Hybrid microprocessor controlled ventilator unit

• US 20020185127A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Banner, Neil R. Euliano, Paul B. Blanch, Richard J. Melker, Ronald G. Carovano Jr, Samsun Lampotang
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Banner, Neil R. Euliano, Paul B. Blanch, Richard J. Melker, Ronald G. Carovano Jr, Samsun Lampotang
• Inventors: Carovano, Ronald G. Jr., Melker, Richard J., Euliano, Neil R., Lampotang, Samsun, Banner, Michael J., Blanch, Paul B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.22
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/026 specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0858 Pressure sampling ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/203 Proportional
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/206 Capsule valves, e.g. mushroom, membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/208 Non-controlled one-way valves, e.g. exhalation, check, pop-off non-rebreathing valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/209 Relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a ventilator in a primary electronic mode or in a back-up pneumatic mode during primary electronic mode failure. A method and apparatus for operating a ventilator in an advanced mode, having a number of ventilatory modes, or in a basic mode, having a limited number of ventilatory modes is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A ventilator, comprising;

a primary electronic ventilator subsystem,

a backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem,

said backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem being inoperative during primary electronic ventilator operation,

said backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem being operable during primary electronic ventilator subsystem failure.

2. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein said backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem further comprises parameter tracking valves, said parameter tracking valves being adjusted during primary electronic ventilator subsystem operation and maintaining said adjustments during said backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem operation.

3. The ventilator of claim 2, wherein a first parameter tracking valve is provided for maintaining continuous positive airway pressure, during backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem operation, at the level provided during primary electronic ventilator operation.

4. The ventilator of claim 1, wherein a second parameter tracking valve is provided for maintaining tidal volume, during backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem operation, at the level provided during primary electronic ventilator operation.

5. The ventilator of claim 1, further comprising a lockout mechanism to prevent operation of said backup pneumatic ventilator subsystem during initial power up of said primary electronic ventilator subsystem.

6. The ventilator of claim 5, wherein said lockout mechanism is a parameter tracking valve.

7. A ventilator, comprising;

an electronically driven flow control valve,

a microprocessor for controlling said electronically driven flow control valve,

a first pneumatically driven control valve,

a first pneumatically driven timing unit for controlling said pneumatically driven control valve,

wherein said electronically driven flow control valve operates at a first time, and

wherein said first pneumatically driven control valve operates at a second time.

8. The ventilator of claim 7, further comprising an electronically set flow control valve connected to said first pneumatically driven control valve.

9. The ventilator of claim 8, wherein said electronically set flow control valve is set during operation of said electronically driven flow control valve.

10. The ventilator of claim 7, wherein said electronically driven flow control valve can be operated to provide ventilation in a plurality of ventilatory modes.

11. The ventilator of claim 7, further comprising;

a second pneumatically driven control valve,

a second pneumatically driven timing unit for controlling said pneumatically driven control valve.

14. The ventilator of claim 13, wherein the first set of ventilatory modes is a subset of the second set of ventilatory modes.

15. The ventilator of claim 14, wherein said first ventilatory mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure.

16. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilatory mode includes controlled mechanical ventilation.

17. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes controlled mechanical ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure.

18. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes continuous positive airway pressure.

19. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation.

20. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure.

21. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes pressure support ventilation.

22. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure and pressure support ventilation.

23. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes pressure controlled ventilation.

24. The ventilator of claim 15, wherein said second ventilation mode includes pressure controlled ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said first ventilatory mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilatory mode includes controlled mechanical ventilation.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes controlled mechanical ventilation with positive end expiratory pressure.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes continuous positive airway pressure.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes pressure support ventilation.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure an d pressure support ventilation.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes pressure controlled ventilation.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein said second ventilation mode includes pressure controlled ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure.

36. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of detecting a disconnect of the ventilator from the patient, and

providing intermittent bursts of gas when a disconnect is detected and the ventilator is operating in a mode providing continuous positive airway pressure.

12. A ventilator, comprising:

a primary ventilator subsystem,

a supply valve operating in a plurality of modes,

a back-up ventilator subsystem, comprising;

a pneumatically operated valve,

a timing unit coupled to the pneumatically operated valve for activating the pneumatically operated valve, and

a flow rate control device connected to the pneumatically operated valve for receiving an output from said pneumatically operated valve,

wherein said supply valve provides a supply to the primary ventilator subsystem under a first set of operating conditions, and

wherein the supply valve provides a supply to the back-up ventilator subsystem under a second set of operating conditions.

13. A ventilator, comprising:

a ventilation flow rate control device;

a controller for adjusting the ventilation flow rate control device;

wherein the controller can be operated in a first mode to adjust the ventilation flow rate control device to provide ventilation in a first set of ventilatory modes;

wherein the controller can be operated in a second mode to adjust the ventilation flow rate control device to provide ventilation in a second set of ventilatory modes.

25. A method of operating a ventilator, comprising the steps of:

providing ventilation, in one instance, in one of a first set of ventilatory modes;

disabling at least one ventilatory mode of said second set of ventilatory modes to create a first set of ventilatory modes;

providing ventilation, in a second instance, in one of said second set of ventilatory modes.