Apparatus and method for respiratory tract therapy

• US 20030209246A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc
• Original Assignee: Bridge Bank N A (Bridge Bank)
• Inventors: Niland, William F, Cortez, Felino V Jr., Bamford, Owen S, Broeck, Dirk Ten, Schroeder, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.17
• 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 16/0666 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 16/0808 Condensation traps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0841 for sampling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1075 by influencing the temperature A61M16/1045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/109 the humidifying liquid or the beneficial agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1095 in the connecting tubes
• 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 16/162 Water-reservoir filling system, e.g. automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for delivering heated and humidified air to the respiratory tract of a human patient for respiratory tract therapy and treatment. The apparatus includes a supply unit (11) and a delivery tube (28) that can be releasably connected to the supply unit (11). Methods of respiratory tract therapy and treatment are also provided.

Claims

1. A tubing assembly for delivering gas to a patient from a supply unit having a port defining a gas outlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid inlet, said tubing assembly comprising:

a tube having a gas passage to deliver gas toward a patient and a fluid passage to circulate fluid and transfer heat to gas in the gas passage;

a fitting connected to said tube, said fitting having a gas inlet oriented to provide gas flow between the gas outlet of the supply unit and said gas passage of said tube, said fitting further comprising a fluid inlet oriented to provide fluid flow between the fluid outlet of the supply unit and said fluid passage of said tube, and said fitting further comprising a fluid outlet oriented to provide fluid flow between said fluid passage of said tube and the fluid inlet of the supply unit;

said fitting of said tubing assembly being configured to provide flow communication between the gas outlet, the fluid outlet, and the fluid inlet of the supply unit and said gas passage and said fluid passage of said tube upon insertion of said fitting of said tubing assembly into the port of the supply unit.

2. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fitting of said tubing assembly being coupled to a proximal end of said tube.

3. The tubing assembly defined in claim 2, said tubing assembly further comprising a supply fitting coupled to a distal end of said tube.

4. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said gas passage of said tube of said tubing assembly extending from a proximal end to a distal end of said tube.

5. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fluid passage of said tube comprising a fluid supply passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end of said tube and a fluid return passage extending from said distal end to said proximal end of said tube, said fluid passage being configured to circulate fluid from said proximal end to said distal end of said tube through said fluid supply passage and from said distal end to said proximal end of said tube through said fluid return passage.

6. The tubing assembly defined in claim 5, said tubing assembly defining a passage for fluid flow between said fluid supply passage and said fluid return passage adjacent said distal end of said tube.

7. The tubing assembly defined in claim 5, said fluid inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly being positioned for flow communication with said fluid supply passage of said tube adjacent said proximal end of said tube.

8. The tubing assembly defined in claim 7, said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly being positioned for flow communication with said fluid return passage of said tube adjacent said proximal end of said tube.

9. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said gas inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly extending axially for flow communication with the gas outlet of the supply unit.

10. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fluid inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly being configured for longitudinal alignment with the fluid outlet of the supply unit.

11. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly being configured for longitudinal alignment with the fluid inlet of the supply unit.

12. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fluid inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly extending radially for flow communication with the fluid outlet of the supply unit.

13. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly extending radially for flow communication with the fluid inlet of the supply unit.

14. The tubing assembly defined in claim 1, said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly extending along a common axis oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said tube.

15. In combination with the tubing assembly defined in claim 1, a supply unit configured to supply gas for delivery to a patient and to supply fluid for heating the gas;

said supply unit comprising a port defining a gas outlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid inlet, said fitting of said tubing assembly being releasably engaged in said port of said supply unit;

said gas outlet of said supply unit being in flow communication with said gas inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly;

said fluid outlet of said supply unit being in flow communication with said fluid inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly; and

said fluid inlet of said supply unit being in flow communication with said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly.

16. The combination defined in claim 15, said supply unit being configured to humidify gas and to deliver humidified gas to said gas outlet of said supply unit.

17. The combination defined in claim 15, said supply unit being configured to heat fluid and to circulate heated fluid from said fluid inlet of said supply unit to said fluid outlet of said supply unit.

18. The combination defined in claim 15, said gas inlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly and said gas outlet of said supply unit extending along the longitudinal axis of said tube of said tubing assembly.

19. The combination defined in claim 15, said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly extending radially outwardly.

20. The combination defined in claim 19, said fitting of said tubing assembly comprising a flange configured to engage a surface of said port for rotation of said fitting into locking engagement with said port, said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet of said fitting of said tubing assembly being in flow communication with said fluid outlet and said fluid inlet of said port, respectively, upon said rotation of said fitting into locking engagement with said port.

21. The combination defined in claim 15, said port of said supply unit comprising valves to close said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet upon removal of said fitting of said tubing assembly from said port.

22. The combination defined in claim 21, said valves of said port being configured to be opened upon insertion of said fitting of said tubing assembly into said port, thereby permitting flow communication between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet of said port and said fluid passage of said tubing assembly.

23. The combination defined in claim 15, said supply unit further comprising a sensor mounted to detect the presence of liquid in gas delivered to said gas outlet.

24. The combination defined in claim 23, said sensor being configured to sense the intensity of a light beam generated through the gas, wherein the presence of liquid in the gas decreases the intensity of said light beam.

25. The combination defined in claim 23, said supply unit being configured to prevent the delivery of gas to said gas outlet when the presence of liquid is detected in the gas.

26. An apparatus for removing air from a circulating liquid comprising:

a chamber having an inlet for introducing circulating liquid into said chamber, an inlet for introducing supplemental liquid into said chamber, and an outlet for delivering circulating liquid and supplemental liquid from said chamber;

said chamber being configured to accumulate air from circulating liquid entering said chamber through said circulating liquid inlet; and

said supplemental liquid inlet being positioned to discharge accumulated air from said chamber.

27. The apparatus defined in claim 26, said circulating liquid inlet being positioned above said circulating liquid outlet.

28. The apparatus defined in claim 26, said supplemental liquid inlet being positioned below said circulating liquid inlet.

29. The apparatus defined in claim 26, said supplemental liquid inlet being positioned above said circulating liquid and supplemental liquid outlet.

30. The apparatus defined in claim 26, said supplemental liquid inlet being defined by a wall extending into an interior of said chamber.

31. The apparatus defined in claim 30, said wall forming a tube extending downwardly into said interior of said chamber.

32. The apparatus defined in claim 30, said wall terminating at a location below said circulating liquid inlet.

33. The apparatus defined in claim 26, further comprising a port to receive a sensor configured to sense a condition of liquid in said chamber.

34. The apparatus defined in claim 33, said sensor being configured to sense the temperature of liquid in said chamber.

35. The apparatus defined in claim 26, said supplemental liquid inlet having a diameter of at least about ⅜

inch.

36. A method for warming a patient comprising delivering heated and humidified oxygen to the nasal passageway of the patient through a nasal cannula.

37. The method defined in claim 36, wherein heated and humidified oxygen is delivered to the nasal passageway of the patient at about 37C to 42C for more than 30 minutes.

38. The method defined in claim 36, wherein heated and humidified oxygen is delivered to the nasal passageway of the patient at about 20 liters per minute.

39. The method defined in claim 36, wherein heated and humidified oxygen is delivered to the nasal passageway of the patient at about 100% humidity.

40. A method for enhancing athletic performance comprising delivering heated and humidified air to the nasal passageway of the athlete through a nasal cannula prior to the athletic performance.

41. The method defined in claim 40, wherein heated and humidified air is delivered to the nasal passageway of the athlete at about 37C.

42. The method defined in claim 40, wherein heated and humidified air is delivered to the nasal passageway of the athlete at about 30 to 35 liters per minute.

43. The method defined in claim 40, wherein heated and humidified air is delivered to the nasal passageway of the athlete for up to about 1 hour.

44. The method defined in claim 40, wherein heated and humidified air is delivered to the nasal passageway of the athlete at about 100% humidity.

45. A method for reducing the work of breathing of patient comprising delivering heated and humidified air to the nasal passageway of the patient through a nasal cannula.

46. The method defined in claim 45, wherein heated and humidified air is delivered to the nasal passageway of the patient at up to 25 liters per minute.

47. The method defined in claim 45, wherein heated and humidified air is delivered to the nasal passageway of the patient at about 15 to 20 liters per minute.

48. A method for weaning a patient from mechanical ventilation comprising removing the patient from mechanical ventilation and delivering heated and humidified oxygen to the nasal passageway of the patient through a nasal cannula at about 10 liters per minute or more.

49. The method defined in claim 48, wherein heated and humidified oxygen is delivered to the nasal passageway of the patient through a nasal cannula at about 20 liters per minute or more

50. A method for treating an asthma patient comprising delivering heated and humidified air to the nasal passageway of the patient through a nasal cannula.

51. A method for improving the vocal function of an individual comprising delivering heated and humidified air to the nasal passageway of the individual through a nasal cannula prior to vocal exercise.