Systems and methods for patient-proximate vapor transfer for respiratory therapy

• US 10,398,871 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Original Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Inventors: Cortez, Jr., Felino V., Busey, Charles, Dungan, II, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Catharine L
• Application Number:
  US14/675,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/108 before being humidified or mixed with a beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/142 with semi-permeable walls separating the liquid from the respiratory gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/145 using hollow fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/16 Devices to humidify the respiration air A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/366 by liquid heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7536 : allowing gas passage, but preventing liquid passage, e.g. liquophobic, hydrophobic, water-repellent membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 : on the body

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for humidifying a breathing gas are presented. The system includes a source of pressurized breathing gas, a vapor transfer unit external to the source of pressurized breathing gas, a first gas tube connecting the source of pressurized breathing gas to the gas inlet of the vapor transfer unit and having a first length, a liquid supply having a heater that heats liquid, a first liquid tube coupling the liquid supply to the liquid inlet of the vapor transfer unit, and a second gas tube having a second length and connecting the gas outlet to a patient interface. The first length is greater than the second length. The vapor transfer unit includes a gas passage, a liquid passage, and a membrane separating the gas passage and the liquid passage. The membrane is positioned to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage.

Claims

1. A system for heating and humidifying a breathing gas, the system comprising:

a source of pressurized breathing gas;

a vapor transfer unit external to the source of pressurized breathing gas, the vapor transfer unit having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion,

a gas inlet, liquid inlet, and liquid outlet located at the first end portion,

a gas outlet located at the second end portion,

a gas passage coupling the gas inlet to the gas outlet, the gas passage configured to allow gas to flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet in a gas flow direction, and

a liquid passage coupling the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet, the liquid passage configured to allow liquid to flow from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in a liquid flow direction, the liquid flow direction opposite the gas flow direction along at least a portion of the vapor transfer unit;

and a membrane separating the gas passage and the liquid passage, wherein the membrane is positioned to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage;

a first gas tube connecting the source of pressurized breathing gas to the gas inlet of the vapor transfer unit and having a first length;

a liquid supply having a heater that heats liquid of the liquid supply and having a heated liquid outlet;

a first liquid tube coupling the heated liquid outlet to the liquid inlet of the vapor transfer unit; and

a second gas tube having a second length and connecting the gas outlet to a nasal cannula, wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second length is about 7 feet or less.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vapor transfer unit includes a fixation device configured to secure the vapor transfer unit to a patient.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the fixation device includes at least one of a lanyard, a clip, a holster, a headband, a strap, armband, sling, and a vest.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized breathing gas is configured to deliver the breathing gas at a pressure equal to or less than about 13 psi.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second liquid tube connecting the liquid supply to the liquid outlet of the vapor transfer unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized breathing gas includes a gas blender.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized breathing gas is configured to heat the breathing gas.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized breathing gas is configured to display a temperature of the breathing gas.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized breathing gas includes at least one of a mechanical ventilator, a high flow therapy system, an oxygen concentrator, and an oxygen tank.

11. A vapor transfer unit for humidifying a breathing gas, the vapor transfer unit comprising:

a housing having;

a first end portion,

a second end portion opposite the first end portion,

a gas inlet, liquid inlet, and liquid outlet located at the first end portion,

a gas outlet located at the second end portion,

a gas passage coupling the gas inlet to the gas outlet, the gas passage configured to allow gas to flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet in a gas flow direction,

a liquid passage coupling the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet, the liquid passage configured to allow liquid to flow from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet in a liquid flow direction, the liquid flow direction opposite the gas flow direction along at least a portion of the vapor transfer unit, and

a membrane separating the gas passage and the liquid passage, wherein the membrane is configured to transfer vapor from the liquid passage to the gas passage;

a gas input tube having a first end connected to a source of pressurized breathing gas and a second end opposite the first end, the second end being connected to the gas inlet, wherein the gas input tube has a first length; and

a gas output tube having a first end connected to the gas outlet and a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a nasal cannula for delivering humidified gas to a patient, wherein the gas output tube has a second length;

wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

12. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, wherein the first length is greater than about two feet.

13. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, wherein the gas passage is enveloped by the liquid passage.

14. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, wherein the membrane is pleated.

15. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, wherein the membrane comprises a plurality of hollow fiber tubes.

16. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, wherein the liquid passage is enveloped by the gas passage.

17. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, further comprising a liquid input tube having a first end configured to connect to a source of pressurized liquid and a second end opposite the first end, the second end being connected to the liquid inlet.

18. The vapor transfer unit of claim 17, further comprising a liquid output tube having a first end connected to the liquid outlet and a second end opposite the first end, the second end being configured to connect to the source of pressurized liquid.

19. The vapor transfer unit of claim 11, further comprising a fixation device for coupling the vapor transfer unit to the patient.

20. The vapor transfer unit of claim 19, wherein the fixation device includes at least one of a lanyard, a clip, a holster, a headband, a strap, and a vest.