Insufflation system and method

• US 20040221854A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RIC INVESTMENTS LLC (Respironics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Respironics Incorporated
• Inventors: McCann, Thomas A., Kimm, Gardner J., Hete, Bernie F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,431,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0012 by Venturi means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/04 Tracheal tubes catheters in general A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/042 with separate conduits for in-and expiration gas, e.g. for limited dead volume
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1015 using a gas flush valve, e.g. oxygen flush valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1055 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/1065 in the expiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/127 by Venturi effect, i.e. entrainment mixers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3358 Measuring barometric pressure, e.g. for compensation

Abstract

An insufflation system that includes a first tube that inserts into a patient'"'"'s airway for providing a primary flow of breathing gas to such a patient. At least one insufflation catheter is provided in or within the first tube for delivering a flow of insufflation gas to the patient. In one embodiment, a flow control system is coupled between the first tube, the insufflation catheter, and a source of insufflation gas to control the flow of gas between the patient circuit, the insufflation catheter, and the source of insufflation gas. In another embodiment, a ventilator and tracheal gas insufflation system are provided in a common housing.

Claims

1. A tracheal gas insulation system comprising:

a patient circuit adapted to couple a ventilator to an airway of a patient;

an insufflation catheter having a proximal end portion located generally outside a patient and a distal end portion adapted to be located in an airway of a patient for providing a flow of insulation gas to such a patient;

a source of insulation gas; and

a flow control system coupled between the patient circuit, the insufflation catheter, and the source of insufflation gas so as to control a flow of gas between the patient circuit, the insufflation catheter, and the source of insufflation gas.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control system includes a first selectively actuatable valve connected between the source of insufflation gas, the insulation catheter, and the patient circuit, wherein the first valve is adapted to be arranged to:

a) communicate the insufflation catheter with the source of insufflation gas and disconnect the patient circuit from the source of insufflation gas and the insufflation catheter in a first configuration,

b) communicate the insufflation catheter with the patient circuit and disconnect the source of insufflation gas from the insulation catheter and the patient circuit in a second configuration.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the flow control system includes a servo-controlled valve adapted to control a flow of gas from the patient circuit to ambient atmosphere.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the flow control system includes a flow sensor adapted to measure a flow of gas through the servo-controlled valve.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising a master shut-off valve adapted to disconnect the source of insufflation gas from the insufflation catheter and the patient circuit.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor adapted to determine a pressure in the insufflation catheter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flow control system includes a first selectively actuatable valve connected between the source of insufflation gas, the insufflation catheter, and the patient circuit, wherein the first valve is adapted to be arranged to:

a) communicate the insufflation catheter with the source of insufflation gas and disconnect the patient circuit from the source of insufflation gas in a first configuration, (TGI)

b) communicate the source of insufflation gas with the patient circuit and disconnect the insufflation catheter from the patient circuit and the source of insufflation gas in a second configuration. (VENT)

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second selectively actuatable valve connected between the insufflation catheter and the patient circuit, wherein the second valve is adapted to communicate the insufflation catheter and the patient circuit responsive to the first valve being in the second configuration.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a master shut-off valve adapted to disconnect the source of insufflation gas from the insufflation catheter and the patient circuit.

10. A method of providing an insufflation gas to a patient comprising:

providing a patient circuit adapted to couple a ventilator to an airway of a patient;

providing an insufflation catheter having a proximal end portion located generally outside a patient and a distal end portion adapted to be located in an airway of a patient for providing a flow of insufflation gas to such a patient;

providing a source of insufflation gas; and

controlling a flow of gas between the patient circuit, the insufflation catheter, and the source of insufflation gas.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein controlling the flow of gas between the patient circuit, the insufflation catheter, and the source of insufflation gas includes:

a) communicating the insufflation catheter with the source of insufflation gas and disconnecting the patient circuit from the source of insufflation gas and the insufflation catheter in a first configuration, (TGI)

b) communicating the insufflation catheter with the patient circuit and disconnecting the source of insufflation gas from the insufflation catheter and the patient circuit in a second configuration. (VENT)

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling a flow of gas from the patient circuit to ambient atmosphere.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising measuring a flow of gas through from the patient circuit to the ambient atmosphere.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising disconnecting the source of insufflation gas from the insufflation catheter and the patient circuit via a master shut-off valve.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring a pressure in the insufflation catheter.

16. A ventilator and tracheal gas insufflation system comprising:

a housing;

a pressure generator disposed within the housing;

a patient circuit connector disposed on an exterior of the housing adapted to connect to a patient circuit;

an insufflation catheter connector disposed on the exterior of the housing adapted to connect to an insufflation catheter;

a first tube disposed in the housing and connecting an outlet of the pressure generator to the patient circuit connector;

a second tube disposed in the housing and connecting a source of insufflation gas to the insufflation catheter connector; and

a first flow control system operatively coupled to the first tube to control a flow of gas in the patient circuit; and

a second flow control system operatively coupled to the second tube to control a flow of insufflation gas in the insufflation catheter.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second flow control system is coupled between the first tube, the second tube, and such a source of insufflation gas so as to control a flow of gas between the patient circuit, the insufflation catheter, and the source of insufflation gas.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the source of insufflation gas is the pressure generator.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an insufflation catheter connected to the insufflation catheter connector; and

a patient circuit connected to the patient circuit connector.

20. The system of claim 16, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the second tube to detect a characteristic associated with the flow of gas in the second tube.

21. A ventilator and tracheal gas insufflation system comprising:

a patient ventilation system adapted to generate a flow of gas for delivery to an airway of a patient;

a patient circuit operatively coupled to the ventilation system for carrying the flow of gas from the ventilation system to an airway of a patient;

an insufflation system adapted to generate a flow of insufflation gas for delivery to an airway of such a patient;

an insufflation catheter operatively coupled to the insufflation system for carrying the flow of gas from the insufflation system to an airway of a patient, wherein a portion of the insufflation system is disposed within the patient circuit; and

a housing containing the patient ventilation system and the insufflation system.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a patient circuit connector disposed on the housing and adapted to connect the patient circuit to the ventilation system; and

an insufflation catheter connector disposed on the housing and adapted to connect the insufflation catheter to the insufflation system.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the ventilation system and the insufflation system share a common source of gas.