Integrated control of ventilator and nebulizer operation

• US 20050284469A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Watson, Anne, Tobia, Ronald L.
• Application Number:
  US11/166,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• 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 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/14 by mixing different fluids, one of them being in a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/43 Composition of exhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/46 Resistance or compliance of the lungs

Abstract

A method of integrating the operations of a ventilator and a nebulizer to conduct respiratory therapy is provided. In one example, the method includes the steps of (1) providing a control unit in communication with a ventilator and nebulizer, the control unit arranged to obtain a control value based upon one or more ventilatory control parameters associated with the respiratory therapy; (2) operating the ventilator to provide the respiratory therapy to a patient; and (3) generating a modification signal from the control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the nebulizer based upon the control value. In another example, the method includes the steps of (1) providing a control unit in communication with the ventilator and the nebulizer; (2) operating the ventilator and nebulizer to provide respiratory therapy to a patient, the nebulizer being operated at predetermined dosing periods; and (3) generating a modification signal from the control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the ventilator based upon the operation of the nebulizer.

Claims

1. A method of integrating the operations of a ventilator and a nebulizer to conduct respiratory therapy, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control unit in communication with the ventilator and the nebulizer, the control unit arranged to obtain a control value based upon one or more control parameters associated with the respiratory therapy;

operating the ventilator to provide the respiratory therapy to a patient; and

generating a modification signal from the control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the nebulizer based upon the control value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification signal automatically adjusts a synchronization skew within a breath cycle associated with the respiration therapy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modification signal automatically adjusts a period of nebulization within a breath cycle associated with the respiration therapy.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise a type of drug dispensed by the nebulizer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise the location of the nebulizer in a patient breathing circuit associated with the ventilator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise a physical quality of a breathing circuit associated with the ventilator.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise an inspiratory flow rate associated with the ventilator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise a bias flow rate associated with the ventilator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control parameters comprise a breath delivery type associated with the ventilator.

10. A method of integrating the operations of a ventilator and a nebulizer to conduct respiratory therapy, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control unit in communication with the ventilator and the nebulizer;

operating the ventilator and nebulizer to provide respiratory therapy to a patient, the nebulizer being operated at selected dosing periods; and

generating a modification signal from the control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the ventilator based upon the operation of the nebulizer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating condition of the ventilator affects a bias flow value for a patient receiving the respiratory therapy.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating condition of the ventilator affects an inspired breath profile for a patient receiving the respiratory therapy.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating condition of the ventilator affects an inspiratory time provided by the ventilator.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating condition of the ventilator affects an expiratory time provided by the ventilator.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the operating condition of the ventilator affects a breath rate provided by the ventilator.

16. A method of integrating the operations of a ventilator, a nebulizer, and a respiratory monitoring device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a control unit in communication with the ventilator, nebulizer, and respiratory monitoring device, the respiratory monitoring device arranged to obtain a monitoring value based upon one or more monitoring parameters associated with the respiration therapy;

operating the ventilator and nebulizer to provide the respiratory therapy to a patient; and

generating a modification signal from the control unit to automatically modify an operating condition of the nebulizer based upon the control value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the monitoring parameter is based on respiratory mechanics monitoring.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the respiratory mechanics monitoring includes at least one of functional residual capacity measurement, lung pressure and airway resistance measurement, compliance measurement, resistance measurement, pressure-volume loop, flow-volume loop, and pressure-flow loop.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the monitoring parameter is based on respiratory gas monitoring.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the respiratory gas monitoring includes at least one of tidal CO₂, CO₂ production, end title O₂ and O₂ consumption.