Ventilator

• US 20020082512A1
• Filed: 08/03/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maquet Critical Care AB (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Siemens-Elema AB (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Strom, Christer
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/00 Devices for influencing the respiratory system of patients by gas treatment, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration; Tracheal tubes stimulating the respiratory movement by mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means, iron lungs combined with gas breathing means A61H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/12 by mixing different gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control

Abstract

A ventilator has an inspiratory unit and an expiratory valve for regulating a flow of breathing gas and a control unit for controlling the inspiratory unit and the expiratory valve. In order to facilitate the opening of collapsed alveoli in the lungs, the control unit controls the inspiratory unit and the expiratory valve to generate a recruitment phase with an elevated basic pressure for the flow of breathing gas upon which a number of breaths is superimposed at a faster breathing rate.

Claims

1. A ventilator comprising:

an inspiratory unit;

an expiratory valve;

a control unit for controlling said inspiratory unit and said expiratory valve to regulate a flow of breathing gas by generating a recruitment phase with an elevated basic pressure for said breathing gas, with a plurality of breaths superimposed at an increased breathing rate.

2. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit controls said inspiratory unit and said expiratory valve to produce said elevated basic pressure in a range from 10 to 60 cmH₂O.

3. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit controls said inspiratory unit and said expiratory valve to generate said superimposed breaths at a pressure in a range from 1 to 10 cmH₂O.

4. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit controls said inspiratory unit and said expiratory valve to generate said increased breathing rate in a range from 50 to 200 breaths/minute.

5. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit controls said inspiratory unit and said expiratory valve to set said increased breathing rate as a percentage of a predetermined normal breathing rate.

6. A ventilator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said control unit sets said percentage to a percentage in a range between 110% and 1000%.

7. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit controls said inspiratory unit and said expiratory valve to generate said recruitment phase for a duration in a range between 10 to 100 seconds.