PRESSURE SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH A LOW LEAK ALARM AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A pressure support system comprising:
- a pressure generator adapted to provide a gas flow;
a conduit operatively coupled to said pressure generator to deliver a gas flow to a patient;
an interface device operatively coupled to said conduit to communicate a gas flow to an airway of a patient, wherein at least one of said conduit and said interface device includes an exhaust vent that provides a flow of exhaust gas to atmosphere from a respective one of said conduit and said interface device;
a sensor operatively coupled to said conduit to detect a rate at which gas flows in said conduit and to provide a first output indicative thereof;
a sensor operatively coupled to at least one of said interface device and a portion of said conduit proximate to said interface device to detect a pressure of gas at a patient and to provide a second output indicative thereof; and
a control system receiving said first output and said second output, wherein said control system determines whether a current flow of exhaust gas passing through said exhaust vent is below an alarm threshold based on said first and said second output and provides a third output indicative of said determination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure support system and method of using same that includes a pressure generator adapted to provide a gas flow, a conduit coupled to the pressure generator to deliver a gas flow to a patient, an interface device coupled to the conduit to communicate the gas flow to an airway of the patient. An exhaust vent that provides a flow of exhaust gas to atmosphere is provided in the conduit or the interface device. A flow sensor detects a rate at which gas flows in the conduit and provides a first output indicative thereof, and a pressure sensor detects a pressure of gas at the patient and provides a second output indicative thereof. A control system receives the first and second outputs and determines whether a current flow of exhaust gas passing through the exhaust vent is below an alarm threshold based on the first and second outputs and provides a third output indicative of this determination.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A pressure support system comprising:
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a pressure generator adapted to provide a gas flow;
a conduit operatively coupled to said pressure generator to deliver a gas flow to a patient;
an interface device operatively coupled to said conduit to communicate a gas flow to an airway of a patient, wherein at least one of said conduit and said interface device includes an exhaust vent that provides a flow of exhaust gas to atmosphere from a respective one of said conduit and said interface device;
a sensor operatively coupled to said conduit to detect a rate at which gas flows in said conduit and to provide a first output indicative thereof;
a sensor operatively coupled to at least one of said interface device and a portion of said conduit proximate to said interface device to detect a pressure of gas at a patient and to provide a second output indicative thereof; and
a control system receiving said first output and said second output, wherein said control system determines whether a current flow of exhaust gas passing through said exhaust vent is below an alarm threshold based on said first and said second output and provides a third output indicative of said determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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14. A method of providing pressure support including a low leak alarm comprising the steps of:
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providing a gas flow from a pressure generator to a patient via a conduit operatively coupled to said pressure generator, wherein an interface device is also coupled to said conduit to communicate a gas flow from said conduit to an airway of a patient, and wherein an exhaust vent in disposed in one of said interface device and a portion of said conduit proximate to said interface device to communicate a flow of exhaust gas to atmosphere from a respective one of said conduit and said interface device;
detecting a rate at which gas flows in said conduit and providing a first output indicative thereof;
detecting a pressure of gas at a patient and providing a second output indicative thereof;
determining whether a current flow of exhaust gas passing through said exhaust vent is below an alarm threshold based on said first output and said second output; and
providing a third output indicative of a result of said determining step.
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Specification