Lung simulator for an integrated human patient simulator

• US 20040110117A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: van Oostrom, Johannes H., Meka, Venkata
• Granted Patent: US 6,921,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/288 for artificial respiration or heart massage
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence

Abstract

A simulated lung for use in real time simulated medical procedures comprising a positive pressure source of a gas, a vacuum pressure source, a fixed interior volume vessel having an inlet, an outlet, and a breath passage port, the inlet in communication with the positive pressure source, and the outlet in communication with the vacuum pressure source, a first flow valve intermediate the positive pressure source and the inlet, a second flow valve intermediate the vacuum pressure source and the outlet, a pressure sensor in communication with the interior volume of the vessel, and means for continuously evaluating a pressure signal generated by the pressure sensor to a desired pressure level within the vessel during the breathing cycle such that a flow of gas entering and exiting the breath passage port of the vessel is synchronized with a predetermined desired flow rate of breathing during the breathing cycle. The desired pressure level depends upon any one of i) a time and event based script, ii) a computer model, iii) or a combination of a time and event based script and a computer model based on a physiological state of a simulated patient.

Claims

1. A lung simulator for simulating breathing in real time during a breathing cycle in a patient simulator, comprising:

a. a positive pressure source of a gas;

b. a vacuum pressure source;

c. a vessel having an inlet, a outlet, and a breath passage port, the vessel defining a fixed interior volume, the inlet in communication with the positive pressure source and the outlet in communication with the vacuum pressure source;

d. a plurality of regulating means, a first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the positive pressure source and the inlet of the vessel, and a second regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the vacuum pressure source and the outlet of the vessel;

e. a pressure sensor, disposed in communication with the interior volume of the vessel, wherein the pressure sensor generates a pressure signal based on the measured pressure of the gas within the vessel;

f. means for continuously evaluating a desired pressure level within the vessel, based upon any one of i) a time and event based script, ii) a computer model, and iii) a combination of a time and event based script and a computer model based on a physiological state of a simulated patient, during the breathing cycle such that a flow of gas entering and exiting the breath passage port of the vessel is synchronized with a predetermined desired flow rate of breathing for the breathing cycle, wherein the evaluating means compares the pressure signal to the desired pressure level and generates a response signal based on the comparison; and

g. feedback means, responsive to the pressure signal, adapted to adjust at least one of the regulating means so that the pressure within the interior volume of the vessel is maintained at the desired pressure level.

2. The lung simulator of claim 1, wherein the positive pressure source of gas comprises:

a plenum having a plurality of inlet gas ports and an outlet gas port, each inlet gas port being adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas, the first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the outlet gas port of the plenum and the inlet of the vessel; and

a plurality of plenum valves, each plenum valve in communication with one respective inlet gas port of the plenum, wherein each plenum valve is electrically coupled to the evaluating means, wherein the evaluating means controls the percentage composition of the desired gas exiting from the plenum, the evaluating means determining a desired percentage composition of the gas exiting the plenum based upon any one of i) a time and event based script, ii) a computer model, and iii) a combination of a time and event based script and a computer model based on a physiological state of a simulated patient, during the breathing cycle, wherein the evaluating means sequentially generates at least one gas signal based on the comparison and communicates the gas signal to at least one plenum valve, the plenum valve being actuated for a predetermined segment of time within a predetermined period of time such that the percentage composition of the desired gas in fluid communication with the inlet of the vessel is maintained at a predetermined level.

3. A lung simulator for simulating breathing in real time during a breathing cycle in a patient simulator, comprising:

a. a positive pressure source of a gas;

b. a vacuum pressure source;

c. a vessel having an inlet, a outlet, and a breath passage port, the vessel defining a fixed interior volume, the inlet in communication with the positive pressure source and the outlet in communication with the vacuum pressure source;

d. a plurality of regulating means, a first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the positive pressure source and the inlet of the vessel, and a second regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the vacuum pressure source and the outlet of the vessel;

e. a pressure sensor, disposed in communication with the interior volume of the vessel, wherein the pressure sensor generates a pressure signal based on the measured pressure of the gas within the vessel; and

f. means for continuously evaluating a desired pressure level within the vessel, based upon any one of i) a time and event based script, ii) a computer model, and iii) a combination of a time and event based script and a computer model based on a physiological state of a simulated patient, during the breathing cycle such that a flow of gas entering and exiting the breath passage port of the vessel is synchronized with a predetermined desired flow rate of breathing for the breathing cycle.

4. The lung simulator of claim 3, wherein the evaluating means compares the pressure signal to the desired pressure level and generates a response signal based on the comparison.

5. The lung simulator of claim 4, further comprising feedback means, responsive to the pressure signal, adapted to adjust at least one of the regulating means so that the pressure within the interior volume of the vessel is maintained at the desired pressure level.

6. The lung simulator of claim 5, wherein the evaluating means comprises a microprocessor coupled to the pressure sensor.

7. The lung simulator of claim 6, wherein the feedback means comprises at least one driver circuit electrically coupled to the microprocessor and also electrically coupled to each regulating means, wherein the driver circuits adjust the regulating means based on electrical signals received from the microprocessor to vary the flow rate of gas passed through the respective regulating means during the breathing cycle.

8. The lung simulator of claim 3, wherein each regulating means comprises a flow valve.

9. The lung simulator of claim 8, wherein the flow valve is a proportional flow valve.

10. The lung simulator of claim 3, wherein the positive pressure source of gas comprises:

a plenum having a plurality of inlet gas ports and an outlet gas port, each inlet gas port being adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas, the first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the outlet gas port of the plenum and the inlet of the vessel; and

a plurality of plenum valves, each plenum valve in communication with one respective inlet gas port of the plenum, wherein each plenum valve is electrically coupled to the evaluating means, wherein the evaluating means controls the percentage composition of the desired gas exiting from the plenum, the evaluating means sequentially actuating at least one plenum valve, the plenum valve being actuated for a predetermined segment of time within a predetermined period of time so that the percentage composition of the desired gas in fluid communication with the inlet of the vessel is maintained at a predetermined level.

11. The lung simulator of claim 10, wherein the plenum valve is a binary valve.

12. A lung simulator for simulating breathing in real time during a breathing cycle in a patient simulator, comprising:

a. a positive pressure source of a gas;

b. a vacuum pressure source;

c. a vessel having an inlet, a outlet, and a breath passage port, the vessel defining a fixed interior volume, the inlet in communication with the positive pressure source and the outlet in communication with the vacuum pressure source;

d. a plurality of regulating means, a first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the positive pressure source and the inlet of the vessel, and a second regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the vacuum pressure source and the outlet of the vessel;

e. a pressure sensor, disposed in communication with the interior volume of the vessel, wherein the pressure sensor generates a pressure signal based on the measured pressure of the gas within the vessel; and

f. means for continuously evaluating the pressure signal to a predetermined desired pressure level within the vessel during the breathing cycle such that a flow of gas entering and exiting the breath passage port of the vessel is synchronized with a predetermined desired flow rate of breathing for the breathing cycle.

13. The lung simulator of claim 12, wherein the evaluating means calculates the predetermined desired pressure level based upon any one of i) a time and event based script, ii) a computer model, and iii) a combination of a time and event based script and a computer model based on a physiological state of a simulated patient.

14. The lung simulator of claim 12, wherein the evaluating means generates a response signal based on the comparison of the pressure signal to the predetermined desired pressure level.

15. The lung simulator of claim 14, further comprising feedback means, responsive to the pressure signal, adapted to adjust at least one of the regulating means so that the pressure within the interior volume of the vessel is maintained at the predetermined desired pressure level.

16. The lung simulator of claim 12, wherein the positive pressure source of gas comprises:

a plenum having a plurality of inlet gas ports and an outlet gas port, each inlet gas port being adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas, the first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the outlet gas port of the plenum and the inlet of the vessel; and

a plurality of plenum valves, each plenum valve in communication with one respective inlet gas port of the plenum, wherein each plenum valve is electrically coupled to the evaluating means, wherein the evaluating means controls the percentage composition of the desired gas exiting from the plenum, the evaluating means sequentially actuating at least one plenum valve, the plenum valve being actuated for a predetermined segment of time within a predetermined period of time so that the percentage composition of the desired gas in fluid communication with the inlet of the vessel is maintained at a predetermined level.

17. A lung simulator for simulating breathing in real time during a breathing cycle in a patient simulator, comprising:

a. a positive pressure source of a gas;

b. a vacuum pressure source;

c. a vessel having an inlet port, a outlet, and a breath passage port, the vessel defining a fixed interior volume, the inlet in communication with the positive pressure source and the outlet in communication with the vacuum pressure source;

d. a plurality of flow valves that includes a first flow valve and a second flow valve, each flow valve defining a passage adapted to adjust the flow rate of a gas therethrough, the first flow valve disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the positive pressure source and the inlet of the vessel, and the second flow valve disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the vacuum pressure source and the outlet of the vessel;

e. a pressure sensor disposed in communication with the interior volume of the vessel, wherein the pressure sensor generates an output based on the measured pressure of the gas within the vessel;

f. a microprocessor for controlling a flow of gas entering and exiting the outlet port of the vessel during the breathing cycle, wherein the microprocessor determines a desired pressure level within the vessel, based upon any one of i) a time and event based script, ii) a computer model, iii) or a combination of a time and event based script and a computer model based on a physiological state of a simulated patient.

18. The lung simulator of claim 17, wherein the microprocessor is electrically coupled to the output of the pressure sensor and the first and second flow valves, wherein the microprocessor compares the output of the pressure sensor to the desired pressure level, generates a response signal based on the comparison, and communicates the response signal to at least one of the first and second flow control valves so that the pressure within the interior volume of the vessel is maintained at the desired pressure level.

19. The lung simulator of claim 18, wherein the positive pressure source of gas comprises:

a plenum having a plurality of inlet gas ports and an outlet gas port, each inlet gas port being adapted to be in fluid communication with a supply of a desired gas, the first regulating means disposed intermediate and in fluid communication with the outlet gas port of the plenum and the inlet of the vessel; and

a plurality of plenum valves, each plenum valve in communication with one respective inlet gas port of the plenum, wherein each plenum valve is electrically coupled to the evaluating means, wherein the evaluating means controls the percentage composition of the desired gas exiting from the plenum, the evaluating means sequentially actuating at least one plenum valve, the plenum valve being actuated for a predetermined segment of time within a predetermined period of time so that the percentage composition of the desired gas in fluid communication with the inlet of the vessel is maintained at a predetermined level.

20. The lung simulator of claim 18, wherein each flow valve is a proportional valve.

21. The lung simulator of claim 19, wherein each plenum valve is a binary valve.

22. A method of simulating a lung in real time in a patient simulator during simulated medical procedures using a mannikin, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a vessel having a fixed interior volume, an inlet, an outlet, and a breath passage port;

b) providing a positive pressure source in communication with the inlet of the vessel;

c) providing a vacuum pressure source in communication with the outlet of the vessel;

d) continuously monitoring the pressure within the interior volume of the vessel;

e) continuously evaluating a desired pressure level within the interior volume of the vessel so that a flow of gas entering and exiting the breath passage port during a breathing cycle is synchronized with a predetermined desired flow rate of breathing for the breathing cycle;

f) comparing the monitored pressure to the desired pressure level; and

g) regulating the flow of gas from the positive pressure source and to the vacuum pressure source so that the pressure within the interior volume of the vessel is maintained at the desired pressure level.