Breathing assistance device, and method of regulation

• US 20060196508A1
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Paris SAS (ResMed Incorporated), Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Societe d'Applications Industrielles Medicales Et Electroniques SAIME
• Inventors: Chalvignac, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0015 inhalation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0018 electrical
• 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 2205/3365 Rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 Respiratory characteristics

Abstract

This invention relates to, according to a first aspect, a breathing assistance device consisting of a turbine to generate a flow of pressurised respiratory gas, a duct to carry the pressurised gas to a patient, means of controlling the gas pressure capable of elaborating a pressure setting for the turbine, characterised in that the turbine is connected to a speed sensor capable of acquiring a signal corresponding to the rotation speed of a rotating element of the turbine, and the means of controlling include means of calculation linked to said speed sensor in order to elaborate using said signal a pressure setting and to send said pressure setting to the turbine. This invention relates to, according to a second aspect, a method for regulating the pressure of a respiratory gas delivered by a turbine to a patient, the method comprising elaborating a pressure setting for the turbine, characterised in that said pressure setting is elaborated using a signal representative of the rotation speed of a rotating element of the turbine.

Claims

1. A breathing assistance device, comprising of:

a turbine to generate a flow of pressurised respiratory gas,

a duct to carry the pressurised gas to a patient, and

control means for controlling gas pressure capable of elaborating a pressure setting for the turbine,

wherein the turbine is associated to a speed sensor capable of acquiring a signal corresponding to a rotation speed of a rotating element of the turbine, and the control means includes means of calculation connected to said speed sensor to elaborate using said signal &

the pressure setting and send the pressure setting to the turbine.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed sensor implements a Hall effect sensor.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said speed sensor is a sensor capable of acquiring a turbine speed signal directly connected to the rotation speed of the rotating element of the turbine.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means of calculation elaborates the pressure setting according to variations in speed.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means of calculation is capable of detecting new inspiratory or expiratory cycles, and consequently adapting a level of the pressure setting.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means of calculation is associated to a program for detecting an inspiratory cycle using a comparison between—

;

a memorized speed value extrapolated using recent values of measured speeds, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

7. A device as claimed in claims 5, wherein said means of calculation is associated to a program for detecting an inspiratory cycle using a comparison between—

;

a memorized speed value representative of a recent speed bearing, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means of calculation is associated to a program for detecting an inspiratory cycle using a comparison between:

a memorized speed value representative of a speed at the end of an expiratory cycle, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

9. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means of calculation is associated to several programs for detecting an inspiratory cycle operating simultaneously, and is capable of elaborating a pressure setting corresponding to a start of inspiratory cycle as soon as one of said programs for detecting the inspiratory cycle has signalled a start of inspiration.

10. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the program for detecting the inspiratory cycle is associated to disabling means for a determined duration following the start of a new expiratory cycle.

11. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means of calculation is associated to a program for detecting an expiratory cycle.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said program for detecting the expiratory cycle uses a comparison between:

a memorized maximum turbine speed, corresponding to an inspiratory cycle, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means of calculation includes a microprocessor connected to the speed sensor and to a turbine pressure setting input.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further includes a pressure-regulating loop comprising:

a pressure sensor on the duct, and

a circuit receiving the pressure setting coming from the means of calculation as well as a pressure measured by the pressure sensor, said circuit being capable of elaborating an instantaneous rotation speed setting for the turbine, said circuit being connected to a turbine speed setting input.

15. A method for regulating a pressure of a respiratory gas delivered by a turbine to a patient, the method comprising:

providing a signal representative of a rotation speed of a rotating element of the turbine; and

elaborating a pressure setting for the turbine based on the signal representative of the rotation speed.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein said signal corresponds to the rotation speed of the turbine rotor.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the method is capable of detecting new inspiratory or expiratory cycles, and of consequently adapting a level of the pressure setting.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the method implements a program for detecting an inspiratory cycle using a comparison between:

a memorized speed value extrapolated from recent values of measured speeds, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the method implements a program for detecting an inspiratory cycle using a comparison between:

a memorized speed value representative of a recent speed bearing, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the method implements a program for detecting inspiratory cycles using a comparison between:

a memorized speed value representative of a speed at the end of an expiratory cycle, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.

21. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the method implements several programs for detecting inspiratory cycles operating simultaneously, and elaborates the pressure setting corresponding to an inspiratory flow as soon as one of said programs for detecting the inspiratory cycles has signalled the start of inspiration.

22. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the program for detecting inspiratory cycles is associated with a stopping during a determined duration following the start of a new expiratory cycle.

23. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the method implements a program for detecting expiratory cycles.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said program for detecting expiratory cycle uses a comparison between:

a memorized maximum turbine speed corresponding to an inspiratory cycle, and

an actually measured instantaneous speed.