to the patient port;

a rebreathing line, which connects the inspiration branch second end to the expiration branch second end;

a reservoir, which has a variable volume with a maximum volume and which is connected to a reservoir port in the rebreathing line;

an actuatable control valve, which is provided in the rebreathing line between the expiration branch second end and the reservoir port;

a pressure sensor, which is connected to the rebreathing line adjacent to the reservoir port; and

a control unit, which is connected to the actuatable control valve and to the pressure sensor, the control unit closing the actuatable control valve for a preset inspiration time, opening the actuatable control valve for a preset expiration time, detecting a value sent by the pressure sensor, with the actuatable control valve opened during the expiration phase, comparing the value detected with a preset threshold value and generating an error message when the value detected exceeds the preset threshold value.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a respiration drive, which is arranged in the rebreathing line between the reservoir port and the inspiration branch second end, wherein the control unit operates the respiration drive during the inspiration time to generate a flow in the rebreathing line from the reservoir to the inspiration branch second end and the control unit switches off the respiration drive during the expiration time or operates the respiration drive at reduced capacity, so that nonreturn valve in the inspiration branch remains closed.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit measures a duration of a time period between the opening of the control valve and a point in time at which the value sent by the pressure sensor exceeds the preset threshold value and varies the error message depending on the measured duration.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control unit detects the value sent by the pressure sensor, with the actuatable control valve closed during the inspiration time, compares the value detected, with the actuatable control valve closed, with another preset threshold value and generates another error message when the value detected, with the actuatable control valve closed, drops below the another preset threshold value.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the control unit measures a duration of a time period between the closing of control valve and a point in time at which the value sent by pressure sensor drops below the another threshold value and varies the another error message depending on the measured duration.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a manual breathing bag.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a fresh gas supply, which is connected to the rebreathing line and with which fresh gas is fed into the rebreathing line.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a volume flow sensor and a pressure sensor in the inspiration branch wherein the control unit detects the pressure and the volume flow during the inspiration time and the expiration time.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged at the reservoir port.

10. A respiration system comprising:

a patient port;

an inspiration branch, which has an inspiration branch first end and an inspiration branch second end as well as an inspiration branch nonreturn valve, which opens when a pressure on a side of the inspiration branch nonreturn valve facing the inspiration branch second end is above a pressure on a side of the inspiration branch nonreturn valve facing the inspiration branch first end, wherein the inspiration branch first end is connected to the patient port;

an expiration branch, which has an expiration branch first end and an expiration branch second end as well as an expiration branch nonreturn valve, which opens when a pressure on a side of the expiration branch nonreturn valve facing the expiration branch first end is above a pressure on the side of the expiration branch nonreturn valve facing the expiration branch second end, wherein the expiration branch first end is connected to the patient port;

a rebreathing line, which connects the inspiration branch second end to the expiration branch second end;

a reservoir, which has a variable volume with a maximum volume and which is connected to a reservoir port in the rebreathing line;

an actuatable control valve, which is provided in the rebreathing line between the expiration branch second end and the reservoir port;

a pressure sensor, which is connected to the rebreathing line adjacent to the reservoir port; and

a control unit, which is connected to the actuatable control valve and to the pressure sensor, the control unit closing the actuatable control valve for a preset inspiration time, opening the actuatable control valve for a preset expiration time, wherein at least one of;

said control unit detects a value sent by the pressure sensor, with the actuatable control valve opened during an expiration phase, compares the value detected with a preset threshold value and generates an error message when the value detected exceeds the preset threshold value; and

said control unit detects a value sent by the pressure sensor, with the actuatable control valve closed during the inspiration time, compares the value detected, with the actuatable control valve closed, with another preset threshold value and generates another error message when the value detected, with the actuatable control valve closed, drops below the another preset threshold value.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

a respiration drive, which is arranged in the rebreathing line between the reservoir port and the inspiration branch second end, wherein the control unit operates the respiration drive during an inspiration time to generate a flow in the rebreathing line from the reservoir to the inspiration branch second end and the control unit switches off the respiration drive during an expiration time or operates the respiration drive at reduced capacity, so that nonreturn valve in the inspiration branch remains closed.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one of:

the control unit measures a duration of a time period between the opening of the control valve and a point in time at which the value sent by the pressure sensor exceeds the preset threshold value and varying the error message depending on the measured duration; and

the control unit measures a duration of a time period between the closing of control valve and a point in time at which the value sent by the pressure sensor drops below the another threshold value, and the control unit varies the another error message depending on the measured duration.

13. A respiration system comprising:

a patient port;

an expiration branch nonreturn valve;

an expiration branch comprising an expiration branch first end and an expiration branch second end, said expiration branch nonreturn valve opening when pressure on a side of the expiration branch nonreturn valve facing the expiration branch first end is above pressure on the side of the expiration branch nonreturn valve facing the expiration branch second end, wherein the expiration branch first end is connected to the patient port;

an inspiration branch nonreturn valve;

an inspiration branch, which has an inspiration branch first end and an inspiration branch second end, said inspiration branch nonreturn valve opening when pressure on a side of the inspiration branch nonreturn valve facing the inspiration branch second end is above a pressure on a side of the inspiration branch nonreturn valve facing the inspiration branch first end, wherein the inspiration branch first end is connected to the patient port;

a rebreathing line, which connects the inspiration branch second end to the expiration branch second end;

a reservoir, which has a variable volume with a maximum volume and which is connected to a reservoir port in the rebreathing line;

an actuatable control valve, which is provided in the rebreathing line between the expiration branch second end and the reservoir port;

a pressure sensor, which is connected to the rebreathing line adjacent to the reservoir port;

a control unit, which is connected to the actuatable control valve and to the pressure sensor, said control unit closing the actuatable control valve for a preset inspiration time, said control unit opening the actuatable control valve for a preset expiration time, said control unit detecting a value sent by the pressure sensor, with the actuatable control valve opened during an expiration phase, said control unit comparing the value detected with a preset threshold value, said control unit generating an error message when the value detected exceeds the preset threshold value.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a respiration drive, which is arranged in the rebreathing line between the reservoir port and the inspiration branch second end, said control unit operating the respiration drive during an inspiration time to generate a flow in the rebreathing line from the reservoir to the inspiration branch second end, said control unit switching off the respiration drive during an expiration time or operates the respiration drive at reduced capacity, so that the nonreturn valve in the inspiration branch remains closed.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said control unit measures a duration of a time period between the opening of the control valve and a point in time at which the value sent by the pressure sensor exceeds the preset threshold value and said control unit varies the error message depending on the measured duration.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said control unit detects the value sent by the pressure sensor, with the actuatable control valve closed during an inspiration time, said control unit comparing the value detected, with the actuatable control valve closed, with another preset threshold value and said control unit generates another error message when the value detected, with the actuatable control valve closed, drops below the another preset threshold value.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said control unit measures a duration of a time period between a closing of the control valve and a point in time at which the value sent by pressure sensor drops below the another threshold value and said control unit varies the another error message depending on the measured duration.

18. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the reservoir comprises a manual breathing bag.

19. A system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a fresh gas supply, which is connected to the rebreathing line and with which fresh gas is fed into the rebreathing line.

20. A system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

a volume flow sensor and a second pressure sensor in the inspiration branch, wherein said control unit detects the pressure and a volume flow during an inspiration time and an expiration time, wherein the pressure sensor is arranged at the reservoir port.